Category: Staff Highlights

25 years of ‘Tetris:’ Nelly Yep celebrates a milestone at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Nelly Yep for 25 years of service. Here’s what Jenny Eng-Chan, Reception Manager, had to say about Nelly:

“Nelly is our internal booking clerk who keeps CNH’s Main House and Annex running smoothly by scheduling programs and events in their correct timeslot. It is similar to playing Tetris on the computer. What a fun job you would think but this wasn’t always the case as the internal booking process has come a long way over the last 25 years. Back in the ‘old’ days, booking was comprised of a stack of photocopied pages bound together by metal prongs and protected by a plastic blue cover page. Hence, we named it the blue book or our CNH bible. It felt like Nelly was book-binding every six months. Nelly would enter the bookings manually into each day; on each page and sometimes this required a lot of cutting and pasting. Fast forward to today and thank goodness for technology, the blue book has retired.

“Over the years, Reception has gone through changes. Our furniture has been replaced and the blue book is gone but there is always one constant: Nelly’s attitude toward her work and her co-workers. She has continued to be a helpful and kind person who will always greet you by name. As I haven’t seen her grumpy or negative, I often wondered what the underlying secret to her being so happy and pleasant is. So, I decided to do some detective work and look for clues in her daily rituals. The first thing that I noticed was that she doesn’t eat breakfast and that she loves her veggies but I didn’t think this was ‘the secret.’ There must be something that she does that other people don’t! Then the ‘aha’ moment struck. It must be the two shots of concentrated lemon juice that she always requests at the tea shop when she orders her drink (and she requests this with no sugar). The saying ‘you are what you eat’ doesn’t apply here because Nelly definitely does not exhibit sourness. Rather, she has a sweet and bright disposition.

“So that’s her secret I suppose? If that is the case, the morning coffee may have to switch out for Nelly’s lemon elixir. Congratulations, Nelly, on your 25th anniversary of playing room-booking Tetris at CNH!”

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

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Top image: Nelly Yep at CNH’s AGM on Sept. 28, 2022.

November 8, 2022
CNH: A place of family and home for long-time staff member Sabrina Bantog

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Sabrina Bantog for 25 years of service. Here’s what Alison Merton, Director of the Early Years, had to say about Sabrina:

“I have been fortunate to work with Sabrina since 1996.

“Sabrina grew up in Vancouver. She attended Langara College to study Early Childhood Education. In 1996, Sabrina began working in Family Place at CNH and did casual work in child care before securing a position in the infant and toddler program. She then quickly moved into management roles within the child care department first in Kindercare, Collingwood Early Learning and Care Centre, and then she became the manager that opened the Terry Tayler Early Learning and Care Centre in the fall of 2012.

“Sabrina’s current role is as a Child Care Manager which requires her to deal with all human resources (HR)-related tasks for the child care staff team, which is quite the task given the amount of staff we have.

“We are so extremely fortunate to have Sabrina’s expertise in HR at CNH. She is kind, compassionate, and always goes above and beyond. She is very well respected by everyone. Sabrina puts the ‘human’ in human resources! She has represented CNH at CUPE and also at many Early Childhood Educator events. She continuously seeks out professional development opportunities and is currently doing courses in HR at BCIT.

“Sabrina says CNH is her home. She felt like she grew up at Collingwood, making many relationships. She has always felt supported and has had many opportunities to learn, grow and advance. She says CNH feels like family. This is likely because her husband Jaime also once worked at CNH and both her children, Alissa and Kyle, attended our child care programs! It’s not unusual to see Kyle here in Friday’s youth program or to see Sabrina’s mom hanging out in the seniors’ programs.

“Sabrina says there are many memories that make her smile, reflecting back. What stands out the most is the trip to Italy to visit the Reggio Emilia programs at their source with her peers and the management team. She will be forever grateful for that opportunity, definitely not something she would have been able to do on her own and it was most meaningful to be able to do this with colleagues.

“She would like to acknowledge all of the wonderful people she has had the pleasure of getting to know over the years. Her continued commitment to CNH, the Early Years department and the Early Childhood Education profession is outstanding. Thank you, Sabrina, for your many years of service and congratulations.”

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers. Learn more about family and child care programs at www.cnh.bc.ca/family.

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Top image: Sabrina Bantog at this year’s AGM at the CNH Annex.

November 1, 2022
Child care staff member Maliha Hassan celebrates 25 years at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Maliha Hassan for 25 years of service. Here’s what Diana Taykandy, Operations Child Care Program Coordinator, had to say about Maliha:

“Maliha Hassan is celebrating her 25 years as a child care staff for CNH. She began her journey on March 19, 1997, when I hired her for a maternity leave position at Sarah House Early Learning and Care Centre. Not too long after she started working, a permanent position became available at Duke Street Early Learning and Care Centre, where she was hired. Maliha worked for four years at Duke Street and when a posting came out for a position at Sarah House, she decided to apply for the position and was hired back at Sarah House. Maliha has been there ever since!

“Maliha truly loves working for Collingwood. She enjoys her Sarah House co-workers, families, and especially the children. She truly loves the children! She has always been a huge support to the program and has also worked there as a manager temporarily. Thank you for always thinking of the program’s needs and always being willing to help in whatever way you can.

“Collingwood means the world to Maliha. She always refers to her workplace as a second home. She couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She has such a strong, unexplained connection to Collingwood, always letting us know that CNH is her heart.

“Maliha’s favorite work-related memory is actually how she came to name her second child. When Maliha had to go on maternity leave, she promised the manager and staff that she would return, and as a sincere gesture and of course, love for the program, she named her daughter Sarah.

“Maliha fills her days with her passion for shopping, hiking, biking, and traveling. She loves to entertain her co-workers in her home, including celebrations with food and music, and just making connections.

“Staff that know her well and who have worked with her for many years will all tell you that Maliha is kind, generous, patient, and always willing to support you. She is so wonderful with the children and their families and is always making them feel welcome. Maliha has a special way of making anyone who comes into contact with her feel special.

“I know that I have always felt her warmth whenever I have visited her in the program. Thank you for always making me feel welcome.

“Collingwood is very fortunate to have someone like her who cares so deeply about the organization. Thank you Maliha, and many congratulations on this milestone!”

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers. Learn more about family and child care programs at www.cnh.bc.ca/family.

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Top image: Maliha Hassan (centre) with fellow child care staff members Sabrina Bantog (left) and Diana Taykandy at CNH’s AGM on Sept. 28, 2022.

October 25, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – Youth Services Department

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the Youth Services department.

Brendan T

Colton Q

Derrick C

Eileen T

Jennifer L

Ry F

Sanjeev K

Sylvia M

Tanya F

Not photographed: Verna Kate S

March 24, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – RISE Community Health Centre

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the RISE Community Health Centre.

Aiyanas O

Anahita S

Ashleigh E

Ashu M

Bi L

Cherlyn C

Deepika S

Gabi P

Grace A

Hedi C

James K-W

Jennie W

Kailyn M

Keane L

Kelvin B

Kiran M

Maria M

Mik T

Monique W

Munira R

Rani W

Ruth E

Sandra B

Shila A

Sonja R

Stephanie L

Tharunamaya A

Vanessa M

Not photographed: Jane A, Johanka M, Shianne E

March 23, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – Operations Department

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the Operations department.

Airam S

Ali H

Antonio D

Benji B

Candice L

Conrado M

Crecien B

David L

Elisa C

Elizabeth R

Elson H

Flamingo X

Francisco D

George V

Irene M

Jennifer G-G

Jenny E-C

Jodi W

Juanito D

Karla C

Kayla I

Kulwant K

Maria N

Nelly Y

Nikita B

Philomena C

Qasim A

Rebecca W

Reynato T

Sandra M

Sarika G

Satomi A

Sheri P

Yndira A

Zaldy F

Not photographed: Teresa H, Thomas T

March 22, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – Early Years Department

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the Early Years department.

Alice C

Alissa M

Amie F

Ana K

Ana M

Ana V

Andrea H

Anna L

Annie Y

Anthonia I

Aurora H

Bharti V

Binh K

Bobby Jo Ann M

Calee C

Carmelita A

Carmina B

Cecilia G

Celine C

Chanelle M

Cindy C

Claudia A

Cristina M

Diana T

Donna B

Elaine H

Elizabeth R

Estella I

Eve P

Grace Y

Heather B

Im Mei K

Jeany T

Joan D

Josie O

Julieta H

Kalvinder K

Karen W

Karla A

Katty M

Ken G

Kumo L

Maliha H

Mandy F

Marcia P

Maria G

Mary H

Maryam J.R

Maycia K

Michele P

Mitra A

Nazima R

Nic G

Nicole J

Paula W

Ram D

Renuka B

Rosanna C

Ryan Z

Sabrina B

San Thawda K

Satinder S

Shafani R

Sharon X

Soudi B

Tajinder S

Terry S

Tiffany O

Valeria M.R

Walda G

Alison M

March 21, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – Community Services Department

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the Community Services department.

Amir S

Ana M

Angelica V

Anna H

Anthony W

Ava J

Carmen C

Cecilia G

Claire B

Cyrus K

Cyville C

Deborah A

Dovana S

Eda E

Edith M

Gabby P

Hannah B

Helen S

Jenny S

Joe C

Julieta H

Karen C

Lindy B

Lupita C

Marcela M-F

Maria A

Nhan L

Qhairuzan M

Robert M

Rosanna C

Sue W

Suzanne L

Tim F

Yndira A

Not photographed: Monica C

March 18, 2022
Celebrating CNH’s Staff – Community Development Department

We are so grateful to every single CNH staff member for all that they have done during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been extraordinarily flexible and creative and have done everything possible to keep their colleagues and our participants safe and healthy. They have created new programming, to meet needs that emerged during the pandemic, they’ve trained new volunteers, who stepped forward to help out, and they have been very supportive of one another. We are so grateful to have such a professional, compassionate, hard-working team. We are grateful to every single person on our staff. Thank you! Today we celebrate the staff of the Community Development department.

Eda E

Emily R

Gillian D

Grace W

Naiya T

Najia E

Yoko T

Not photographed: Andrea B, Ryan N, Suyu H

March 17, 2022
Reynato Tan recognized for over 25 years of service

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Reynato Tan for 25 years of service. Here’s what Facility Coordinator Qasim Ahmadi has to say about Rey:

Rey has worked with CNH for more than 25 years. Rey is very hardworking, kind, helpful, knowledgeable, and a great team player. He brings great ideas to the Custodian Team on how we can improve the health and safety of all staff. During the Facility Coordinator’s vacation, Rey has filled in as the Acting Facility Coordinator. He has done very well while covering for the Coordinator. Congratulations on this milestone, Rey!

October 19, 2021