Feature
OMNIway forum drives OMNI values
Tuesday February 19, 2008
The first annual OMNIway forum brought together 118 managers from OMNI’s 17 long-term care homes and head office. The event marked the first time all of OMNI’s managers were in the same place at the same time to discuss ideas and plan for the future.

The event, which was held Feb. 12-14 at the scenic Fern Resort, just outside Orillia, provided attendees with a glimpse into the future of OMNI, as well as insight into new ideas. It also served as a venue for managers to collaborate and share best practices through networking.

The event demonstrated OMNI’s collaborative spirit and emphasis on sharing best practices to better serve the more than 1,400 residents living in OMNI’s homes.

“The whole purpose was to bring all of our managers together to introduce how OMNI is going forward in the new year,” explained Candace Chartier, OMNI’s chief operating officer.

The new OMNI brochure is part of the company’s rebranding initiative. Included in the brochure are OMNI’s updated seven core values — leadership, supportive measures, knowledge, creativity, friendliness, fun and laughter and integrity — as well as its new vision, “To demonstrate what is possible with knowledge, love, support and understanding.”

Highlights from the event included the introduction of the new brochure, a visit from incoming CEO Pat McCarthy and an overview of OMNI’s new human resources plan.

Keeping in line with OMNI’s core value of fun and laughter, the evenings were a time for socializing. The Feb. 13 schedule ended with a few hours of entertaining comedy skits put on by delegates from each home.

The forum, which will become an annual event, was hailed as a success by organizers and attendees.

“It really showed what the direction is for OMNI,” said Craig Forrest, life enrichment co-ordinator at Forest Hill in Kanata. “I met a lot of people that I had never met before, so it was great to get a lot of different ideas. I learned a lot from meeting new people.”