People of Perley - Gregory Vigne

Greg Vigne has been helping folks get back on their feet at Perley Health for 18 years. As a Physiotherapist Assistant, Greg works across the convalescent care and long-term care areas, supporting residents as they rebuild their strength and independence. 

Greg first came to Perley as a student on placement and as he puts it, “the experience with the residents made me stay.” 

What keeps him motivated nearly two decades later are the people and their stories. “When they tell you their stories, it's interesting. And then helping them,” he says. “I find it's really interesting to work with that generation.”

Those connections often grow into friendships. “It's interacting with them, them telling you their life, and you're like wow,” he says with a smile. “It makes you laugh. And then I make them laugh, too. It feels good.”

Some of Greg's most meaningful moments come from seeing progress that once seemed out of reach. “When someone wasn't able to walk, and now they are going home or to rehab, and they're able to walk they say  ‘Because of you, look what you've done,'” he says. “That makes me feel like I'm doing a good job.”

Greg credits Perley's sense of community for making that work possible. “The residents, the staff, the volunteers, the different groups who work here. It makes it unique.” 

Volunteers play a key role in his day-to-day work, especially during exercise classes. “They help me set up the class, clean after, and follow me with the chair if I'm working one-on-one,” he says. “They are very helpful.”

Motivating residents to participate in physiotherapy often requires creativity and humour.  “I try to motivate them, encourage them as well,” says Greg. “I make a joke to make them laugh and they're like, ‘Okay, you're trying to charm me, let's go.'” He also has a favourite line: If you don't use it, you'll lose it. “They're like, okay, I don't want to lose it.”

Team spirit at Perley extends beyond clinical work. Greg and his colleagues are known for giving their all at special events, including the annual Christmas concert. “We want to bring the difference,” he says. “We want to celebrate with the residents and tenants and bring them joy. It's always a pleasure. We all have a big family here at Perley, so we celebrate together.”

Originally from Haiti, Greg completed high school there before moving to Ottawa and completing his placement at Perley. Perley supported him not only professionally, but personally. “Working here helped me see life differently,” he says, reflecting on the loss of his mother in 2022. “Learning about palliative care and end of life helped me be prepared to go through that.” 

When asked what he would say to someone considering a career at Perley Health, Greg is nothing but enthusiastic: “It's a great place to work,” he says, “We have a good community, a good environment, great managers, staff, volunteers, residents. We're all together. It's a fun place to work.”

“We want to bring the difference,” he says. “We want to celebrate with the residents and tenants and bring them joy. It's always a pleasure. We all have a big family here at Perley, so we celebrate together.” Greg Vigne, Physiotherapist Assistant