Residents at Berwick House and Berwick Royal Oak thrive in a community built on inclusion, diversity and a dedication to creating a supportive and enjoyable environment – a community that is in many ways "family" for staff as well.
Central to the Berwick family are student dining room servers, young adults in high school and college who serve residents breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and assist dining room staff with special monthly events such as high tea, themed dinners and patio parties.
While serving meals might seem like a small role in such a large community, the interactions between servers and residents create meaningful and lasting memories that profoundly impact both.
"Every morning in the dining room at Berwick begins with a beaming 'Good Morning!' from a youthful server, along with a plentiful and interesting breakfast. Lunch brings more smiles, a delicious menu and friendly, efficient service," says Bob McLure, a resident at Berwick Royal Oak. "Dinner caps off the day with even more interesting menu options, more smiling servers and a special dessert choice.
"The Bistro, with its casual dining atmosphere and custom-prepared meals, offers personalized service throughout the day and for a change of pace, The Shield & Dragon Pub presents an exciting menu with full beverage service, including craft cocktails and coffees, all served by a knowledgeable and cheerful staff. No matter what the weather is like outside, Berwick's food and service are, without a doubt, sunny all day, every day!"
Resident Joy Larsen recalls a memorable moment when student server Sam asked for a picture with her to show his family one of his Berwick friends. Students Emily, Angela and Simone soon followed suit.
"It was very sweet of them," Joy says.
Students who graduated this past June had been part of the Berwick family for many months – some more than three years! In recognition, Berwick hosted a special graduation event in July to celebrate the achievement.
"Our graduation celebration allowed our residents to share in the joy our student workers felt upon completing such a significant milestone in their young lives," says Kathy McAree, Community Relations Manager at Berwick Royal Oak in Victoria. "Shared experiences, life advice and cherished memories all help strengthen the familial bonds between Berwick residents and their student servers."
"Residents from both our Victoria locations, as well as our team members, would like to extend our congratulations and gratitude to the students we have been honoured to work with and live alongside for the past few years. We’re excited to see what is next for these brilliant young adults and hope our paths will cross again as they develop their careers," says Linda MacDonald, Community Relations Manager at Berwick House.
Learn more about Berwick Retirement Communities online at berwickretirement.com. To book a tour of Berwick House in Gordon Head, contact Linda McDonald at 250-853-5492. For a tour of Berwick Royal Oak, contact Kathy McAree at 250-419-4012.