People of Perley - Barb Wilson
Every year on her birthday, Barb Wilson knew there would be carrot cake.
The tradition started with a Veteran who lived at Perley Health. When they discovered they shared the same birthday, it became a ritual. His wife would bring in a cake and without fail, set aside a slice for Barb.
“Even if I wasn't working that day, they would have my slice cut and wrapped,” Barb recalls. “And no was not an answer.”
Moments like that have stayed with Barb.
“There are so many residents who shape us to be who we are,” she says. “They've taught us humility and strength through their stories.”
Barb is a Personal Support Worker Supervisor at Perley. She first started in 1999, and now supports a large team of PSWs, helping with scheduling, performance, and mentoring, while also advocating for residents and working closely with families.
Her path to Perley began far from Ottawa. She was a primary school teacher in Jamaica, and when her father became ill in Canada, Barb came to help care for him. At first the move was temporary, but after her mother passed away in Jamaica she decided to settle in Canada permanently.
At that time she ran a tutoring business. Later she worked with community organizations supporting people living with mental health challenges or brain injuries. One day, a supervisor encouraged her to explore the Personal Support Worker program.
“She said, ‘Why don't you go take it? You don't know where your journey is going to lead you.'”
Barb completed her PSW training while continuing to work. Her placement brought her to Perley Health, and it made an immediate impression.
“There were some wonderful nurses and healthcare aides,” she remembers. “They treated the residents with such dignity, such respect, and it endeared me to Perley Health and to the work that was done here.”
Shortly after her training she sent in her resume.
“I had a five-minute interview,” she says with a laugh. “The next day I got a call back. June 15, 1999, was the day.”
She has been at Perley ever since.
Barb spent 12 years as a Personal Support Worker before stepping into a supervisory role. Along the way she joined quality improvement committees and trained as a resident safe handler.
When the supervisor position opened up she knew she wanted to step up.
There are approximately 400 PSWs at Perley, making them the largest part of the workforce.
Supporting that team is work she takes seriously. But residents are always at the centre of what she does.
She remembers a 101-year-old resident who lived with dementia and was legally blind. Despite that, the woman confidently navigated the unit each day, moving from her room to the dining room and the nursing station to chat with the staff and other residents.
“She always wanted to look great,” says Barb. “I would wash her hair, curl it, put on her lipstick.”
One day the resident's daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter visited together. The resident held the baby in her arms while Barb captured a photo.
“That was a special moment,” Barb says. “For the family, and for me too.”
Moments like this have shaped how Barb thinks about aging and care.
“Seniors want to be seen,” she says. “They want to know that they still matter. And they want to be heard.”
It's a principle that applies to everyone.
“No matter where people come from in the world, people want the same thing,” she says. “We're not so different as we think.”
Her professional life has helped her with her volunteer work in the community. Outside of Perley she helps organize health education seminars through the Jamaican Association, covering topics such as diabetes, heart disease, and prostate cancer. She also supports a program called Let's Chat Seniors which connects older adults through social activities and exercise. The program is run by Jaku Konbit, a community-based organization that supports African and Caribbean individuals and families through inclusive programming and community connection.
Back at Perley, Barb often drops into activities on the units or the art studio just to see what residents are creating. One resident gifted her a painting that now hangs in her office.
“When I look at it, I think what a wonderful world it is,” she says, referencing one of her favourite songs. “People are great. And if you give, you'll get back.”
After more than two decades at Perley, Barb feels deeply connected to the organization.
“The innovations and the thought that goes behind everything that's done here makes me really proud to be here.”
The memories stay with her, especially the small ones. Like the resident who never forgot to save her a slice of birthday cake.
For anyone considering joining the Perley team, she has a simple message: “If you're willing and open, please come in. There is growth here, and there is so much that you can gain.”
More from Barb
“There are so many residents who shape us to be who we are,” says Barb. “They've taught us humility and strength through their stories.” - Barb Wilson, Personal Support Worker Supervisor