Lakeridge Gardens has been named a 2026 Ajax News Advertiser Readers' Choice winner in the Best Nursing Homes/Long-Term Care Centre category.
Thousands of nominations and votes were cast in this year's Readers' Choice program, with members of the Ajax community selecting the long-term care home for the recognition, according to a Lakeridge Health news release.
The award reflects more than care provided inside the home, the release noted, recognizing the residents, families, staff and community partners whose voices and contributions help make Lakeridge Gardens a strong and caring community.
Being chosen by members of the Ajax community is especially meaningful because it reflects the relationships Lakeridge Gardens has built beyond our walls. This recognition belongs to our residents, families, staff and community partners, whose voices and contributions help make Lakeridge Gardens a strong and caring community.
Jeanette Dindial, Director of Operations at Lakeridge Gardens, said those words in the release.
Community partners celebrated in September
Those relationships were also at the centre of the Ontario Long Term Care Association's (OLTCA) Community Engagement Day, held at Lakeridge Gardens on September 18.
OLTCA Community Engagement Day is a province-wide initiative that gives long-term care homes opportunities to strengthen community connections and showcase the people and partnerships that shape daily life in long-term care.
At Lakeridge Gardens, the event brought residents, families, community partners, staff and guests together for resident and family stories, chances to connect, and an Essential Partners in Care Awards presentation recognizing individuals whose dedicated partnership has made a meaningful difference.
Guests received sunflowers as a parting gift — a symbol, the release noted, of warmth, resilience and a community strengthened when people turn toward one another.
'Partners in our home, not simply recipients of care'
For residents, the connections create opportunities to have a voice in the home. For staff and leaders, they offer the chance to learn directly from residents and families, while community partners gain another way to stay connected to and support people living in long-term care.
Togetherness is more than physical proximity. It is a shared sense of belonging, support and unity. It reminds us that we are stronger and more resilient when we are connected to others.
Those words came from Kristen Feasby, a Lakeridge Gardens resident and president of the Residents' Council, according to a Lakeridge Health news release.
As residents, we know how important it is to feel heard, respected and included in the decisions that affect us. We want to feel like partners in our home, not simply recipients of care.
Feasby also serves as an ambassador for the Essential Partners in Care program, one of the ways the home brings residents, families, staff and partners together to build a stronger community.
When residents, families and staff work together and listen to one another, we can create a stronger community and a better experience for everyone.
The collaborative approach also reflects Lakeridge Health's 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, Care Closer to Home, which commits to Exceptional, Equitable, Connected Care and Great People. Strong Culture. — goals the health network says are advanced by listening to residents and working alongside families and partners.
The Readers' Choice recognition and Community Engagement Day tell two sides of the same story: the award reflects the home's connection with the wider Ajax community, while the event celebrated the relationships that strengthen the home from within.
