Frost Manor celebrates 25 years, honours long-standing staff
Friday, December 8, 2006 -- Craig Anderson
Frost Manor held a 25th year anniversary celebration Thursday, November 30th, a special event that produced both tears and smiles, says Vi O’Leary, life enrichment coordinator.

More than 50 residents, family members, and staff came out to honour the home’s history and bestow awards of service for 25 years on two of its stalwart employees – Alice Neals, RPN, and Phyllis Smith, environmental services.

Both were given service pins and a plaque, says O’Leary, who says that Neals’ speech left the house with nary a dry eye.

“It was a lovely day for OMNI and our proud staff,” she says.

Along with Neals, Nancy LeFeat, RN, and Lind Burr, administrator, constitute a long-serving triumvirate – the three have been at the home for a collective 65 years.

O’Leary, a 23 year veteran herself (she’s just shy of the 25 due to a maternity leave), says she remembers the beginning “when we walked in on the planks.”

The home has been built with blood, sweat and tears, she says.

“When you’ve been here as long as I have you feel like you own the place,” says O’Leary, who was an RPN until the year 2000.

“You do take ownership,” says O’Leary, emphasizing the point. “You’re there for Frost Manor.”

O’Leary, noting that Neals is set to retire this year, speaks fondly of the bonds that develop amongst staff at the Lindsay-based, 62-bed home.

“It’s sad,” says O’Leary, “you bond with people naturally when you work with them that long.”

Frost is distinctive, she says, in the way that these bonds affect the general atmosphere of the home, making it a special community.

“I don’t want to brag,” she says, “but there really is a feeling of family here. Family members [of residents] always say they feel a special sense of warmth when they visit. We’re not perfect, but we put in a lot of effort.”

O’Leary, 58, doesn’t see herself retiring anytime soon (“unless they fire me,” she jokes.), and relishes the challenges that activity direction affords. With her RPN skills, O’Leary still steps in to help when there is a missing nursing shift.

O’Leary is one of the key figures in a group of Lindsay-area home activity directors who meet to share expertise and collaborate on group outings. An annual “cottaging” trip is one of the fruits of this partnership, she says.

“The best part of my job is all of the interactions I have with people,” she says.