Welcome to The-Westwood-Wire website:
This website is primarily designed for the residents at Regency Westwood Resort but visitors are most welcome to browse this information page as well as the rest of the website.
If your interest is about Westwood at the Regency Resorts website, clicking on the following "button" will take you there - Regency Resorts.
If you have any questions about Westwood, please click on the Contact tab on the top menu bar and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
If your interest is about Westwood at the Regency Resorts website, clicking on the following "button" will take you there - Regency Resorts.
If you have any questions about Westwood, please click on the Contact tab on the top menu bar and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Introduction to Westwood management:
Hover over image for caption, click on images to enlarge or to navigate
General Manager/Master Host: Rob Steenwyk;
I was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1967. Our family lived in the Vancouver area, when I turned 18 I moved to Red Deer, Alberta for employment. It is there I met my wife Lynn, we have two children that are grown up. We ran our own business in Red Deer and in July 2008 we sold it and moved to the Okanagan where we love living.
In September 2008 I started working at Sandalwood Retirement Resort where I was the maintenance manager for 9 yrs. Working in the retirement industry has been absolutely amazing for me, I grew up not having grandparents so I have learned so much over the years from the Residents.
In Oct 2017 I was promoted to the GM position at Westwood, I was a bit nervous at first but soon learned that we have amazing staff and residents which made my transition to GM so easy. My goals at Westwood have been to provide an enriched, safe and fun atmosphere for the residents and staff. When we are smiling and laughing we are doing our jobs right. I truly look forward to coming to work every day, and I thank all for making Westwood the wonderful place it is.
Marketing Director: Kerri Lougheed;
I was born & raised in Kelowna, then moved to Peachland in 1994. Peachland was my home for 24 years where I raised my 2 awesome kids. I now reside in West Kelowna. When I’m not working, you’ll find me on a mountainside hiking or snowshoeing on a new adventure. The Okanagan will always be my home.
I started at Westwood June 2015 as the part time receptionist, and recently took the position of the Marketing Director in February 2019. This position has made me realise how much I love working with seniors and their families. My role as the marketing director is to ensure those residents and families are feeling secure & confident about their move in to Westwood Retirement Resort.
The best part of my job is bumping into our residents on my tours, and them stating to prospecting clients that “you will love living here”. I truly believe in this statement. This building has so much to offer, and with the support from the staff and residents, every single one of us is a marketer for this wonderful community.
Activities Coordinator: Christie Hughes;
I was born and raised on Vancouver Island. Then my husband and I made the move to the sunny Okanagan with our kids over 20 years ago, and we have never looked back. I have a background in nursing, but I found my FOREVER job at Westwood over 10 years ago.
I consider my position to be the best part of the management team. I get to create the fun! My job is to provide social activities with the objective to enrich the lives of all the residents of Westwood. I don’t do it alone though. Most of the staff love to join in the fun and help me out whenever they can. I also make up all of the monthly Calendars, Monthly Newz Letters, update the Westwood Wire website, publish Daily Notices on the bulletin boards and elevators and provide the Weekly Schedules on the dining room tables. Once in a while I’ll put out a funny quote, pictures or joke just for a little chuckle.
Every day is a good day when you are surrounded by friendly faces and laughter. That’s what Westwood is all about, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Executive Chef: Peter Kraft
I started at Westwood in 2009 and became the executive Chef in 2016, my goal is to provide quality food services with a good variety to our residents . I followed in my father’s footsteps into the Culinary Arts, at 16 I started my apprentice. I have worked at restaurants and hotels throughout western Canada and also owned my own restaurants in Calgary and Vernon.
When I am not working I enjoy riding my motorcycle and enjoying the great outdoors that the Okanagan has to offer. My wife Kathy is also a Regency cook at Missionwood. I have 5 grown children and 11 grand kids which also keep us busy.
Reception/Administration Assistant: Marion Klein;
In January 2019 I joined Westwood as part time/weekend receptionist. Just recently I was offered the full time Receptionist/Administration Assistant which I greatly enjoy.
My background is in Business Administration; I have taken Programs through Okanagan College and over the years gained work experience through my previous positions in the financial sector. My days at Westwood consist of answering phones, registering residents for outings, providing information, channeling residents’ concerns etc., as well as behind the scene duties such as invoicing, stationary orders, creating monthly statements. I like to think of our front desk as “Grand Central Station”.
Everyone passes through at one point or another, and my goal is to provide excellent customer service and accurate processing of transactions to get them to their “Destination”, which leads to a happy, stress free days for all.
Dining Room Supervisor: Gaylayne (Gay) Hawkings;
I am originally from Edson, Alberta. In 1984 I married my husband Larry, we have two children, a son, Craig age 30 and a daughter Shelby age 28. We have six grandchildren, two girls and four boys ,ranging from the ages ten to two which keep us very busy.
We moved to Kelowna in June of 1990 to start up a landscaping business which my husband still is running. I worked in a nursing home doing all kinds of jobs from 1986 to 2006. In 2006 I began working at Westwood as a server and was promoted to supervisor in 2013 and have loved being a part of the Westwood family for the past 13 years.
When not at work I love spending time with the grandkids, I also love golfing and going to our weekend getaway in Greenwood.
Maintenance Manager: Terry Ginther;
I was born and raised in Saskatoon, SK.
At the young age of 18, I started working with seniors at a care facility. Ten years later I packed up my life and moved to Kelowna. Here I took 3 years of college in computer maintenance / repair, web design and media production area. During that time I also worked as a live in caretaker / cook for a 16 person independent living facility.
Around that time I started working for Regency part-time. Almost 17 years later, I am still here – from the construction of Westwood to a full building of amazing people.
The residents are my main reason for continuing my journey here year after year. The support of the residents and the amazing staff at Westwood keeps me motivated and happy to be a part of the Westwood family.
Housekeeping Supervisor: Val Zuchotzki
I was born and raised in the prairies where I lived and worked, married and had three children of my own and one foster child. My work background consists of mainly food and beverage service with some property management and small office duties.
After vacationing here for many years, in the 1990s I finally made the move to Kelowna with absolutely no regrets. I eventually took a Dietary Health Worker course which led me to working in dietary at a couple of care facilities which in turn led me to Westwood. I started here in October 2005 shortly before the first residents arrived.
My job is to keep the building and every suite in it a clean, safe, and healthy place to be. I take great pleasure and pride in keeping the building in top shape. I love my job mainly because of the many opportunities to put a smile on someone’s face, to hold a hand, to have a laugh or just to listen. After 14 years at Westwood I have to say I still look forward to going to work and seeing all the wonderful staff and residents that make my world a better place.
I was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1967. Our family lived in the Vancouver area, when I turned 18 I moved to Red Deer, Alberta for employment. It is there I met my wife Lynn, we have two children that are grown up. We ran our own business in Red Deer and in July 2008 we sold it and moved to the Okanagan where we love living.
In September 2008 I started working at Sandalwood Retirement Resort where I was the maintenance manager for 9 yrs. Working in the retirement industry has been absolutely amazing for me, I grew up not having grandparents so I have learned so much over the years from the Residents.
In Oct 2017 I was promoted to the GM position at Westwood, I was a bit nervous at first but soon learned that we have amazing staff and residents which made my transition to GM so easy. My goals at Westwood have been to provide an enriched, safe and fun atmosphere for the residents and staff. When we are smiling and laughing we are doing our jobs right. I truly look forward to coming to work every day, and I thank all for making Westwood the wonderful place it is.
Marketing Director: Kerri Lougheed;
I was born & raised in Kelowna, then moved to Peachland in 1994. Peachland was my home for 24 years where I raised my 2 awesome kids. I now reside in West Kelowna. When I’m not working, you’ll find me on a mountainside hiking or snowshoeing on a new adventure. The Okanagan will always be my home.
I started at Westwood June 2015 as the part time receptionist, and recently took the position of the Marketing Director in February 2019. This position has made me realise how much I love working with seniors and their families. My role as the marketing director is to ensure those residents and families are feeling secure & confident about their move in to Westwood Retirement Resort.
The best part of my job is bumping into our residents on my tours, and them stating to prospecting clients that “you will love living here”. I truly believe in this statement. This building has so much to offer, and with the support from the staff and residents, every single one of us is a marketer for this wonderful community.
Activities Coordinator: Christie Hughes;
I was born and raised on Vancouver Island. Then my husband and I made the move to the sunny Okanagan with our kids over 20 years ago, and we have never looked back. I have a background in nursing, but I found my FOREVER job at Westwood over 10 years ago.
I consider my position to be the best part of the management team. I get to create the fun! My job is to provide social activities with the objective to enrich the lives of all the residents of Westwood. I don’t do it alone though. Most of the staff love to join in the fun and help me out whenever they can. I also make up all of the monthly Calendars, Monthly Newz Letters, update the Westwood Wire website, publish Daily Notices on the bulletin boards and elevators and provide the Weekly Schedules on the dining room tables. Once in a while I’ll put out a funny quote, pictures or joke just for a little chuckle.
Every day is a good day when you are surrounded by friendly faces and laughter. That’s what Westwood is all about, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Executive Chef: Peter Kraft
I started at Westwood in 2009 and became the executive Chef in 2016, my goal is to provide quality food services with a good variety to our residents . I followed in my father’s footsteps into the Culinary Arts, at 16 I started my apprentice. I have worked at restaurants and hotels throughout western Canada and also owned my own restaurants in Calgary and Vernon.
When I am not working I enjoy riding my motorcycle and enjoying the great outdoors that the Okanagan has to offer. My wife Kathy is also a Regency cook at Missionwood. I have 5 grown children and 11 grand kids which also keep us busy.
Reception/Administration Assistant: Marion Klein;
In January 2019 I joined Westwood as part time/weekend receptionist. Just recently I was offered the full time Receptionist/Administration Assistant which I greatly enjoy.
My background is in Business Administration; I have taken Programs through Okanagan College and over the years gained work experience through my previous positions in the financial sector. My days at Westwood consist of answering phones, registering residents for outings, providing information, channeling residents’ concerns etc., as well as behind the scene duties such as invoicing, stationary orders, creating monthly statements. I like to think of our front desk as “Grand Central Station”.
Everyone passes through at one point or another, and my goal is to provide excellent customer service and accurate processing of transactions to get them to their “Destination”, which leads to a happy, stress free days for all.
Dining Room Supervisor: Gaylayne (Gay) Hawkings;
I am originally from Edson, Alberta. In 1984 I married my husband Larry, we have two children, a son, Craig age 30 and a daughter Shelby age 28. We have six grandchildren, two girls and four boys ,ranging from the ages ten to two which keep us very busy.
We moved to Kelowna in June of 1990 to start up a landscaping business which my husband still is running. I worked in a nursing home doing all kinds of jobs from 1986 to 2006. In 2006 I began working at Westwood as a server and was promoted to supervisor in 2013 and have loved being a part of the Westwood family for the past 13 years.
When not at work I love spending time with the grandkids, I also love golfing and going to our weekend getaway in Greenwood.
Maintenance Manager: Terry Ginther;
I was born and raised in Saskatoon, SK.
At the young age of 18, I started working with seniors at a care facility. Ten years later I packed up my life and moved to Kelowna. Here I took 3 years of college in computer maintenance / repair, web design and media production area. During that time I also worked as a live in caretaker / cook for a 16 person independent living facility.
Around that time I started working for Regency part-time. Almost 17 years later, I am still here – from the construction of Westwood to a full building of amazing people.
The residents are my main reason for continuing my journey here year after year. The support of the residents and the amazing staff at Westwood keeps me motivated and happy to be a part of the Westwood family.
Housekeeping Supervisor: Val Zuchotzki
I was born and raised in the prairies where I lived and worked, married and had three children of my own and one foster child. My work background consists of mainly food and beverage service with some property management and small office duties.
After vacationing here for many years, in the 1990s I finally made the move to Kelowna with absolutely no regrets. I eventually took a Dietary Health Worker course which led me to working in dietary at a couple of care facilities which in turn led me to Westwood. I started here in October 2005 shortly before the first residents arrived.
My job is to keep the building and every suite in it a clean, safe, and healthy place to be. I take great pleasure and pride in keeping the building in top shape. I love my job mainly because of the many opportunities to put a smile on someone’s face, to hold a hand, to have a laugh or just to listen. After 14 years at Westwood I have to say I still look forward to going to work and seeing all the wonderful staff and residents that make my world a better place.
What happens at Westwood:
Westwood Dining:
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Westwood Activities:
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Westwood Entertainment and Special Guest:
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Monthly Bus Tour Adventures:
Visit to Summerhill & Vibrant Vine Wineries:
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Visit to Sparkling Hills Resort:
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Visit to Planet Bee and Davison Orchards:
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May (2018) Mystery Bus Trip:
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