Getting a little tired of winter? Try the Ancoura answer: a dinner party to mark the mid point of the season! Cold on the outside, warm on the inside, Ancoura did just that on February 25th at St. Basil’s, and the timing was perfect.
There is a spirit in sharing a meal that transcends merely eating to satisfy physical hunger or to take in nourishment. A sense of community grows through dining together, and the nourishment is for the mind and heart as well as the body.
That spirit was evident when the Ancoura community met to share its special dinner. Janet Moss of Café Deluxe, chef extraordinaire and principal instructor in Ancoura’s cooking program (with associate instructors Virginia and Jayne), provided the entrée of Mediterranean marinated chicken with rice and veggies. Residents who participated in the cooking program came through in fine form as well, offering results of their new-found skills in the form of delicious appetizers and a banana cake, all of them beautifully complementing the main course. Many residents as well as the entire Board turned out to celebrate the occasion. The tone was lively, and conversation on innumerable topics blossomed.
The conclusion of cooking classes was only one reason for the festive atmosphere. A second major cause for celebration was the return of Virginia Hodgson full-time to Ancoura as Resident Support Manager, and the arrival of Barbara Zerter as part-time Resident Support Worker. Everyone greeted them happily, and the residents of Terra House welcomed them with gifts of potted plants. Both Virginia and Barbara will be visiting our seven houses on a regular basis, and will be here to help with problem-solving, social connection and general activities. Virginia will also be active in managing myriad areas, including rebuilding our volunteer base.
As Ancoura renews itself with both these appointments, two special groups deserve a great deal of credit for keeping the ship on an even keel. The Board, revitalized over the past two years, has been and remains dedicated to making the Ancoura experience a solid, warm, welcoming one for all our residents. And the residents themselves are worthy of praise for their patience, helpfulness and support within the Ancoura community during lean days.
Dinner with all the trimmings of celebration, gratitude and camaraderie was a wonderful way to turn toward the downslope of winter and the promise of spring to come, and to acclaim the recent good news for Team Ancoura!
Introducing Virginia and Barbara
Virginia Hodgson
No stranger to Ancoura, Virginia Hodgson has been with us in various capacities for over five years. Starting as a placement student while completing her Bachelor of Social Work, she moved on to part-time and then contract work with Ancoura. She became full-time Resident Support Manager in February 2025.
Virginia grew up in Northwestern Ontario, moved to Kingston as a teenager, and then to Ottawa to attend Carleton University’s Criminology program. As a student she began volunteering for the John Howard Society of Ottawa, where she discovered that she was drawn irresistibly to social services and to connecting with people, hearing about their lives and being part of their journey. This led to outreach at various shelters and day programs, including the Ottawa Mission, where she would later become employed. She spent formative years working with individuals accessing social supports from the Mission’s Client Services department.
Virginia eventually left to focus on her family while continuing to work part time in various social services roles. Her passion for the field led her back to Carleton, where she completed her Bachelor and then Master of Social Work. Never one to stop serving the community, she also engaged in various part-time positions, including those of Research Assistant, Community Developer, and Housing Coordinator. While she was studying for her MSW, Community Social Work piqued her curiosity, and she wanted to learn more about working collaboratively with other agencies, empowering resident leaders, planning and developing preventative programming, and working with diverse populations.
“Although community social work is such a fulfilling and dynamic field,” says Virginia, “Ancoura has always been dear to me; therefore, I cannot begin to express how happy I am to be bringing this diverse set of skills and experience to the role of Resident Support Manager”.
Barbara Zerter
After her very active career caring for others, Barbara wasn’t quite ready for retirement. Ancoura presented an opportunity to continue serving by supporting residents with her welcoming, reassuring manner and her multifaceted experience.
Barbara’s education prepared her for counselling in health care and in theology, as well as broadening her view of humanity through studies in anthropology. Combining her formal education with a natural inclination to help others, she worked for seven years in a Canadian charity with communities in Central America, offering support to migrants and promoting human rights.
In Ottawa, Barbara put her education and experience to good use, serving over 20 years as chaplain at Queensway Carleton Hospital, SCO Health Services (now Bruyère Continuing Care) and St. Patrick’s Home. She brings to Ancoura an air of quiet understanding and reassurance, spiritual and emotional awareness, and an ability to help her clients through crises. Her background will prove its value particularly in the development and implementation of Ancoura’s Aging in Place Program.
Welcome to Team Ancoura, Barbara!
