Mélanie Bernier: A Natural Path to the Helm of Cibèle
When someone is exactly where they’re meant to be, you can feel it. Since her appointment as General Manager of Cibèle, Mélanie Bernier has been shining. Formerly the residence’s Rental and Client Services Manager, she knows the teams and residents inside and out. In this candid and warm interview, she talks about leadership, connection, humanity – and what it takes for a residence to truly become a home shaped by the people who live there.
From Department Head to General Manager
Mélanie, how are you finding your first steps as General Manager at Cibèle?
Honestly, I’m thriving. This role fits me perfectly. Yes, there are enormous responsibilities, decisions to make, challenges to navigate – but that’s precisely what energizes me. I am truly in my element.
The past few weeks have been intense, especially with the interim role I was already handling before my official appointment. But all of it confirmed one thing: this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Your path within Le Groupe Maurice is quite unique. Can you walk us through it?
I joined Le Groupe Maurice as a Sales, Development and Marketing Coordinator at the head office. I then moved into an advisor role within the same team, before taking on a new challenge as Rental and Client Services Manager at Cibèle when it opened in 2024.
My path hasn’t been a conventional one, indeed. I learned on the ground – working alongside teams, taking part in residence openings, constantly developing my skills. I also completed an external leadership program, purely out of personal interest, long before I had any idea I would become a General Manager. I think this unconventional path is what prepared me, without my even realizing it, for this role.
What do you see as the essential qualities of a General Manager in a seniors’ residence?
Leadership, of course. But not in the hierarchical sense. It’s a leadership built on closeness, listening and collaboration. You also need to be able to handle the unexpected and adapt constantly.
A seniors’ residence isn’t a hotel: people live here for a long time; it’s their home, after all. You have to be genuinely caring. That’s non-negotiable.
You’ve spoken about “making a difference” in residents’ lives. What does that mean to you, in concrete terms?
It’s hard to explain, because it’s something you live more than something you describe. But for me, making a difference means being present for residents. Taking the time to ask how they’re doing. Sitting down and listening. Being there in the joyful moments as well as the harder ones – a loss, a worry, a period of transition. Sometimes, simply making someone smile can change the course of their entire day.
What sets Cibèle apart, in your view?
When you walk in, it feels like a living room; warm, cozy, elegant, and above all, welcoming. The residents all know each other, look out for one another and have a wonderful time together. You can always hear laughter. There’s a real sense of community here, uncomplicated and unpretentious. Residents have very down-to-earth needs: they’re not looking for the superfluous, but for what truly matters.
You seem to have a very strong bond with them. Where does that come from?
I think it comes from the bonds I’ve built with them since the residence opened. The small gestures we have for one another. Remembering what they love, what they’re passionate about. Being accessible – and simply being myself. Nothing changed when I became General Manager. I’m the same Mélanie as before, with the same values.
I did a lot of volunteer work with the Scouts, working with children, teenagers, adults and pre-retirees. I’ve always had this instinct to never talk down to anyone. I speak to others as equals.
Even though the residents have far more life experience, stories and wisdom than I do – and I have so much to learn from them – what I think creates that strong bond between us is that we share the same sense of humour and the same love of life.
There’s something very genuine about them: when you’re retired, a little like when you’re a child, the goal is to have fun, to be amazed, to enjoy things. To live fully, when all is said and done.
How would you describe your relationship with your teams?
I believe strongly in collaboration. I can’t be an expert in everything, and I don’t need to be. Each Department Head has their own expertise, role and vision. My job is to involve them, listen to them, support them and give them the space to shine. We work together, with mutual respect and trust.
I am committed to always making decisions with the well-being of residents and the respect of our teams in mind. That won’t always be easy. There will be unpopular decisions, changes and adjustments – but everything will be done with integrity, transparency and care.
We work in the residents’ home. This is their living environment. And that is something I will make sure we never forget.
Do you feel you’ve found “your place”?
Absolutely. 100%! It’s the first time I’ve felt it this strongly. It’s demanding, yes. It’s all-consuming too, but above all, it’s deeply fulfilling. Working in a seniors’ residence is, to me, the very definition of giving pure love to life.
As a colleague once predicted: “You’ll see. Once you set foot in a residence, you won’t want to leave.” She was right!
Now for a few fun questions to get to know the person behind the General Manager:
What proverb inspires you most in your daily life?
“If you want something you’ve never had, you have to be willing to do something you’ve never done.”
If you could have dinner with anyone – well-known or not, living or deceased – who would you choose?
Neither living nor gone: Amélie Poulain! I love her world… That character gives me the feeling that life is much more tender and colourful than it sometimes appears.
What is your passion?
Travel and… jigsaw puzzles! Anyone who knows me will tell you: there’s always a puzzle on my kitchen table!
If you could choose any country in the world to visit right now, this very moment, which one would it be?
Greece! How I would love to dive into its turquoise waters one day!
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I have a ton of songs I consider guilty pleasures – I’ll spare you the full list! All right, just one: “Sarà perché ti amo” by Ricchi e Poveri. If you want to get me on the dance floor, you now know what to play at birthday dinners!
Mélanie, with your infectious energy, you embody a modern, accessible and committed style of leadership. Cibèle is lucky to have you at the helm! Long may your joy for life shine!