Daily Activities and Special Events

The arrival of a new year brings a natural sense of renewal, making it the perfect time for new starts and fresh initiatives. I am honored to help lead Victoria Manor and the Municipality through a significant and positive transition. For the past twelve years, Victoria Manor operated under a management contract with Sienna Senior Living; however, we are proud to share that the City of Kawartha Lakes has resumed ownership and operational responsibility for the home. While Sienna remains a valued partner providing clinical expertise as a service provider, the City now directly handles our daily operations which will allow us to more closely align with the municipal values of accountability and service excellence.

As we move forward with these organizational changes, I want to take a moment to speak from the heart regarding the recent transformation of our chapel into a multi-faith space and sincerely apologize for the lack of communication regarding this transition. This was an oversight, and I ask for your forgiveness as we navigate this change. It was never our intention to cause distress or to make anyone feel that their history, faith, or personal connection to the chapel was being overlooked. Our goal was to embrace a more inclusive approach to wellness, ensuring that every resident, staff member, or visitor, regardless of their belief system, finds a welcoming sanctuary for prayer and reflection. We recognize that the stained glass holds deep sentimental value to many people, and we are actively investigating ways to respectfully preserve or incorporate these pieces into the future design so that we may honor our shared history while building an inclusive space.

In the spirit of this new beginning, I have had the opportunity to engage in several meaningful conversations with families and residents. While most of these interactions have been supportive, I want to take this opportunity to reinforce our shared commitment to a respectful environment for everyone. Apart from our recent facility updates, there have been some recent instances where members of our care team have encountered language and remarks that do not reflect the kindness we strive for. These behaviors are hurtful and have no place in our home. At Victoria Manor, we believe that every person—whether they live, visit, or work here—deserves to be treated with dignity and courtesy. Our staff members are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to provide high-quality care, and we have a collective responsibility to ensure they feel safe and valued in their workplace.

Victoria Manor is a community that celebrates diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, religion, and identity. This commitment to inclusion is deeply connected to our location within the City of Kawartha Lakes, which respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Mississauga lands and the traditional territory covered by the Williams Treaties. We are grateful for the opportunity to work here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place, as well as the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples in shaping our community. This recognition is part of our collective commitment to make the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our home. I invite you to join us in making 2026 a year defined by kindness and mutual respect, and I am always open to hearing your thoughts as we continue to grow together.

Virtual Visits continue to be offered by the Life Enrichment Team at Victoria Manor. The team would like to thank the family members who have reached out to set up video calls. The schedule fills up quickly which means we have happy residents who get to see the faces of their loved ones.Virtual visits are available from Monday-Friday and occur using Facetime, Zoom, or the Facebook Messenger Video function. There is some flexibility with days and we will endeavor to accommodate requests wherever possible. Thank you in advance for your patience.If you are interested in setting up a virtual visit with your loved one, please send an email to hspeedie@kawarthalakes.ca