We hope the Summer of 2024 was a good season for everyone.

As we move towards the end of the summer months we hope people are enjoying the outdoors and personal and/or family time.

In early June, Steve and Dalton from the Board of Directors, along with Denise and I, supported the Share Life Golf Tournament. We truly appreciate their financial support of Mary Centre and it was a great opportunity to meet people and share in a terrific event.

Stay well!

We are aware that there continues to be a number of reported positive COVID-19 cases in our communities. Please ensure you are taking all necessary precautions to keep yourself and other people safe and healthy.

We continue to encourage people to receive any recommended vaccines and/or boosters and flu vaccines.

Ministry reminders

The health and well-being of the people we support, all of our employees and our visitors remain our focus and we will continue to follow all MCCSS, Public Health and/or Ministry of Health guidelines/directives and maintain our focus on our Occupational Health & Safety obligations as we interact within our communities.

If you have any questions about any current MCCSS and/or Ministry of Health guidance/directives please contact either Denise Tremblett our Director of Services for Toronto/York or Marianne Vico our Director of Services for Peel.

We have started to receive new updates from the Ministry of Health in the form of reminders about engaging in safe practices such as hand washing etc.

The most recent, June 2023, guidelines/directions from the Ministry of Health include the following:

• Employees may consider wearing a mask when providing prolonged, direct care indoors or outdoors (defined as one-on-one care within two (2) meters for greater than fifteen (15) minutes) for residents at high risk of severe outcomes.
• Masks are recommended, but no longer required, to be worn indoors by visitors and caregivers when visiting settings that are not in an outbreak.
• Masks are required for employee’s as part of return-to-work protocols following a covid-19 infection (wear a mask for ten (10) days from symptom onset/positive test) and also, as part of a personal risk assessment. If you have some symptoms please wear a mask until your status can be confirmed as positive or negative.
• If an employee tests positive or has had covid-19 symptoms you can return to work once you no longer have a fever and your symptoms have been improving for twenty-four (24) hours or forty-eight (48) hours if you have vomiting/diarrhea.

We certainly appreciate that new guidelines and direction both from the Ministry of Health and MCCSS may come as we continue with the fall and winter of 2023/24.

Boosters

With the availability of “booster” vaccines for people, Mary Centre continues to encourage everyone to follow our Vaccination Policy and obtain the “booster” vaccine. To be considered “up-to-date” the Ministry of Health is currently indicating everyone they have designated as eligible should have a “booster” within the last six (6) months and no later than every six (6) months thereafter.

It is important that we remain diligent in following all health guidelines to ensure everyone’s good health is maintained. Our Health and Safety Co-chairs, employees and others continue to work together to ensure that we continue to follow all IPAC measures and exhibit our best efforts to keep everyone healthy. At Mary Centre, this continues to mean that our services in Toronto, York and/or Peel will follow any future restricted requirements and recommendations as directed by our Government and Public Health officials.

As per expectations from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services Mary Centre has established a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which includes reference to the booster vaccines, that requires all Personnel, Contractors, Volunteers and Students, except those with an approved medical exception, to be fully vaccinated. The Board of Directors and everyone at Mary Centre remain dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of all supported individuals as well as Personnel, Contractors, Volunteers and Students. We extend our appreciation and support to everyone during this past multi-year process.

We will be aware of any future guidance provided by the Department of Health in Peel and York Region and Toronto and will respond accordingly. We continue to encourage and support everyone eligible to register and/or receive a booster vaccination.

Looking for updates?

We remind you to look at both Toronto’s and Peel’s Public Health websites for current information on each Region.

If you are interested in seeking clarity please get in touch with us by email – or, to contact the Program Directors by phone, for Toronto/York Region call Denise Tremblett, or for Peel Region call Marianne Vico, from our contact page.

We, at Mary Centre, continue with the option of virtual connection services and encourage people to connect with our Director of Services, Denise and/or Marianne, to explore the possibility of joining our virtual events.

As a reminder we have actively opened all our services for in-person supports.

We trust everyone will continue to be cautious and monitor themselves so we can all remain as healthy as possible.

Of course, if people feel more comfortable continue to wash your hands, with soap and hot water as often as needed, clean your high touch areas daily and if you are displaying any symptoms related to fever, chills etc. to consult with a medical practitioner for a clear direction of next steps.

Please continue to check our website for future updates.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Don Walker
Executive Director