Sunnyside won its first ICAA award in 2006 and received the NuStep Pinnacle Award in 2010, so this 2025 recognition represents nearly two decades of collaborative work.

Winning the ICAA NuStep Pinnacle Award is an incredible honor. It reflects the highest standards in active aging and wellness and the shared commitment of our Sunnyside community.

I am grateful to be recognized, as it reflects the time, trust, and support others have invested in me. I continue to feel appreciative and humbled with each award that Sunnyside and I receive.

I have learned so much from ICAA and the people around me, and I am deeply thankful to the mentors, residents, community members, and Sunnyside team members—from corporate office to frontline staff—who have supported and encouraged me along the way. This recognition is truly shared with them and motivates me to continue work I am proud of, that positively impacts the industry.

This recognition also helped foster collaborations, including the University of Ottawa’s InterActive for Life & ICAA Partnership Project and Brain Gym AI.

At Sunnyside, we remain committed to empowering residents to thrive, find purpose, and maintain balance throughout their lives. This award validates our direction and inspires us to keep raising the standard for our residents and for the broader wellness industry.

Being named one of the top five Wellness Directors in North America as part of the 2025 ICAA NuStep Pinnacle Award is a tremendous honor. It reflects both my personal passion and the Asbury Riverwoods commitment to forward thinking programs, innovations, brain-based functional movement programs, and a proactive metrics driven approach to active aging.

At its core, this honor reflects my belief that quality of life is shaped by active engagement, not age. It affirms my commitment to functional aging rooted in integrity, compassion, and individualized support that meets each senior where they are.

To me, wellness means helping people maximize their potential so they can fully participate in and appreciate each moment of life, and I am deeply humbled that this award recognizes that life’s work.

Earning the ICAA NuStep Pinnacle Award was an incredibly meaningful professional milestone for me. As a wellness director, this recognition represents the culmination of years of dedication, strategic planning, and collaboration to build a vibrant, comprehensive wellness program that serves both our residents and the greater community.

From creating innovative programs that address all seven dimensions of wellness to fostering partnerships across multiple departments, the journey has required a strong commitment to excellence, creativity, and continuous improvement. Receiving this award validates the vision and effort that have gone into developing a culture of wellness that empowers individuals to live healthier, more engaged lives.

What makes this honor especially gratifying is knowing that the quality and impact of our work have been recognized at such a high level within the senior living industry. Coordinating programs, services, and resources across an organization is both complex and challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding when those efforts translate into meaningful outcomes for residents.

The Pinnacle Award serves as a testament not only to the strength of our wellness program but also to the dedication of the entire team that helps bring that vision to life every day. It reinforces our commitment to raising the standard for wellness programming and inspires us to continue innovating and enhancing the lives of those we care for and serve.

Winning the award helped me to realize that what I do on a daily basis matters.  It has also helped me to trust my discernment as creating a Brain and Balance Center was completely new to me and I relied on my knowledge, experience and my instinct to make decisions.

Working in senior living is emotionally, mentally and physically draining so earning this award helps me to move forward on the days that are really difficult.  Because I know that ultimately, what I do DOES make a difference in the lives of my seniors.

As an aging senior myself, I am thirsty for knowledge of how to live my life with more purpose and strength.  I have found that having fun is key to any successful program.  We don’t “play” as adults and it is to our detriment.  I try to work play into all of my programing to help keep residents coming back.

Winning the ICAA NuStep Pinnacle Award for Wellness Directors in 2024 was both humbling and deeply meaningful. To be recognized among so many incredible wellness professionals across North America affirmed the passion, purpose, and intentionality behind the work we do every day.

Wellness has never been just a job for me; it is deeply personal. It is about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, connected, and empowered to thrive in every dimension of their wellbeing.

Receiving the award again in 2025 made the recognition even more special because it reflected not just a single accomplishment, but a continued commitment to innovation, compassion, collaboration, and holistic wellness programming.

I am incredibly grateful to the ICAA and NuStep for this honor and for continuing to elevate the importance of whole-person wellness within our communities. I am also deeply thankful to Asbury Communities for creating an environment that has allowed me to truly be myself; innovative, curious, creative, and deeply people-centered in my approach to wellness leadership.

More than anything, this award represents the incredible team, residents, associates, and community that make the work possible every day. None of this happens alone. From meaningful intergenerational programs and brain health initiatives to emotional wellness conversations and community partnerships, every success has been rooted in collective effort and shared purpose.

As an older immigrant and wellness leader, this recognition is also a reminder that perseverance, authenticity, and service truly matter. I hope it encourages others to continue leading with heart, creating with intention, and believing that wellness can transform lives and communities.