Unity Manor—Building Community

A year after opening, Unity Manor is full and exploring creative ways to build community on site! Maybe the new name got the creativity started. At first, the program was, logically, called Westmount being blocks away from Westmount mall. But the site needed a unique name. Here’s how Program Manager, Nicole Webber, described the naming process:

“It was important to the team to have a name that sets us apart from others and defines what we do at Westmount!  After much discussion and research, we read this definition and had a name that we can proudly stand behind:  “Unity means being or staying together. That means helping and supporting each other in any situation. Being together is the key to build a good and strong society and relationships. Unity is important at every step in our life”. 

Early this year, Unity Manor took an innovative step to start building “…a good and strong society and relationships” at the site. Nicole and Laura Ostapovich, Team Lead, introduced the idea of a client advisory committee at a tenant meeting. Six keen volunteers quickly signed up.

Since then, the committee has met three times, developed its own unique name and the ideas and energy are flowing. Again, the name is important: ‘Voices of Trust in Unity Manor’. These are the values behind the name: Voices—voice, honesty, integrity, culture, everyone has a say; Trust—teamwork, responsibility, trusting us to represent, safe and confidential.

 The group is exploring ways to build community inside the Manor and to connect with the Westmount community. Ideas are rich and diverse:

• Develop a cleaning crew for inside and outside building. A flyer could offer volunteer help to community members, i.e., with mobility issues.

• Celebrate the artists at Unity Manor with an art walk in the parking lot.

• One member is following up with a community resource about setting up and leading a grief and loss group at the site. T

Nicole is as excited about the advisory group as the volunteers: “This is a unique group for sure. My hope is that other residents buy in and actively participate in all these great ideas. Once everyone sees the group is being productive and connected, then hopefully this snowballs.” With such a strong start, the Unity Manor is already living up to its name.