‘Strong multicultural mosaic’
Glen Haven Manor presents welcome message in six languages
A welcome message recently installed at Glen Haven Manor features the word “welcome” in six languages.
“Glen Haven is proud to be part of a community, a province and a country that celebrates many, many diverse heritages as it is this strong multicultural mosaic that enriches us all,” says Glen Haven Manor chief executive officer Lisa M. Smith.
The message, which is displayed through word art, features the word welcome in English at the top of the message but also incorporates Mi’kmaq, French, Gaelic, Swahili and Filipino as symbols of the many cultures that are representative of Glen Haven, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and Canada.
“The word art welcome message will be presented at both entrances of our facility as a warm greeting extended from both the Glen Haven team and the residents of Glen Haven to residents’ family members and other visitors to the facility,” says Smith.
The long-term care facility chose to include the welcome in both official languages of Canada (English and French) and to honour the language of Mi’kmaq as the First Nation and first people who lived in Nova Scotia. She says that French is also representative of Nova Scotia’s Acadian culture and history, while English also represents the British heritage and history of the province. Swahili was selected to represent the heritage and culture of African Nova Scotians as it is a language spoken in multiple African countries. Gaelic represents the Scottish and Irish cultures and history associated with Nova Scotia. The inclusion of the Filipino word for welcome acknowledges and symbolizes continued multicultural diversity at Glen Haven and a growing Filipino community in Pictou County and throughout Nova Scotia.
The full message reads as follows: “Welcome to Glen Haven Manor where we deliver outstanding care and services, commit to continuous improvement, embrace innovation and creativity and make everything we do count!”