Providence Care employee, Angela Bacon, known as Angie to those who are close to her, was inspired to build a career helping others thanks to her various roles as a student at Providence Care more than 30-years ago.

“When I was 16 or 17, I started with the Summer Experience Program. I worked in Environmental Services for two summers and into the fall of the next year. I also use to be a lifeguard at the pool at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital. It was always so warm in there that after a long day of school I’d start to feel sleepy, so I always had to make sure I was up and moving around and interacting with the ladies doing their therapy classes,” laughs Angie. “I loved working these jobs, especially around the patients.”

For the last 13 years Angie has worked as an affirmative business support worker (ABSW) with Providence Care, overseeing a part packaging business with Jobwell, a not-for-profit organization supported operationally by Providence Care. Jobwell Social Enterprise (formerly VOCEC) creates supportive and meaningful employment opportunities for adults living with persistent mental illness.

“We support our associates through employment but also through all aspects of their lives,” explains Angie. “We have a great time at work, we laugh a lot. I feel privileged and honored to work and to be a part of the lives of all our associates. I’m proud to be a part of their recovery through work journey. They amaze me every day on how they continue to overcome the obstacles in front of them and push through.”

Angie supports 15 employees and oversees the operations of the business that packages parts for speed train brakes for a company in North Carolina. The business runs out of the warehouse at Providence Care’s 525 Montreal Street site and is the perfect employment space for people who thrive in task-driven, independent and quiet workspaces.

“We have long standing employees who work three to four shifts a week with us here, some for as long as 25 years. We really get to know our staff well and being able to see the changes in our associates from when they first come to work is one of my favourite things about the job. Our associates go from anxious and scared to then building confidence and having a sense of belonging.”

When supporting her associates through their wellness and recovery journey, Angie pulls from her nursing background, her first career with Providence Care after graduation.

“I worked on a geriatric floor at Kingston Psychiatric Hospital and really enjoyed being an RPN; I did it for quite a few years. Unfortunately, the job became too much as I was diagnosed with MS. One day, I saw a job posting for an ABSW and I thought ‘why not’ and applied. I’m still here 13 years later.”

Angie is celebrating her 25-year career milestone with Providence Care and says the pride she feels in her work increases each and every year.

“At Jobwell we’re often the first ones to notice when someone might need a little more support. We’re keeping people out of the hospital and are helping avoid crisis situations from developing. That’s why it’s so important to get to know our staff and build trust in our relationship. I’m really proud of the work that we do.”

Ben Gooch is the Regional Director of Community Support Services and oversees Jobwell. He says Angie’s dedication, friendly nature and unwavering support for her colleagues has helped the overall success of the team.

“Whether it’s with clients or with her colleagues, Angie weaves compassion, empathy, and understanding into each and every interaction. She has a genuine care for others and shares her wealth of experience with our team. I’ve always admired her solution-focused mindset, her ability to speak truths, and her strong advocacy for the clients we serve. We’re truly fortunate to have Angie on our team.”

When working hard on the job Angie knows the importance of having fun at work. She’s a big fan of radio contests and makes it so all her associates get in on the action too.

“We actually won a Beat the Bank once! I made sure some of the winnings went to the kitchen here so that all the associates could get snacks while they were working.”

Building community and fostering a positive, friendly and compassionate work environment is what Angie prides herself on, and if you ask any of her teammates, she’s really good at it too.

When Angie isn’t at work, the born and raised Kingstonian is listening to an array of true crime podcasts, preparing for weekly family dinners and also visiting with her grandchildren.

A vast career of helping others inspired at the hospital poolside and in the corridors of a unit all those years ago. Congratulations on 25 years with Providence Care Angie!

Interested in becoming a member of the Providence Care team?  Explore our career opportunities today!