BERWICK HOUSE AWARDED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (25-75 EMPLOYEES)
April 16, 2008 the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce hosted the Greater Victoria Business Awards at the Fairmont Empress Crystal Ballroom. Mangers and staff of Berwick House accompanied owners Gordon and Chris Denford and VP of Administration Patricia Towne to this successful gala event. The energy was high when it was announced that Berwick House won their category in Business of the Year (25-75 employees.) This was the first time Berwick House was honoured with this prestigious award. Over 300 business leaders were present at the dinner and 14 categories were awarded. Berwick House is approaching their 20th year of business next year!
Congratulations Berwick House!
from left to right): Ana Dyson, Cec Issel, Tilly Freeman, Louise Dixon, Michael St. Clair, Barb Hawes, Gordon Denford, Patricia Towne, Chris Denford
Winners! 2007 Business Excellence Awards
Berwick House - Finalist for 2007 Business of the Year. On January 31, Berwick House received an award as the Finalist in the category ofBusiness of the Year (Over 50 Employees.)This was presented at the eighth annual Business Excellence Awards Gala put on by the Business Examiner (BE).
Last year Berwick Retirement Communities was the finalist in this same category. The BE announced that the list of nominations this year far exceeded last year and therefore, Berwick House’s finalist position is an outstanding achievement!
Denford Construction Management Ltd. was the grand winner in the category of Business of the Year - Construction and Development. This award recognises their construction efforts of Berwick Royal Oak.
Rick Quatsch, Chris Denford, Michael St. Clair
The Latest Berwick Royal Oak Updates
If you’ve driven past 4680 Elk Lake Drive, you would see the finishing details are underway of our newest Berwick Retirement Community.
Berwick Royal Oak’s Presentation Centre is now open and the reaction is extraordinary; our building is 40% reserved! Visiting seniors are very pleased with our suite sizes as well as the wide range of amenities offered at Berwick Royal Oak. Although the building isn’t open to the public, seniors are personally guided through our Presentation Boards; our Marketing Coordinators give a detailed description of each level of the building. Our boards showcase the amenity spaces, gardens, walkways, water features and individual suite layouts. These presentations have motivated seniors to start signing up early.
After all, it is not often you can choose your own suite layout, location and view! Please join us Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 4pm and have a look at our Award Winning building!
(in photo) - Jessica Stigant, Donna Rutten, Jillian Lawrence
Introducing Donna Rutten - Our new Berwick Royal Oak Administrator
We are very pleased to announce the addition of Donna Rutten. Donna will be joining the Berwick Royal Oak team as our new Administrator. Donna is well known to the Senior Retirement Industry and has played a key role in the management of several communities within Victoria. For the past year and a half Donna has been the Executive Director of the British Columbia Retirement Communities Association and brings 25 years of experience working directly with seniors. She has a wonderful, caring leadership approach and is the perfect addition to the Berwick Family. Welcome Donna!
The Howard Family in Uganda – Volunteering with ACTS
Berwick Retirement Communities has contributed funds towards the Howard Family’s volunteer efforts in Eastern Africa. Jeff and Tara Howard flew into Uganda in September along with their three children; they are working with the organization, African Community Technical Services (ACTS). For the next 11 months Jeff will be investigating, planning, designing and assisting with the construction of rural water supply projects in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. If you would like to read about the Howard’s volunteer efforts and the adventures they are experiencing please click below for their linked newsletters. Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3
Berwick Comox Valley: Winner of Two Gold 2007 CARE Awards
Berwick Comox Valley is honored to be the winner of two Gold 2007 CARE Awards of Vancouver Island, (Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence.) The winning categories are Best Outdoor Living Space and Best Assisted Living (retirement community.) Along with winning Gold, Comox Valley also received the Silver Award in both of these categories as well as Project of the Year and Best Mixed Use. Along with Berwick Comox Valley, many other businesses from all over Vancouver Island participated in this prestigious home building competition. We are thrilled to be recognized for our latest Berwick Retirement Community. To read more information regarding the CARE awards, as well as more pictures of Berwick Comox Valley, please visit: http://www.careawards.com
Progress with the Berwick School
As a result of the donation made by Berwick Retirement Communities, a school for orphaned children is underway. This Zambia Mission Fund project, is being organized by Victoria business associate Steve Mann and his wife Joan. The current photo of the school was taken in late August. We can now see, on the completed portion of the building, the pre-school and the sewing room. The church and three classrooms are still in construction. This building is located at “Seven Fountains Mission,” near to the town of Kalomo. It is our hope Berwick School will provide hundreds of children with opportunity for education. It will also help seniors, left to care for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, by taking some pressure off of them and giving their grandchildren a chance at a better future.
2007 Victoria Chamber of Commerce Awards
On April 11th, Gordon Denford was honoured as a finalist at the 2007 Victoria Chamber of Commerce Awards in the category of Business Leadership. When he built Berwick House in Victoria almost 20 years ago, Mr. Denford was one of the first to recognize a need for quality housing options for independent seniors. His vision was to create community setting where seniors could enjoy companionship, activities and outstanding services, all while maintaining their independence. It also had to be exceptionally beautiful and offer a warm friendly atmosphere; a place he would be “happy to live himself”. Today Mr. Denford continues to set the highest standard, with a 5th community set to open next spring (Royal Oak). This award recognizes the continued success of his personal approach to building and managing Berwick Retirement Communities.
Click on the video and learn more about Mr. Denford and see our progress on the Royal Oak site…
2006 Business Excellence Awards
We are pleased to share on January 25th, 2007 Berwick Retirement Communities took home two Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards. Owners, Gordon and Chris Denford accepted the Crystal Award (1st Place) for Business of the Year in the category of Construction and Development recognizing all four Berwick properties, and First Runner-Up, Business of the Year (50+ Employees) for their business practices and high level of service delivered by their staff. Companies from all over the Island were evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges in the business community; we feel especially honored to have been selected in two categories.
Gordon and Chris Denford
Berwick Royal Oak: Progress Report
If you’ve been on Elk Lake Drive recently, you’ve probably noticed the foundation has been poured and the framing of the building is well underway at Berwick Royal Oak. Located next to the Commonwealth Pool and nearby shops, it will offer convenient access to the community for active seniors, as well as all of the comfort and services we have become known for. It will also offer a full-size movie theatre with a stage for local productions, an English-style pub, and an elegant spa featuring a hydro therapy pool and massage services, as well as beautifully landscaped Japanese Gardens outside for your enjoyment. Soon we will open an information centre on-site to provide you with even more details. Please call (250) 386-4680 if you would like to receive a personal invitation to the opening, and periodic updates. Click on the video (above) to catch a glimpse of the new Royal Oak site!
Happy 1st Birthday Berwick Comox Valley!
It must be true that “time flies when you are having fun”. It is hard to believe it has been a year since we opened the doors at Berwick Comox Valley. Over the year we have enjoyed settling in, getting to know each other, and participating in a number of local events. We have been particularly moved by the warm reception we have received from the entire community. We are proud to be in this wonderful city serving such a dynamic group of seniors. See what some of our very own residents shared about living at Berwick Comox Valley in a feature published in the Business Examiner -pdf 1.2 Mbytes
North Island College - update!
On February 21st, 2007 Gordon and Chris Denford presented two amounts to North Island College. A cheque for $15,000 for an endowment fund which will be awarded in perpetuity based on interest generated, and a $500 cash award to help a student graduate. The award has been created to help full-time students graduating from the Practical Nursing Program. Each year it will be awarded to a student who has excelled academically, and demonstrated care and compassion with seniors. ¨Berwick Comox Valley is a wonderful addition to the region and the Denford´s generosity to the College is a testament to their community support and their commitment to caring for our seniors” says Dr. Lou Dryden, President of North Island College. This years student bursary recipient, Siobhan Taylor of Port Hardy, is furthering her education in gerontology at McMaster University. On behalf of Berwick Retirement Communities we wish her all the best with her future accomplishments.
Endowment Fund
Berwick Retirement Communities has also chosen to support students in the Practical Nursing, Home Support and Resident Care Assistant programs at Camosun College in Victoria with a similar endowment fund to be given in perpetuity. This award assists deserving students by providing a scholarship on the basis of need and academic standing. "An excellent education is of vital importance in serving our seniors, by supporting aspiring healthcare professionals we are looking to ensure well-trained professionals are available to care for them well into the future." Chris Denford
"Putting Smiles Back Where They Belong"
The Festival of Trees at the Empress Hotel has become a community holiday tradition. The event welcomes the public to vote on the best decorated tree with a $2 donation to the BC Children´s Hospital Foundation. For the 2nd year Berwick House sponsored a tree, but this time they did something very special, they hand-knit all of the ornaments. The tree was a winner, coming in 2nd place! The 15th annual festival raised $85,000 for BC´s only pediatric hospital, helping to "put smiles back where they belong".
Let the Good Times Roll
Congratulations Berwick on the Lake! This year they won 1st Place in the 2006 Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, Spirit of Christmas Awards, in the Retirement Facilities Category. The award recognizes residents and staff for their decorating of the building, as well as the large amount of toys donated to the toy drive. Proceeds from their craft and bake sales and other fundraising events go towards helping the community in a variety of ways. Since 2000, residents at Berwick on the Lake have been getting together to roll “Pennies for Presents”. They collect pennies all year to help bring Christmas cheer to families in need. Over the past 7 years more than $30,000 in pennies has been rolled by our residents to buy presents for children. (News Bulletin -pdf 384 Kbytes)
Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice
Residents of Berwick on the Park recently appeared in Kamloops This Week for their contribution to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice. They gathered to present a $2,000 cheque to Gay Klietzke, Executive Director (far right) at the end of 2006. The funds were raised at their fourth annual fall bazaar, organized by staff and residents. Making the presentation are Mildred Trusler (left), Mavis Robinson, Margaret Whiffin, Gladys Cork (seated), Gwenn Waterhouse and Bernice Petty. To date, residents have donated $15,000 to the Hospice House from their annual crafts and baking since Berwick on the Lake opened four years ago.
April 16, 2008 the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce hosted the Greater Victoria Business Awards at the Fairmont Empress Crystal Ballroom. Mangers and staff of Berwick House accompanied owners Gordon and Chris Denford and VP of Administration Patricia Towne to this successful gala event. The energy was high when it was announced that Berwick House won their category in Business of the Year (25-75 employees.) This was the first time Berwick House was honoured with this prestigious award. Over 300 business leaders were present at the dinner and 14 categories were awarded. Berwick House is approaching their 20th year of business next year! 
Oak Updates
Berwick Retirement Communities has contributed funds towards the Howard Family’s volunteer efforts in Eastern Africa. Jeff and Tara Howard flew into Uganda in September along with their three children; they are working with the organization, African Community Technical Services (ACTS). For the next 11 months Jeff will be investigating, planning, designing and assisting with the construction of rural water supply projects in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. If you would like to read about the Howard’s volunteer efforts and the adventures they are experiencing please click below for their linked newsletters.
Berwick Comox Valley is honored to be the winner of two Gold 2007 CARE Awards of Vancouver Island, (Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence.) The winning categories are Best Outdoor Living Space and Best Assisted Living (retirement community.) Along with winning Gold, Comox Valley also received the Silver Award in both of these categories as well as Project of the Year and Best Mixed Use. Along with Berwick Comox Valley, many other businesses from all over Vancouver Island participated in this prestigious home building competition. We are thrilled to be recognized for our latest Berwick Retirement Community. To read more information regarding the CARE awards, as well as more pictures of Berwick Comox Valley, please visit: 
As a result of the donation made by Berwick Retirement Communities, a school for orphaned children is underway. This Zambia Mission Fund project, is being organized by Victoria business associate Steve Mann and his wife Joan. The current photo of the school was taken in late August. We can now see, on the completed portion of the building, the pre-school and the sewing room. The church and three classrooms are still in construction. This building is located at “Seven Fountains Mission,” near to the town of Kalomo. It is our hope Berwick School will provide hundreds of children with opportunity for education. It will also help seniors, left to care for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, by taking some pressure off of them and giving their grandchildren a chance at a better future.
We are pleased to share on January 25th, 2007 Berwick Retirement Communities took home two Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards. Owners, Gordon and Chris Denford accepted the Crystal Award (1st Place) for Business of the Year in the category of Construction and Development recognizing all four Berwick properties, and First Runner-Up, Business of the Year (50+ Employees) for their business practices and high level of service delivered by their staff. Companies from all over the Island were evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges in the business community; we feel especially honored to have been selected in two categories.
On February 21st, 2007 Gordon and Chris Denford presented two amounts to North Island College. A cheque for $15,000 for an endowment fund which will be awarded in perpetuity based on interest generated, and a $500 cash award to help a student graduate. The award has been created to help full-time students graduating from the Practical Nursing Program. Each year it will be awarded to a student who has excelled academically, and demonstrated care and compassion with seniors. ¨Berwick Comox Valley is a wonderful addition to the region and the Denford´s generosity to the College is a testament to their community support and their commitment to caring for our seniors” says Dr. Lou Dryden, President of North Island College. This years student bursary recipient, Siobhan Taylor of Port Hardy, is furthering her education in gerontology at McMaster University. On behalf of Berwick Retirement Communities we wish her all the best with her future accomplishments.
