Vancouver, BC – January 2, 2026 — Optima Living is proud to announce that two Optima communities and 12 team members were nominated for the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) 12th Annual BC Care Awards, recognizing exceptional dedication and service in seniors’ care across British Columbia.
This year, outstanding team members from Duncan, Fleetwood, Westsyde, Vernon, and Penticton; Riverside Manor; Royal Crescent Gardens; and Oakwood Manor were nominated for Provider of the Year across both the Long-Term Care and Assisted Living categories. These nominations reflect the compassion, professionalism, and resident-centred care our teams deliver every day.
In addition to these individual honours, Optima Living and two communities—Duncan and Wisteria Place—were nominated for Workplace of the Year, highlighting our commitment to fostering supportive, engaged, and inspiring environments for both residents and team members.
“Being nominated across multiple categories is a significant acknowledgement of the compassion and professionalism our teams bring to seniors throughout British Columbia,” said Angela Grottoli, Optima Living Chief Operating Officer. “These honours reflect the strength of our care model and the unwavering dedication of our team members who make our communities feel like home. Their commitment inspires us to continue advancing excellence in seniors’ living across British Columbia and Western Canada.”
This recognition reflects the contributions our team members make every day across our communities. We extend our warm congratulations to all nominees and are proud to honour the impact they have on seniors’ care throughout British Columbia.
Optima Living’s 2025 BC Care Award Nominees
We are proud to celebrate the following nominees:
Provider of the Year — Long-Term Care
- Teresita Ames, Health Care Aide, Oakwood Manor
- Teresa Bagshaw, Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Duncan
- Taylor Clark, Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Westsyde
- Deborah Furgeson, Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Vernon
- Freda Saban, Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Penticton
- Simranjit Virpal, Registered Nurse, Evergreen Hamlets at Fleetwood
Provider of the Year — Assisted Living
- Lucy Cable, Health Care Aide, Royal Crescent Gardens
- Rosario Castro, Assisted Living Worker, The Hamlets at Vernon
- Cathy Donaldson, Healthcare Aide, Riverside Manor
- Ian Evans, Assisted Living Worker, The Hamlets at Penticton
- Gayle Murphy, Assisted Living Worker, The Hamlets at Westsyde
- Maribel Pakingan, Assisted Living Worker, The Hamlets at Duncan
Workplace of the Year — Communities
- The Hamlets at Duncan
- Wisteria Place
Workplace of the Year — Organization
- Optima Living
About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by a love for seniors and their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to offer a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care.
What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health and Memory Care, including Optima’s own proprietary brain health and care model: Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way.
Today, we are the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, serving 4,300+ residents in Alberta and British Columbia.
Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy, deep community ties, and a focus on innovation, we are shaping a future defined by integrity, dignity, and empathy.
At Optima Living, senior living is about thriving, not just residing. We’re redefining aging with purpose by creating communities where residents live well with dignity, connection, and joy.
Discover how we are changing the landscape of senior living at https://optimaliving.ca/.
Optima Living: Let us welcome you home™.
Contact:
Katie Matthews
Senior Manager, Communications
Optima Living
T: (236) 988-5883 | E: [email protected]
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