Hot hits and cool refreshments were served up to nearly 1,000 employees at a Free Snow Cone staff appreciation event organized by CIUSSS West-Central Montreal Human Resources. The mood was decidedly festive as staff from three sites gathered in the Jewish General Hospital courtyard under brightly coloured tents, energized by the latest music, to collect free gifts and strike a pose in a photo booth.
“This was a unique event, with HR teaming up with corporate partners from the community to treat our hardworking staff to a fun break in their day,” says Employee Engagement Specialist Julie Liebman. Icy snow cones offered by RBC Insurance were a welcome pick-me-up on the scorching August day, as were drinks from DAVIDs TEA and Costco. Lufa Farms distributed colourful summer produce baskets filled with cherry tomatoes and swiss chard.
Handy retractable badge holders, lanyards and T-shirts were up for grabs by the Department of Communications and Media Relations for all staff who followed the CIUSSS Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn pages. The JGH Humanization of Care committee was also represented, giving out free HOC badge holders promoting the Respect campaign. 
“The event was the first of its kind, bringing together staff from CLSC Côte-des-Neiges, Plaza Site and the JGH,” says Ms. Liebman. “We look forward to creating many more new meaningful traditions at sites throughout our CIUSSS.”
