Small home with a big heart

Margaret Ward and Pauline Kolbuck say they live in a special place.

The residents of the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg say staff members are caring, meals are tasty, the facility is clean and there’s a range of activities.

The facility, which was the province’s first personal care home, has been honoured by Elder Care Review for providing the “top senior home care in North America” for 2025.

The Florida publication, which is read by senior care executives, long-term care administrators, and families around the world, said the award was for the facility’s “stellar reputation and trust among customers and industry peers, evident in the numerous nominations we received from our subscribers.”

“I can’t believe we won the award, but they deserve it, they do a great job,” said 87-year-old Ward, who has lived there for eight years.

“I have no complaints at all about the care here. They are just so good to us. The nursing is good, the housekeeping here is very good. We never have a dirty room. It’s just so clean and friendly when you come in the building.”

Kolbuck, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, said she moved there in Jan. 2024. She had hoped to be placed at Holy Family Home in the North End, but after visiting that facility, she was convinced her current home is more suitable.

“My opinion is they are giving us a good, kind service to people,” she said.

“I just think what they are doing for us is better than what I could do for myself at home.”

Kolbuck said TCH, which is a non-profit governed by a volunteer board, has a homey atmosphere.

“The staff can get to know everyone and can handle them because of the amount of people here,” she said.

“Some places have too many elderly people and they can’t handle them all.”

In a statement, Elder Care Review said the award was given “after an exhaustive evaluation by an expert panel of C-level executive, industry thought leaders, and our editorial board.”

Dorothy Fontaine, whose 93-year-old mother, Marie Bell, has been there for more than 11 years, said the award “is amazing.”

“It would be amazing if it was just Canada, but for North America. I am excited for them. I tell people while the building isn’t much, it is the staff who are amazing. The turnover of staff is very low.”

The Convalescent Home opened its first facility in 1906, near what is now the Health Sciences Centre.

It moved into a building on Jessie Avenue at Hugo Street North in 1917. In 1965, it was demolished and the present facility was built.

The international honour comes while the 84-resident care home is in the midst of sprucing up residents’ rooms throughout the four-storey building with its Rooms to Thrive project.

Sherry Heppner, TCH’s development co-ordinator, said the $3-million, donor-supported renovation project, means rooms will be outfitted with new furniture, curtains and other items to “create a more personal, homey environment while keeping operating costs stable.”

Sharon Wilms, CEO of the home, said they have received the accolade because, for the seniors they serve, “this is their home.”

“We don’t just provide a service, we create belonging, joy, and community, so that each resident feels they are living, not just existing.”

Heppner said because it’s a small home, everyone pitches in to do whatever is needed.

“We are a small home with an extremely big heart for our residents and passion for delivering exceptional care.”

The honour offers a glimmer of hope in an era where care homes have garnered negative headlines.

Concordia Hospital filed a notice of application in July to quash a production order obtained by Winnipeg police to get critical incident records as part of its investigation into the death of a 90-year-old woman at its Concordia Place care home.

In August, a Free Press report found the food served at several care homes was described as “tasteless,” “grey, colourless mush.” The food quality was blamed on stagnant provincial government funding.

This month, the son of a woman who died days after falling in the Extendicare Charleswood care home launched a lawsuit.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca