Maura McKinnon, Chief Human Resource Officer, Horizon 

I don't know about you, but spring is my favourite time of year! After a long and cold New Brunswick winter, it feels so good to embrace the milder temperatures, longer days, and enjoy watching everything outside come back to life. It's also the time of year when Horizon recognizes its employees for their years of service and retirement at events we look forward to all year long.

For this year's celebration, I'm very proud to say that we'll be honouring 2,100+ employees for their years of service and 300 retiring employees all across New Brunswick - a true testament to the dedication and commitment of Horizon employees, and so well-deserved.

Recognition events like these are so important because they remind our employees that they are valued and appreciated. It's really a win-win situation for Horizon because we're able to publically recognize our employees - which is always exciting and fun - and they in turn are inspired to continue providing the best in quality and safe care to their patients, clients, and their families.

Honouring years of service and retirement in health care benefits our employees and our organization and it also goes a long way in benefitting our communities. As health care professionals, we represent a "calling." Our careers are filled with great highs and lows, yet are personally and professionally rewarding. There will always be people who need help and whether you work on the front line, in an administrative capacity, or in areas of service delivery, contributions to this industry are essential and valuable. When you care for a patient with empathy and respect, or deliver exceptional service to a client, or face challenges with accountability and integrity, or overcome adversity by supporting each other asOne Horizon, you are living Horizon's values and carrying them with you wherever you go.

This is especially true for our retirees, who may no longer work within clinical walls or one of our many community facilities, yet will continue to impart their wisdom, knowledge, and values as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

Horizon's Years of Service celebrations will take place throughout the month of May and will include stops at Horizon's Charlotte County Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Saint John Regional Hospital, Hotel Dieu, Upper River Valley Hospital, Sackville Memorial Hospital, The Moncton Hospital, Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Miramichi Regional Hospital, Sussex Health Centre and Tobique Valley Health Centre. Service awards will be given to employees who have reached the 5-45 year marks. And with 2,100+ employees, that's 31,695 years!

Our 300 retirees will be celebrated for their lifelong contributions to improving the health and lives of countless people in their communities and beyond. Five luncheons will take place in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Miramichi and Upper River Valley, where our honoured guests will be presented with gifts as a token of appreciation to mark their respective years of service.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking this year's honourees for their incredible dedication and commitment to their professions and to Horizon. To our Years of Service recipients, as you continue your career with Horizon, know that you are valued and that you're making a difference in people's lives; and to our retirees, thank you for your tireless dedication and service to others. We wish you all the best in this next phase of life!