No doubt about it, 2020 has been a challenging and heartbreaking year on so many fronts. But it has also been a year marked with kindness, courage and remarkable achievements. As the holiday season draws near with COVID-19 still raging on, I am doing my best to focus on the rays of light that I am grateful for in these dark times.

The team I have the privilege and pleasure to work with at VHA and the ways they have responded to this crisis to keep themselves and our clients and families safe is certainly the brightest of these lights. I have been inspired by the resilience and huge hearts of our care providers and the support they have given to hard-hit long-term care homes, efforts to deliver service in new and better ways, collaboration with partners to provide outstanding care in communities, and the stories of incredible unpaid caregivers who play such a critical and unsung role in our health care system.  These stories and countless others remind me of the strength and compassion that is at the core of VHA and our many partners.

I hope you enjoy reading the stories and that there will be many other gifts of gratitude for you and yours this holiday season. With the vaccine’s arrival may we look forward with hope to a brighter new year ahead for everyone.

– Carol Annett

How our COVID-19 Incident Command Team came together to keep staff, service providers, clients and families healthy and safe.

Read about how collaborative partnership efforts are improving care in East Toronto.

A VHA Occupational Therapist from Toronto shares how virtual care has made a positive difference for paediatric clients.

Watch videos of client-nominated award winners and the lasting bonds they have formed with clients.

A silver lining to this challenging time: innovation, learnings and growth in the sector through new research opportunities.

Free online Activation Therapy toolkit created by VHA provides helpful tools and supports for those living with dementia.

Recognizing unpaid caregivers for their critical role in caring for their loved ones.

Committed volunteers make sure people get the care and supplies they need during COVID-19.

Extraordinary Nurse Practitioner helps lead congregate care setting through the pandemic.

VHA is pleased to share that we were accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest level of recognition by Accreditation Canada.