Here's to 35 years! Celebrating Perley's Long-Service Staff and Retirees at 2025 Recognition

On Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, Perley held its annual Staff Recognition Event, bringing together the community to celebrate the dedication and achievements of some incredible staff.

This year's event recognized 107 staff members for their long service, including 14 retirees, with milestone pins for service ranging from 5-35 years! The event (one of the ones our community looks forward to -and not just because of the cake!-), is an annual  tribute and testament to the people who embody Perley Health's mission of providing compassionate, person-centred care. 

Following the pin and certificate ceremony for employment milestones, 8 of the 14 retirees who attended the event in-person and were celebrated with speeches made by their colleagues and managers, who shared funny anecdotes, personal reflections, and well wishes on this next chapter of their lives.

Perley Health's CEO, Akos Hoffer, and Board Chair, Lloyd Campbell, expressed their deep appreciation for staff and retirees. The event highlighted the organization's resilience and commitment to excellence, and loyalty and dedication of its team.

The event concluded with special thanks to the teams who made the day memorable: the Human Resources team, the Housekeeping team, the Therapeutic Recreation and Creative Arts team, the Food and Nutrition team, the Communications team, members of the Perley Health Board, and guests and loved ones of the honorees. The lovely centerpieces on the tables were created by Perley Residents through the Horticultural Therapy program, using flowers grown in the Perley gardens. Each retiree had a centerpiece reserved with their name on it, which they were encouraged to take home at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Some additional excitement was added to this years event, as five gift baskets were given away to lucky winners, including; relaxation boxes, movie night boxes, and a gourmet snack sampler. These baskets were purchased from Maker House in Hintonburg, an Ottawa-based company that features Canadian-made gifts and home wares. 

Perley Health is proud of its staff and retirees, and this event underscored the profound impact they've made on the community.