The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Below is information from the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils regarding the Residents' Bill of Rights. For more information, click on the links below or visit the website at the bottom.

The formation of residents’ rights, which are afforded to all persons living in long-term care homes, began in the early 1950s and evolved into 29 distinct rights. The Ontario Residents’ Bill of Rights is embedded in our provincial legislation, the Fixing Long-Term Care Act (FLTCA), 2021, and accompanying Regulations (O. Reg. 246/22)

All long-term care homes in Ontario (including those formerly known as nursing homes, municipal homes for the aged, and charitable homes) are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. The requirements in the LTCHA ensure that residents of these homes receive safe, consistent, and high-quality resident-centered care in settings where residents feel at home, are treated with respect, and have the supports and services they need for their health and well-being.

Residents’ Councils review and promote the Residents’ Bill of Rights. The following resources are some of the supports available to provide a deeper understanding of the rights.

Access the English Residents’ Bill of Rights here

To access an English video/audio version of the Residents’ Bill of Rights, click here

To access translations of the Residents’ Bill of Rights in different languages, click here

To learn more about enhancing Residents’ Bill of Rights Education at your home, check our Through Our Eyes

Celebrates and highlights Black History and culture, and honours ancestors and leaders of Black communities. This month provides an opportunity to highlight the ways that anti-Black racism and rhetoric negatively affect Black Canadians. While it began as a week in the United States almost 100 years ago, Canada didn’t recognize any Black History dates until 1995.

Resource: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2026/01/the-government-of-canada-announces-the-theme-for-black-history-month-2026.html

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak, Cedar, & Birch Home Area remains a Respiratory Outbreak, with symptoms of cough, congestion, and/or runny nose, with two (2) residents testing positive for COVID in Birch. Family members have been notified. We are currently waiting for test results for multiple residents through Public Health.

If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No General Visitors to the Cedar and Birch Home Areas at this time
• Essential Caregivers two (2) at a time for visiting only
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak, Cedar, & Birch Home Area remains a Respiratory Outbreak, with symptoms of cough, congestion, and/or runny nose, with two (2) residents testing positive for COVID in Birch. Family members have been notified. We are currently waiting for test results for multiple residents through Public Health.

If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No General Visitors to the Cedar and Birch Home Areas at this time
• Essential Caregivers two (2) at a time for visiting only
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak, Cedar, & Birch Home Area remains a Respiratory Outbreak, with symptoms of cough, congestion, and/or runny nose, with two (2) residents testing positive for COVID in Birch. Family members have been notified. We are currently waiting for test results for multiple residents through Public Health.

If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No General Visitors to the Cedar and Birch Home Areas at this time
• Essential Caregivers two (2) at a time for visiting only
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak, Cedar, & Birch Home Area remains a Respiratory Outbreak, with symptoms of cough, congestion, and/or runny nose, with two (2) residents testing positive for COVID in Birch. Family members have been notified. We are currently waiting for test results for multiple residents through Public Health.

If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No General Visitors to the Cedar and Birch Home Areas at this time
• Essential Caregivers two (2) at a time for visiting only
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak Home Area declared a Respiratory Outbreak on January 23, 2026. There are currently five (5) residents with symptoms of cough, congestion, and/or runny nose. Cedar & Birch Home Areas remain in a Respiratory Outbreak with two (2) residents testing positive for COVID in Birch. Family members have been notified. We are currently waiting for test results for multiple residents through Public Health.

If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No General Visitors to the Cedar and Birch Home Areas at this time
• Essential Caregivers two (2) at a time for visiting only
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

The residents have chosen England as this month’s destination. On Thursday, January 29th, 2026, our team will be dedicating the day to all things English—food, activities, and plenty of fun. Come join us as we explore England together!

Please remember that the Pines is part of an idling‑free community. If you are picking up a resident, please turn off your car while parked at the front entrance. This area may only be used for a brief stop, as it must remain clear for emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, bus loading for outings, and other essential access.