By: Taylor McDowell
As a new Registered Dietitian who had recently relocated to Ontario to start my career, I was over the moon when I landed a casual position with Orange Lily Group (OLG) in the Greater Toronto Area. After a few short months, and to my disbelief, OLG had offered a full time opportunity at long-term care (LTC) homes, but there was a kicker…the LTC homes are located in Niagara which would mean relocating once again. Being a fresh dietitian eager to grow my career, of course I was honoured and thrilled to be offered such an incredible opportunity, however I did take a few days to consider the logistics. The team was incredibly understanding and supportive as they answered all my questions in a timely manner. It was then that I realized just how lucky I was to have joined such a supportive community and that I knew I had to seize this opportunity before another lucky dietitian could!
Even before relocating to Niagara, I felt confident that the support from the OLG team would be endless, and boy, was I right! Although I was eager to move to the beautiful Niagara and to start working in the LTC homes, it naturally took a few weeks to get my life organized before delving into this next chapter. The OLG team was patient as I settled into Niagara where they had supported me throughout the process of searching for apartments by answering my questions, providing suggestions of areas to look into, and giving me “the lay of the land” which naturally included the favourite spots for great food which the foodie in me appreciated so much! The team had even graciously vouched for me by speaking with my prospective landlord which helped me secure my apartment. When it was finally time to start working in the LTC homes, the OLG team was right there supporting me the entire time. They met with me at the LTC homes, helped me get set up, and answered my never-ending questions. Within the first few weeks after relocating to Niagara, the management team kindly treated the team to a night out at a delicious restaurant which allowed me to meet my new colleagues in person. This kind gesture was invaluable for team bonding and it was such a warm welcome to Niagara as well as the OLG community. That first night out with the team is something that I, to this day, truly appreciate!
Any dietitian familiar with LTC can recognize that due to the nature of the job, it can seem isolating at times. However, I can honestly say that I have never felt even an inkling of isolation because of the numerous resources and the overall sense of community and belonging the OLG team had developed. For example, some of the resources include group chats, monthly virtual meetings, resources available through OLG’s website, their monthly newsletters, as well as the personal relationships I have built with my new colleagues. Lastly, I cannot forget to mention the in person events the OLG team organizes. To name a few, there was recently a bowling night, a summer backyard barbeque, and numerous nights out at restaurants where the food is always endless and delicious. I have also met up with some local OLG colleagues for some memorable work-free outings.
When I was first settling into Niagara, I was often asked what brought me to the area. I would share my story and use the expression ‘the stars aligned’ as I felt that statement accurately portrayed my journey. It has now been a few years since I relocated to Niagara, and each time that I reflect on my experience, I always find myself in awe of how smooth my relocation journey was, and I know this was largely due to the support I received from the OLG team at each step of the way. Looking ahead, I feel confident that I can grow both personally and professionally knowing that I have OLG’s unwavering support and compassion by my side.