“I’ve been here six years. I probably know 120 residents.”

Buddy Delena, a dietary aide at Eden Gardens, does more than deliver food—he brings joy and connection to the Nanaimo care home’s residents.

“We serve food, but we also talk with them and ask what they want,” Buddy says. He’s learned to recognize each resident’s preferences. “It’s just memorization.”

Buddy is known for his sense of humour. One of his favourite moments involves joking with a resident who is gluten-free. “Every time I serve her food, I joke that it’s full of gluten,” he laughs. “She knows it’s not—she just laughs with me. She’s a funny girl.”

Working closely with residents allows Buddy to contribute meaningfully to the care team. If he notices a resident having difficulty swallowing or not acting like themselves, he communicates with the food service manager right away.

For Buddy, the most rewarding part of the job is simple: being appreciated. “When you serve their food and they say thank you, it feels good. One resident said, ‘You served me good food today.’ That means a lot to me.”