Forest Hill ‘gatekeeper’ keeps everyone safe while bringing positivity to work

Ken Gagnon screens everyone who enters the home to keep residents and staff safe during the pandemic, and he does so with humour and kindness

Ken Gagnon has a serious job to do at Forest Hill but he does his work every day with a sense of humour and positivity that’s noticed and appreciated by staff members at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home.

Standing at Forest Hill’s front entrance, Ken screens everyone who enters the home to keep residents and staff members safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ken, who is the husband of Forest Hill nursing administrative service manager (NASM) Anna Gagnon, was hired by the home to help during the ongoing global pandemic.

“He does an amazing job; he’s very thorough and we know we’re in good hands when Ken is working,” says Forest Hill life enrichment co-ordinator Craig Forest.

Craig says Ken is “meticulous” in the work he does screening people at the front door to make sure it’s safe for them to enter the home, and he always takes special care to ensure his work is done correctly.

But at the same time, Ken is always friendly and welcoming to everyone, Craig notes, adding staff members have shown their appreciation for Ken by bringing him food or gifts they’ve made.

Craig says Ken brings a lot of humour to his job.

“He is really funny and he has endeared himself to our staff, and he is always positive and joking with people,” the LEC says.

“Ken is absolutely loved by the staff. During these times things can be awfully stressful, but he always brings positivity to the staff as they come in.”

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