This is the man who will neither confirm, nor deny, that he's harassed Ehatare with a series of baseless complaints to the Government.

Prox id olid valja saadetud juba kallutatud nimedega, puudusid teised nimed-seega on valimised ebademokraatlikud suunatud nendele nimedele ,milledele vana juhatus kirjutas prox i peale we recommend these..... . Aga kuhu jaid teised,, voi ei oleks tohtinud nimedeta proxi valja anda et proxi holder ise valiks koosolekul otse. Kas tuhistada valimised ?

I believe that EAK is an important organization and there is no room for "baseless" claims. Before asking questions or taking issue with a claim, everyone should perform their own due diligence. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reported an issue of non-compliance last September. The presentation given to EAK members on May 22nd indicated that the Ministry was "cognoscente" of the fact that Ehatare was operating with a member of the Board in a non-compliant position. But on July 10th (2012) the Performance Improvement and Compliance Branch verified that: "A review of our database indicated that the Medical Director was listed as a member of the Board since 2001. However, according to our compliance records, Long-Term Care Home Inspectors were not aware of this information until an anaymous informant contacted the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) in 2011." That would seem to indicate that the Ministry was not fully "cognoscente" of the dual responsibility nor did they give the situation a tacit acceptance. More than a few people are concerned by these types of issues, as they are about documents that fail to report that directors of the Board were compensated for services rendered to the corporation. If directors were compensated, so be it...but please report it to the membership and the required agencies. The challenges of operating in a highly regulated environment can be overwhelming and sometimes circumstances require bold decisions. These decisions, however, shouldn't include limiting access to information when members ask questions directly on specific points. That action only sparks more questions and concern. Limiting discussion on issues, refusing to provide copies of presentations made to members and not providing minutes to previous EAK meetings begs the question... "why?" Characterizing the process of asking questions and pointing out facts as harassment, especially if the facts are supported, is unfortunate.
I congratulate the candidates who won their positions on the Board. I believe it's very healthy that we discuss matters, debate ideas and encourage other candidates to demonstrate their desire to be active in the organization. I'm sure all EAK members want a healthy, forward thinking and open discussion about the future of Ehatare.

I watched the videos of the AGM and of Dr Leesment and the one with Allan Meiusi.

First off... Allan it was great to finally put a face to a name. Great interview…

The board meeting seemed chaotic and again reinforces my view that the board is acting in preserving their jobs (which would be fine if there was some transparency and openness) and by "pre-approving" the agenda (or was it minutes? I am not sure Dr. Leesment knew which one he was talking about) because they had enough votes via proxy is ridiculous.. How did they know how many people would arrive at the meeting to know that they would have had enough votes?
This shows that the board does not want people to know via the minutes what is happening. WHY? What is so secret? What are you hiding?

The person who spoke of their "hands being tied" shows how out of touch the board is. We all know you can't talk details of a lawsuit- but the board never acknowledged that they mishandled the Public Relations aspect relating to the lawsuit. Many of us wanted the board to get a mediator. I for one wanted the board to send Ruth for training on how to INSPIRE employees... not scare then into silence from fear of losing their jobs.

My mother is looking forward to living at Ehatare. So I wonder how employees feel when they can just be terminated for no cause. Ok now that there is a union that might not happen any longer. But, I believe that it is an unhealthy work environment when one lives in fear of their job security. I believe that scared employees won’t tell their superiors of issues. Silent employees might mean that some issues that might need to raised for the protection of the residents night not be brought forward. When you need your job – you don’t want rock the boat because of job security fears. THAT my dear board are the type of things you can speak about.

Finally, Dr Leesment, Spoke of how the government wanted even snacks recorded onto the records of the residence … he went on to talk about using the computer and how he uses one finger – Sharing his lack of computer skills. I started to wonder about medical charts? Are they not computerized? Who entered his notes for him? How did he read the charts if many items are on the computer such as their food intakes if he is just starting to learn?

The President of the EAK does not sound like someone getting email alerts and notices of government mandated changes or updates into improved systems and procedures. It scares me that in our age of complex technology making information readily available on the computer and how a computer via the internet is a gateway onto the information highway that Dr. Leesment is on a learners permit.

I wish the new board well… and I truly hope that all of you are able to commit the time and energy needed to full-fill your tasks and responsibilities… making us all proud and ensuring a safe environment at Ehatare.

Ehatare is home to our community's seniors. Their representative, Mr. Vaikla, spoke very eloquently at the end of the meeting. He spoke of the turmoil this has all caused. Also, of the considerable unease caused by the legal proceedings. It is and has been a well-run facility. I am afraid of a "takeover" by an inexperienced group. Too much is at risk.

The need for an Estonian speaking doctor was never an issue as Leesment was never there when residents were awake or family was present . This only applies to the nursing home floor on the 4th floor.
4th floor residents understand enough English for their new doctor and the nursing staff speak sufficient Estonian to translate if needed.
Mr. Vaikla is not on the4th floor and doesn't really get the issues at hand .

Video highlights convey impressions which are by their nature limited. For those who did not attend the ERC Annual General Meeting, it would have been useful to have heard Ruth Macfarlane's full report on Ehatare's performance over the past year. They would also have heard one the residents, Hr. Vaikla, declare that residents are happy with their lives and to stop the bickering. Both of these are significant. They are indicative of both Management and the Board having moved on. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to act in the best interests of the residents. Hr. Vaikla's appeal is indicative of the residents having moved on as well. Ruth's presentation was not challenged. Neither was Hr. Vaikla's. Ehatare continues to function as a well managed facility. Those who have been led to believe otherwise should at least take notice.

The former employee at the root of the ongoing dissension has also moved on, having found employment and new opportunities. I sincerely hope that the time and circumstances are now right to resolve the outstanding differences between employee and employer. The processes and precedents for resolving such disputes are relatively straightforward and I sincerely hope the parties use them to resolve this dispute sooner as opposed to later.

Some parts of the Annual General Meeting could have been managed more effectively. On the other hand, most organizations in our community are not subjected to unabated harassment, anonymous or otherwise. Calls for greater transparency, may even sound appropriate and reasonable, but to date it is unclear how the existing leadership has not been transparent or how their transgressions may have placed the organization at risk. I have sat through a special membership meeting as well as the Annual General Meeting, and to date, nothing significantly at variance has been presented to the membership. The appointment of a new medical director has resolved any real or perceived conflict of interest issues which the Board chair may have had during his tenure as Acting Medical Director. The history and rationale for these circumstances was disclosed by the Board at the special meeting. It went unchallenged.

Calls for more openness and democracy are also inconsistent with a proxy slate of alternative directors sent to members, with these individuals already pre-chosen with an x marked beside their names. Usually it is the voter who chooses and not the candidates.

The need for an Estonian speaking doctor was never an issue as Leesment was never there when residents were awake or family was present . This only applies to the nursing home floor on the 4th floor.
4th floor residents understand enough English for their new doctor and the nursing staff speak sufficient Estonian to translate if needed.
Mr. Vaikla is not on the4th floor and doesn't really get the issues at hand .

My name is intended for use only by me.
The editors have been made aware of the unauthorized use .

I am surprised that the issue of an Estonian doctor is being pushed to the margins. If there is such a willingness to forgo the services of dr Leesment then I am afraid the dividing line between remaining faithful to a uniquely Estonian retirement home and caving into the multicultural tide that has turned our community into an almost indistinguishable part of the broader Canadian community has just slipped from underneath our own control. This is a shameful push by people who have nothing more than their own self interest at heart.

Ms. Tanner queried what was meant by "experience". This is rather self explanatory. The Meiusi slate sought to take over the organization, yet from the CV's of the slate, no one had experience in overseeing the running of LTC and/or Retirement Homes. Also, no one had been on the Board of a registered charity. Ms. Tanner did not herself attend the AGM, even though she was a candidate for the Board. Ruth provided an excellent overview of the regulatory constraints that ERC and the Ehatare facility have to contend with. There is a real risk to the vulnerable seniors in the facility by a takeover by an inexperienced group. I do not fear change. Rather, I am a fan of evolution rather than revolution. Enough said.

You are correct, I did not attend the meeting. As my CV mentioned I manage multi-residential buildings. I was on a business trip in Sault Ste Marie making sure the facilities that house 230 families were in good repair and the projects which started earlier were properly finished and operational. This included new glass panel railings, a new boiler to keep tenants warm along with their with a new domestic hot water heater. I believe even a seniors residence has the need for similar type of equipment. I then met with engineers and planners for the next phase of work and arranging the tender process to get the next projects started. Again, as skill set- what I do for a living could contribute to Ehatare’s operations
.
So yes, with such short notice of the EAK meeting I was not able to change all my flight and appointments … and I was saddened and frustrated by that.

You mention that there are constraints in operating facility like Ehatare… I would assume you are not familiar with the Landlord Tenant Act.

You said, and I quote, “yet from the CV's of the slate, no one had experience in overseeing the running of LTC and/or Retirement Homes. Also, no one had been on the Board of a registered charity.”

First, except for the two board members who were asking to be re-elected NO ONE had the experience you feel is necessary…

Not even the one’s recommended by the board nor the others. So that cannot be an argument you can use in reality.

The new people the board put forward included a translator that can sing Ta Elagu, a retired engineer who worked in the National Defence, and another who has technical and production knowledge. Hmm… Real experience that is relevant???

The only good news is… I guess with Allan Eistrat you will at least have proper use of technology at the next AGM meeting! :)

The independent CV’s not endorsed by the board included Ene Migur, 30 years of practical experience in the Heathcare sector and working at Sunnybrook Hospital (seems relevant experience to me), Eva Meriorg has been a professional home economist and educator, giving leadership and staff development along with managing large budgets (seems relevant experience to me), Viivi Riis Niitsoo, a registered physical therapist and health researcher with a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Science (wow… seems relevant experience to me), Allan Meiusi, actually, serves on Ehatares Family Council and is a President/CEO of a corporation (again, seems like relevant experience to me).

Really, can you say that the handful of us who tried to offer our services had NO relevant experience – especially when you compare that to the people who just got elected? Really? I mean REALLY???

You mention that a group of interested people are on a “takeover” mission. That is fear mongering!

In 2010 there were 10 board members. Let us do the math. If 5 new board members would be elected how does that translate into a “takeover”… meetings have procedures (or they used to) where the board would vote on items. To me there would not be a “ruling” group… one might actually have to plan and discuss instead of dictate rules and procedures.

Evolution is getting people who are eager to volunteer their time with new ideas and experiences that has some relevance to the operation of Ehatare.

What experience did the elected individuals put forward by EAK have in that respect?

We all want to believe in EAK and we want Ehatare to take care of our loved ones. It has to survive for our parents’ generation at least and even beyond!

I don't know whether to laugh or weep?!?

Had you attended the 'special meeting' of the ERC you could have learned, in precise detail, of the great effort, spanning many years, to hire an Estonian doctor for Ehatare.

The alternative slate for the Board of Ehatare looks every bit like a lynch mob because they've come to a conclusion and, now, they're looking for some evidence to get Ruth.
The mob has no connection to Ehatare; that your mother intends to move in, some day, doesn't count. We've never seen you visiting anyone at Ehatare, acting as a volunteer or anything else. The mob was assembled out of nothing to take over the Board and lynch Ruth.
When that's done, you'll go back to where you came from. Our parents, meanwhile, will need continued care.

Yes, I guess that the fact that I have family living in Ehatare means nothing for my personal interest. I am looking out for the interest of my family. There is nothing in this process that should be used to associate a group of concerned people with the term "mob." There should is also nothing untoward intended in this process against any particular person(s) for personal reasons. The process is about compliance with regulations that protect our loved ones who live at Ehatare; current and future. But for some reason there are some that would like to make this process or characterize it as being personal... that is unfortunate.

Pr. Tanner kirjutab, et kuna EAK lasi ühe töölise põhjuseta lahti siis ülejäänud töölised ei julge enam midagi öelda ja töötavad vaikides suures hirmus, lootes neid järgmistena ilma põhjuseta lahti ei lasta. See on muidugi hirmuäratav, et EAK lihtsalt nalja pärast vallandab häid töölisi. Ilmselt pr. Tanneri lahendus oleks garanteerida töölistele eluaegne töö Ehatares. Siis kõik töölised saaks rõõmsalt käia Ehatares aega veetmas, teades et neil pole midagi karta .