Spruce View Manor, Gibbons seniors home, fires staff without cause
Seniors at a retirement home north of Edmonton are worried about their care, after the facility's only three administrative staff were fired without notice — the second major management change in just three years.
The manager, administrative assistant and the activities director at Spruce View Manor in Gibbons were terminated March 31 without cause and asked not to return to the property. They had worked there nine, three and 13 years respectively.
"Just one of the family, they were," said one resident. He was among a group of seniors who saw a CBC camera outside the 43-unit home and came to talk.
Each was worried about backlash for speaking, so CBC granted them anonymity.
"The worst thing I ever heard in my life," said one woman. "If I could find another lodge I'd move right now."
Some family members, worried about the continuity of their loved ones' care, have expressed their concerns on Facebook.
Daughter wants answers
Nanette Whaling, whose mother moved into the home about a year ago, said the sudden changes are disruptive. She wants more answers.
"As a whole we don't treat our seniors right," Whaling said. "Obviously we have to question the whole system when we have seniors who are upset and worried about something, but are too afraid to come out and say it."
The Sturgeon Foundation, a non-profit group that runs the home, says the firings were not related to budgeting.
The foundation runs six lodges with a budget of $8 million. Executive director Dennis Magnusson says about half of that total comes from rent, $1.7 million requisitioned through tax, and the rest from the province.
"Whether it's government, business, a non-profit or a sporting team — if you're not achieving your goals, you've got to make sure that you have the right people and the right talent to get where you're going," Magnusson said.
Previous manager fired 3 years ago
Spruce View Manor's previous manager was fired suddenly three years ago due to restructuring.
Magnusson said unlike that dismissal, these three workers will be replaced.
He said he cannot legally say exactly why the three workers were fired. He would only say that they were not meeting expectations.
One of the fired employees said there was no indication of dissatisfaction ahead of time. Michele Daigle is the only one of the three to not sign a confidentiality agreement.
All of the boxes in her most recent performance evaluation are checked off with "meets expectations" or "exceeds expectations."
The Spruce Foundation held an information meeting at the home for residents and their families soon after the workers were fired.
