Kudos to the young around us

St. Vital

In 2024 I wrote in glowing terms about the Grade 12 students at St. Vital’s Collège Jeanne-Sauve entertained our Dakota House seniors with dancing, conversation, laughter and food. It was an ‘event.’

Likewise, I’ve written about students at Dakota Collegiate annually entertaining a gym full of St. Vital seniors with a mix of musical numbers, laughter, dainties and a draw-by-number prize

Recently, 20 Grade 5 and 6 students from Victor Mager School walked to our dwelling and back to meet and chat with seniors. They gifted us each with a pen, pamphlet, and a hand-drawn, framed picture. Mine read “Be kind to others.” It was inspiring to see.

So why not write up the young people who work at preparing and serving food at Dakota House?

It starts with our indispensable chefs – we are well fed. Our residents willingly added further notes (below):

Lynn: “Kudos to the kitchen and serving staff. What would we do without them?’

Linnea: “I’ve been a dining room server here which has inspired me to become a nurse. Getting to know residents showed me I liked caring for people.”

Bob: “Serving is an excellent job for the students. They are pleasant, efficient and personable, as well as respected by the residents.”

Marguerite: “Whether at the buffet table, brunch, or the sit-down dinner, servers greet us with a smile, not impatience, at our sometimes-lengthy decisions.”

Yvette: “I wish to show my appreciation for all servers and staff at Dakota House. Their appearance is always so meticulous. Servers even apologize over mistakes seldom made. They and the cleaning, laundry and linen staff serve with a smile – polite, courteous and friendly.”

Some residents mentioned that cheerful morning smiles and greetings from staff change how you feel all day.

OCA (Initials not easily read): “The servers at Dakota House are positive and ready to help in any way they can. They always have a smile.”

Mavis: “Our servers – two words: competent and cheerful. It is amazing how quickly they call residents by their names. They try to accommodate special requests. We are lucky to have them.”

Helen: “They make us all comfortable with what they do.”

Agnes and Mildred: “They are extremely friendly and very helpful in explaining the food.”

Irene: “The servers serve with a smile and patience, tender care and as quickly as possible.”

Margaret: “I am happy to live at Dakota House. The service and food are usually good. You can’t please everyone.’

Joan: “I have felt so blessed in the two years here to find that the kitchen staff – those working behind the scenes, servers in blue, and student servers – are all friendly and greet us with a good morning smile, which makes our day. We have been blessed and thank them for their kindness, love, and support.”

Leverne and Joyce: “Dealing with the aging clientele in assistant living quarters requires patience and kindness. Our serving staff have both of these attributes in spades. it is a joy to have them.’

Olive: “Our servers are always willing to help us in any way and always with a smile.”

Anne: “I love it here for these very reasons.”