The Meadows Yarmouth

05/23/2026

AN UPDATE FROM THE MEADOWS — HEADING INTO WEEK 7 OF LABOUR DISRUPTION 💚

To our families, residents, staff, and community —

We are now heading into week seven. So sorry, no one could have ever imagined we would have gone this long.

It has been a long road. Some days the weight of where we are feels heavier than others. Today felt a little different — because today, we were heard.

🤝 A VISIT FROM OUR MLA

Our MLA, Nick Hilton, came to The Meadows today. He did not come for a photo or a quick fly-by. He stayed for four hours.

In that time, Nick walked our hallways, spoke with our staff working inside, spoke with CUPE members, talked with residents, listened to family members, and sat down with me while I shared concerns from every side.

👂 WHAT HE SAW & HEARD

He saw family members in tears. He heard from striking staff about why they are standing where they are. He saw highlights of our internal survey, where he heard from our managers and non-union team about the toll of extended hours, working 30 days straight, missing time with their own families, and postponing medical care — all because the residents need them. He heard how tired the CUPE members are and how it's hitting them. He saw the high-level results of the family survey. He heard from staff who said they were done. He saw our payroll person, who would normally be off working in the laundry. He walked alongside me, our CUPE president, while we did our daily inspection throughout the building.

He listened to every part of it.

🤍 NOT POLITICS — PEOPLE

We, The Meadows, we are not into politics. We are not into rhetoric. What we are into is the people who depend on us — the residents who have spent their lives in this community and who deserve every ounce of dignity, comfort, and care that we can give them. And the people who work here, on both sides of this dispute, who are caught up in something none of us would have chosen.

I shared with Nick my view that we cannot bargain on the backs of human beings. He gets it.

I wish I could tell you there is an end in sight. I cannot.

Nick cannot end this strike on his own. What he can do is carry forward the human aspect of what this is doing to everyone at The Meadows , to our community, most of all to the residents we serve, and to the family we have built here.

❤️ TO OUR FAMILIES

To every family who has taken the time to participate in our family surveys — those who responded once, and those who responded in both rounds — thank you. I have read every comment. Each one.

What you shared has shaped what we have been able to do. Some of the small changes that came from listening to you:

🧁 We brought back muffins for breakfast

🍽️ CUPE permitted us to extend the extra help at lunch — which has meaningfully reduced risk to residents and staff.

🛁 CUPE has worked with us to get more staff in when baths have been missed.

These changes are small. We know they are. But every adjustment matters in this period — and they were possible because you helped us see what needed attention.

I will reopen the family survey next week to ask you again. Your voices are how we measure whether what we are doing is actually working — and where it is not, where we need to keep pushing. I've learned some families were holding back their concerns, please do not. We need to hear them.

I read each concern. I share each concern with the team. Wherever we can act, we do. Sometimes we can't. Our hands are tied, but we fight and we try.

💛 TO OUR RESIDENTS

We see you. We are sorry this is still going. We continue to do everything we can for you, and we cannot wait for the day everyone is back together under one roof — the way it should be.

🙏 TO OUR STAFF — ON ALL SIDES

To the team inside: you are tired, you are stretched, and you are still showing up. To those on the line: we know this is hard on you too. On every side of this, you are people we know and care about. You've shared with us that you're thinking of leaving, please hang on if you can. You are an important part of our family, and we need you, we will need you to rebuild.

🏘️ TO OUR NEIGHBOURS

We are sorry that this disruption continues to impact your daily lives. We are grateful for the patience and kindness you have shown over these past weeks.

To our team — please continue to be mindful about where you park. Every small consideration we can show our neighbours right now matters.

We hope eventually your street and sidewalk will become quiet and peaceful again, and those on the line will be back inside caring for those who live here.

💚 THANK YOU, NICK

Thank you for the time. Thank you for the listening. Thank you for showing up.

To our Meadows family — our team, our residents, our families — we are going to get through this. Together. 💚

-Anna Babin

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05/15/2026

Family Survey Update
A family survey was sent out today via CareQ, and the link is now active and working. If you tried to access it earlier this morning and had trouble, please try again—it has been fixed.
To answer a few common questions:

Yes, more than one family member is welcome to complete the survey
Yes, even if you participated last week, we would love to hear from you again. We want to measure any improvements or declines based on changes in staffing.

We are continuing to gather feedback to understand whether recent changes, including increases in recreation programming, CCA hours, and rehabilitation supports, are making a difference.

Please tell us: We are reading the surveys and what you tell us, and making every attempt to resolve the issues.

Your input is very important and helps guide our decisions, where to focus our resources to better support staff and those who work here.

05/11/2026

AN UPDATE FROM THE MEADOWS — 5th WEEK LABOUR DISRUPTION 💚
To our families, residents, staff, and community —
We are now into week five.
We had truly hoped that by this point we would be writing about a return to normal. Instead, we are continuing to navigate this disruption together, and we want to share an honest update with everyone who calls The Meadows home — or loves someone who does.
📋 WHERE THINGS STAND
The parties returned to the bargaining table this past week. Unfortunately, no resolution was reached. The path to a settlement remains uncertain. We continue to hold hope. We also continue to navigate day by day.
🤍 EVERYONE IS TIRED
Five weeks is a long time. We see it on every face we pass — inside our walls and on the line outside them. Families are tired. Residents are tired. Our team inside is tired. Our colleagues on the picket line are tired. There is no part of this community untouched by the weight of where we are.
This is the honest truth, and we are saying it plainly because the people who care about The Meadows deserve to hear it plainly.
❤️ WHAT FAMILIES TOLD US
Last week, we asked our families to share their observations about how the disruption has affected their loved ones. The response has been remarkable — thoughtful, honest, and at times deeply moving.
Of the 20 families who responded, seven out of ten told us they have moderate or higher concern about how their loved one is doing during this disruption. Some were extremely concerned, while others told us their loved one is doing alright. All of it was heard. All of it was read. All of it is helping us advocate for what our residents need.
The family survey is now closed for this round, but we will be relaunching it again next week to see whether the additional supports we have brought in are making a difference. In addition, our team will be going around next week to survey our residents directly — their voices matter most of all, and we want to hear from them in their own words.
In the meantime, if you or your loved one would like to share feedback at any time, there is a feedback box outside my office. Anything left there will reach me directly.
We are deeply grateful to every family member who took the time to share with us so far and we use this information as evidence to increase our staffing in certain areas - see more news below.
🌿 SOME GOOD NEWS
In response to the cumulative impact of an extended disruption — and informed by what our families and clinicians have told us — we have been able to bring in additional support in two areas:
🎨 Recreation — 15 hours per week of recreation programming, returning a measure of the music, activities, laughter, and connection our residents have been missing.
🤲 Rehabilitation — slight additional support for mobilization, walking, and physical care, helping our residents maintain strength and movement.
These supports are aimed at the mental and physical wellbeing of our residents — at the parts of care that go beyond essential survival to the things that make a life meaningful. We hope every hour of it makes a difference.
👩‍⚕️ NURSES WEEK
This week is also National Nurses Week. To every nurse connected to The Meadows — past and present, inside and on the line — thank you. The work you do matters more than words can capture. 💚
💛 TO OUR RESIDENTS
We see you. We are sorry this is taking so long. We continue to do everything we can for you — and we cannot wait for the day we get to welcome everyone back together under one roof, the way it should be.
🙏 TO OUR STAFF — ON ALL SIDES
To the team inside: you are tired, you are stretched, and you are still showing up. To those on the line: we know this is hard on you too. We have not forgotten that on every side of this, you are people we know and care about.
A reminder — our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) remains available to all of our staff, on every side of this. If you or your family are struggling and would benefit from confidential support, please use it. That is what it is there for.
Be kind to one another. Be kind to yourselves. Whatever happens at the table, we are still a community. Also a separate communication was circulated on Friday. Please take the time to read it and let us know if you have questions.
🏘️ TO OUR NEIGHBOURS
We are sorry that this is impacting your daily lives. We hope eventually your street and sidewalk will become quiet and peaceful again and those on the line will be back in caring for those who live here.
🤝 TO OUR FAMILIES — PLEASE KEEP COMING and SHARING
Please keep visiting. Please keep calling. Your presence and your voices are a gift to our residents right now and please continue giving us feedback.

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05/11/2026

As we celebrate Nurses Week, I want to take a moment to express how deeply proud I am of each of you. Over these past weeks, during a time of uncertainty and strain, you have shown extraordinary patience, professionalism, and compassion. Even with neighbourhood shortages and the added pressures of the strike, you have stepped in wherever you could, supported one another, your team, and continued to provide exceptional care to our residents.

Your resilience is remarkable. Your teamwork is unwavering. And your commitment to our residents and to each other is something I am truly grateful for.

I am so proud to lead such a dedicated, capable, and compassionate team. Thank you for everything you do — not just this week, but every day.

With so much appreciation,

Lindsay Thurston,
Clinical Director and the Management Team @ The Meadows

05/07/2026

Crossing fingers that the parties reach a deal !

Union representing workers including continuing care assistants, licensed practical nurses and housekeeping staff at long-term care homes has been on strike since April 13.

05/07/2026

Good news, the parties are meeting to resume talks, let's hope they can reach a deal! Send your prayers, cross your fingers and toes- for our residents!!!

After nearly a month-long strike for long-term care workers, the Nova Scotia government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have agreed to return to the bargaining table.

05/06/2026

AN UPDATE FROM THE MEADOWS — 4th WEEK LABOUR DISRUPTION 💚
To our families, residents, staff, and community —
We are now into week four. We had truly hoped — and honestly believed — that we would not be writing this kind of update at this point. The fact that we are is something we feel deeply.
Today, I want to be honest with you.
I cried today. So have some of our managers, some of our employees, and I have no doubt some of our families and residents have too. We are now four weeks into a disruption that has us operating at roughly half of our normal staffing, and that takes a toll on everyone — on residents, on families, on the team inside, and on our colleagues on the line. Some of our managers have had only one day off in twenty-five days. That is not a complaint; it is the reality of where we are. Those on the picket line are also carrying real fatigue, real worry, and real personal cost. There is no part of this community that is unaffected. We cry because we care, and we are stuck in a situation we can't fix.
We are saying this not to ask for sympathy, but because honesty is what this moment requires.
📋 WHERE THINGS STAND
There is still no resolution at the bargaining table. We continue to monitor and respond to what is in front of us, day by day.
❤️ TO OUR FAMILIES THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP
Yesterday, we launched a brief survey asking our families to share how they are seeing this disruption affect their loved ones. The response in the first day has been remarkable — thoughtful, honest, and at times deeply moving. Every voice has been heard. Every comment has been read. We are grateful to every family member who took the time to write to us — whether the impact you described was significant or minimal, your perspective matters, and it is helping inform every decision we make from here.
The survey remains open, and additional responses are coming in daily. If you have not yet shared your observations with us and would like to, please reach out to the facility, and we will make sure you have access. We have also heard from residents and are capturing their concerns, pulling it all together.
🌿 WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
Good news! In response to the cumulative impact of an extended disruption, we have been working to bring in additional support in some of the areas where we know our residents need it most — including additional recreation engagement and rehabilitation support. Not normal levels but our hope is that these supports help ease some of what residents and families have been experiencing. We will continue to advocate for our residents' needs through every channel available to us.
🙏 TO OUR STAFF — ON ALL SIDES
To the team inside: you are tired, you are stretched, and you are still showing up. To those on the line: we know this is not easy on you either. We have not forgotten that on every side of this, you are people we know and care about.
I am also working on a direct communication to all of our staff that will be going out in the coming days. There is more to say than fits in a public update, and you deserve to hear it from me directly.
A reminder to everyone — our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) remains available to all of our staff, on every side of this. If you or your family are struggling and would benefit from confidential support, please use it. That is what it is there for.
Be kind to one another. Be kind to yourselves. Reach out for support when you need it — and please give each other grace. Whatever happens at the bargaining table, we are still a community, and how we treat each other through this matters.
💛 TO OUR RESIDENTS
We see you. We are sorry this is taking so long. We continue to do everything in our power to support you through this — and we cannot wait for the day we get to bring everyone back together under one roof, the way it should be. We are also pulling our observations and your direct feedback and want to hear from you.

🤝 TO OUR FAMILIES — PLEASE KEEP COMING
If a picket line feels intimidating, please know there is no hostility here — only a difficult situation we all hope to see resolved. Please keep visiting. Please keep calling. Your presence and your voices are a gift to our residents right now.

We will continue to post updates as the situation evolves. For questions or concerns. I wish I had better news.

Anna Babin CEO, The Meadows

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04/26/2026

💚 AN UPDATE FROM THE MEADOWS
- 3rd WEEK LABOUR DISRUPTION 💚

To our families, residents, staff, and community —

As we enter week three of the current labour action, we want to share an honest update with everyone who calls The Meadows home — or loves someone who does.

📋 WHERE THINGS STAND

At this time, there is no new information to report from either side of the bargaining table. We understand how unsettling that silence can be, and we want you to know — we feel it too.

We hear you. Our residents are missing familiar faces. We know that many families are worried — worried about whether their loved ones are receiving the care and attention they need, worried about what the coming days may bring, and simply missing the peace of mind that comes with a full and familiar team in place. Those concerns are completely understandable, and we do not take them lightly.

🏠 WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE OUR WALLS RIGHT NOW

👥 Our non-unionized staff, administrative team, supervisors, and managers have stepped up — working extended hours, covering weekends, and filling in wherever they can ensure care and essential services continues.

📅 Our schedulers are working hard behind the scenes and even on the front-line providing care, we are building new schedules each week to ensure essential services are covered by available staff. Those schedules are rebuilt week by week - and we are fully prepared to return to our regular schedules the moment the strike is over.

🤝 Our team inside is working together — crossing roles, supporting one another, and showing up every day with dedication and heart.

⚠️ Essential services continue to be provided to our residents. However, we want to be transparent with our community — the current framework is not sustainable long-term, and a resolution is needed.

💛 TO OUR RESIDENTS

We are so sorry you are going through this. You did not ask for this disruption, and you deserve so much better. We too long for the return to normal — for happy hour, for the energy and laughter that this facility knows so well and holds so dear.

From our nurses, CCAs, and LTCAs, to recreation, rehab, dietary, cooks, laundry, environmental services, maintenance, and administration — every single person and every single role is essential to who we are. When all hands are present and working together, you feel it. And right now, we all feel their absence and we know we can't do it without all of you.

We hear your concerns and your frustrations, and we take every one of them seriously. We want to acknowledge that there have been some complaints during this time — and that is completely understandable. When something can be addressed, we work together as a team to find a solution. Please know that your voice matters, and that nothing you share with us goes unheard. Thank you for your understanding and patience and such kind words from so many of you — it means more than we can say.

❤️ TO OUR FAMILIES

We want to reassure you that your loved ones are being cared for, and that your worry has been heard. We worry too. We never anticipated that the parties would go this long without reaching a resolution, and we share your frustration and your hope that one comes soon.

🚗 For those who may feel uncertain about driving on Pleasant Street during the labour action, please know that Ford Avenue remains open and accessible as an alternative entrance. We understand that a picket line can feel intimidating — that is a natural reaction, and there is no shame in it. Those on the line are our workers — people you know — and they have welcomed visits from families, managers, and residents alike. There is no hostility here, only a difficult situation that we all hope to see resolved.

Thank you for your patience, your kind words, and your continued trust in us. Please keep visiting and calling — your presence is a gift to our residents right now.

🏘️ A NOTE TO OUR NEIGHBOURS

We are aware that residents in the surrounding neighbourhood have been experiencing disruptions as a result of the labour action — including excessive horn honking, loud noise, and in some cases, driveways being blocked.

We sincerely apologize for the impact this is having on your daily lives. We hear you, and we understand how frustrating and disruptive this has been. While The Meadows is not in a position to direct or control picket line activity, we want to make sure you know where to turn:

📢 For concerns related to the labour action itself — including questions about the strike — please reach out to CUPE Local 5248 directly.

🚔 For situations involving immediate safety concerns, local police or bylaw services may be able to assist. We encourage anyone who feels their concerns fall into that category to reach out to the appropriate services at their own discretion.

We are truly sorry that you are caught in the middle of this. You did not ask for this disruption any more than we did, and we genuinely hope that a resolution comes soon — for everyone in this community.

🙏 TO OUR STAFF — ON ALL SIDES

We see your sacrifice. We appreciate you. We hope to welcome everyone back together soon.

We will continue to post updates here as the situation evolves. For questions or concerns, please contact the facility directly.

— Anna Babin and The Team @ The Meadows 🌿

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04/19/2026

🌟 National Volunteer Week 🌟 April 19-25th

This National Volunteer Week, we want to shine a bright light on the incredible volunteers of The Meadows.

Even though the current labour disruption means you’re unable to come in right now, please know how deeply we appreciate everything you do. What you bring to our community each day is truly invaluable. Your time, your kindness, and your dedication enrich the lives of The Meadows residents in ways that make every day brighter and more meaningful.
You are the heart of what makes The Meadows so special, and we are so grateful for you.

We can’t wait for the day when you can join us again soon. Until then, thank you — from all of us at The Meadows ❤️

04/18/2026