CIUSSS serves up meals and appreciation for the holidays
Holiday cheer spread throughout our CIUSSS this season, with food and fun in a festive atmosphere! For the second year in a row, Human Resources organized holiday parties across network sites in recognition of employees’ dedication and contributions over the year.
“People in our CIUSSS work so hard all year long, and this is a way to show appreciation,” said Francine Levi, co-chair with Melanie Rudnitsky of the Human Resources Employee Engagement and Recognition team. “What could be more fun than organizing parties and seeing our peers smile?”
More than 5,000 meals were served at 24 CIUSSS sites, an undertaking supported by teams of hard-working volunteers. “This gives us energy to continue to do the work we do,” said Ms. Payne.
Employees were offered a choice of meat or vegetarian sandwiches along with fruit, veggies and cookies. The celebrations also included a free lunch bag with the logo of the CIUSSS Employee Engagement and Recognition program.
Each site also offered a chance to win prizes ranging from pens and mugs to movie tickets and children’s bikes. Every so often, a hoot went through the Samuel S. Cohen Auditorium when someone scored a prize.
Mathieu Gélinas, a JGH Emergency Department nurse, had just come off his shift at 3:30 p.m and headed out to the party in the auditorium.
“It’s a really nice initiative,” he said while waiting to try his chances at the Wheel of Fortune stand. “I’m happy to get lunch and see that the hospital is thinking of us. It’s showing us we’re important.”
At PRAIDA, staff came to share a meal and enjoy time spent with colleagues. “We’re running around all the time at PRAIDA and we’re at different sites, so we don’t have many opportunities to be together,” said Executive Assistant Lila Bouhadouf, who organized the party with Ms. Levi and Ms. Rudnitsky. “This event is important because it brings us together and it’s a happy time!”
At Mount Sinai Hospital, Volunteer Coordinator Carol Steadman enthused about the event held in the staff room at her site. “I appreciate all the effort that went into planning something like this for staff,” Ms. Steadman said. “I loved the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ game – it was a nice surprise!”
Beverly Kravitz, Director of Human Resources, Communications, Legal Affairs and Global Security of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, welcomed the chance to recognize employees for their hard work. “This is a great opportunity to come out and thank staff for everything they do, all year long,” Ms. Kravitz said.
Because of the generosity of sponsors and donors, there were enough gifts for every seventh employee. Among this year’s sponsors were the JGH Foundation, Le Château, Reitmans, THINaddictives, Gibbys, Browns, Cinémas Guzzo and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
