Staff helps resident participate in daughter's wedding day
Friday, December 3, 2004 - Roderick Benns
Although Gordon (Shy) Aitkens could not make it to his daughter’s wedding in the fall, his suit was crisp and his lapel flower ready for pictures at Garden Terrace. This was thanks to two dedicated staff members at the long-term care home, according to Shy’s wife, Mary.

Mary says Shy’s ongoing battle with Alzheimer disease did not allow him to be there at the church, so the official pictures for his daughter Heather’s wedding were brought to the Kanata home.

Theresa Wilkinson and Tammy Jones, both personal support workers, helped out that day, far beyond the call of duty, according to Mary.

"They were done at 2:30 or 3 p.m. and they stayed until 5 p.m. to make sure Shy was ready and that everything went off without a hitch," says Mary.

"They were marvellous," Mary says of the personal support workers.

Mary says that long before the whole wedding party arrived for the late September wedding the two staff members were getting Shy ready.

"They got him dressed up and to the right spot at the right time for when the limousine pulled up," she adds.

Shy was one of Garden Terrace’s first residents, Mary notes, and she says she has always been very pleased with the culture of the home and the care of residents.

"Those staff members are amazing at the home. And the two that helped out that day were thrilled to have played a part," says Mary, which is something she says she will not forget.