Captured Caring: Inspiring Moments for September 2026

The Sustainability Support Team was excited to join People and Wellness during their August programming at both Hennick Bridgepoint and Mount Sinai Hospitals. It was a wonderful chance to connect with Sinai Health people, chat about sustainable transportation, and simple ways to build sustainability into our daily routines.

As part of the event, the City of Toronto and Cycle Toronto hosted a bike maintenance workshop offering for hands-on tune-ups and tips on essential year-round care.

Both Hennick Bridgepoint and Mount Sinai offer staff access to secure bike parking at their bike-specific caged parking. If you haven't set up access yet, reach out to the Mount Sinai or Hennick Bridgepoint security team to get added!

Submitted by: Yuna Song, Sustainability Project Manager, Sinai Health

The Patient Education Pavilion at Mount Sinai and Patient Library at Hennick Bridgepoint, both part of Library Services, are now offering free e-book and audiobook access to patients, families and caregivers through Libby, a popular digital library app. Interested users can sign up for instant access to hundreds of health and wellness books on their personal devices. Patients and families can browse our collection here and use the code sinaifall2026 to register. Help spread the word about this new resource to patients and families. Thank you to the Sinai Health Foundation for their generous support in this new venture!

Submitted by: Brenna Leslie, Information Specialist, Library Services, Mount Sinai Hospital

Rebecca Lemieux, our Clinical Nurse Specialist in Geriatrics took on a unique role during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto. Rebecca was one of a select group of people who volunteered at the event. Rebecca was able to apply her Sinai Health values of Service and Humanity while acting as a guide and way-finder for the thousands of visitors to our city. Rebecca marvels at how wonderful it was to participate in this amazing event and carries many cherished memories from her experience.

Submitted by: Leanne Ginty, Senior Director, Nursing Education and Academic Affairs

In July, Sinai Health had the pleasure of hosting an Energy Efficiency for Building Operators and Maintenance Staff (EEBO) training session as part of the City of Toronto’s Green Will Initiative, in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Energy Training. The event brought together 46 professionals from organizations across sectors, creating an opportunity to bring diverse perspectives and expertise to Mount Sinai and identify practical energy-saving opportunities.

Working alongside Sinai Health’s operations team, participants explored building systems, reviewed energy performance, and brainstormed potential energy-saving ideas. 

The event highlighted Sinai Health’s commitment to energy efficiency and our role as a leader in advancing sustainability in health care. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and contributed to a day of learning, collaboration, and action toward a more efficient and lower-carbon health-care system.

Submitted by: Yuna Song, Sustainability Project Manager, Sinai Health

This summer, the Maximizing Aging Using Volunteer Engagement (MAUVE) program volunteers attended the Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) to Dementia Care course for MAUVE Education Day.

The training supported MAUVE volunteers who work directly with older adult patients on inpatient units. Many of the patients they support have dementia, delirium and responsive behaviours. The interactive education session provided volunteers with a deeper understanding of responsive behaviours, enabling volunteers to better support patients.

Volunteers will be able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to their volunteer role, fostering more meaningful interactions with patients.

To date, 36 MAUVE volunteers have completed the GPA course.

Submitted by: Lahina Sivanantharajah, MAUVE Coordinator, Volunteer Resources, Sinai Health

This year, the MAUVE program supported three volunteers in reaching their goals of going to medical school.

Specialized experiences including patient engagement, robust training and ongoing support in the MAUVE program help our volunteers attain their career goals. Read what they had to say below.

Submitted by: Angel Lau, Elder Life Specialist, Volunteer Resources, Sinai Health

“With the guidance of the MAUVE coordinators, I experienced tremendous personal growth by learning the importance of compassionate bedside manner when caring for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. I learned to treat each patient with dignity and respect by tailoring activities to their individual needs while engaging in meaningful conversations that helped them feel heard and understood.

MAUVE also taught me the importance of collaboration. Working alongside peers showed me how teamwork enhances the quality of care we provide as volunteers. I am grateful for my time with MAUVE. The lessons I gained here will continue to shape me into a patient-centered, compassionate, and collaborative physician.”

 —  Linqiao Zhou, now attending medical school at the University of British Columbia

“I am so appreciative for my time at MAUVE as I have been able to develop both professional and life skills. I am also confident in my patient-interaction skills as I take my first steps into a medical career. With a positive environment and amazingly supportive supervisors, MAUVE is one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience in the health-care setting! I am grateful to Angel, Lahina and Maggie, who are the heart and core of the MAUVE Program!” 

 — Melanie Yu, now attending medical school at the University of Toronto

“MAUVE helped shape the kind of physician I hope to become. I learned that building trust with patients often takes time. During initial volunteer visits, some patients were understandably anxious, bored, or hesitant to engage with us. But over time, by approaching each visit with kindness, listening carefully, and choosing activities that spoke to patients as individuals, they became much more comfortable and open. I felt privileged to spend time with patients through conversations and activities, and to learn from their unique life experiences. The importance of patience, listening, and kindness in care are lessons I hope to carry with me into my future career as a physician. 

MAUVE also taught me the value of teamwork in patient care. My volunteering partners often brought unique perspectives, cultural understanding, and activity ideas that helped us better connect with patients. Their feedback helped me recognize when a different approach could make an interaction more engaging. Through these experiences, I learned that I will not always have the best answer on my own. As a future physician, I hope to carry this mindset with me by learning from my colleagues and working together to provide better care for patients.”

  — Ojas Singh, now attending medical school at Western University