rebecca biernacki, everkind home support, victoria, bc, helen siwak, portfolioyvr.com

Rebecca Biernacki: Redefining Compassionate In-Home Care with EverKind Home Support

Rebecca Biernacki was born in Newfoundland and spent her early years on Canada’s East Coast before moving to Victoria at the age of thirteen. After nearly three decades on Vancouver Island, her approach to care and community remains deeply shaped by family life. With her parents nearby, her sister and brother-in-law raising their three boys close to home, and her husband Chris’s family woven into her daily world, Rebecca understands the importance of connection, belonging, and the support systems that hold families together.

Her career in caregiving began almost twenty years ago in long-term care, where the day-to-day work taught her both practical skills and quiet, meaningful lessons. She learned how to listen, how small routines can restore dignity, and how consistency builds lasting trust. A natural, hands-on problem solver, Rebecca is drawn to transforming messy or emotional moments into clear, compassionate plans. This might mean redesigning an intake form, coaching a new caregiver, or sitting with a family as they navigate uncertain transitions.

Animals have always been an important part of Rebecca’s life, and their steady companionship helped shape the patience and empathy that guide her work with seniors. She values individualized support that honours each person’s history, preferences, and rhythms. For her, success is measured by the relief, confidence, and sense of ease that families express when they feel supported.

Practical and hopeful at heart, Rebecca builds systems that make care both easier and kinder. Every day, she shows up to protect what matters most: home, memory, belonging, and above all, family. Her philosophy is simple and unwavering—care should always feel like family, for seniors, caregivers, and the families who love them.

rebecca biernacki, everkind home support, victoria, bc, helen siwak, portfolioyvr.com

THE BUSINESS.

At EverKind Home Support, the mission is both simple and profound: to provide care that feels like family. From the very beginning, EverKind was envisioned as more than a home-care service. It is a culture built on compassion, dignity, and genuine human connection.

Family is at the centre of everything the founder, Rebecca Biernacki, does. With her parents living in Victoria, her sister, brother-in-law, and their three boys close by, and her husband Chris’s family deeply involved in her life, she understands how essential it is to remain connected to the people we love. That sense of belonging inspires her to help seniors stay in their homes, surrounded by the memories, belongings, and family ties that give life meaning.

Kindness is the guiding principle behind EverKind. Rebecca believes in gentle reassurance, patient listening, and personalized care that honours each individual. Her experience in long-term care reinforced the importance of maintaining high standards, and she holds herself to those standards every day, ensuring that every act of care is delivered with empathy, respect, and compassion.

Looking ahead, Rebecca is growing EverKind with purpose and intention. Her vision is to expand across Vancouver Island while staying rooted in the values that shaped the business: delivering care that is professional, heartfelt, and always grounded in kindness and family.

rebecca biernacki, everkind home support, victoria, bc, helen siwak, portfolioyvr.com

IN HER WORDS.

“I first recognized my entrepreneurial spirit after I left a small home-care position that had become an unhealthy environment. I had been running day-to-day operations, and although I had not built anything for myself in that role, the experience sharpened skills that would become foundational: client management, coordinating care, and solving problems under pressure. After I left, I went to an interview where the company admired my resume and asked if I could help form and grow their business. When I walked to my car afterward, a clear realization surfaced: why should I do this for someone else again when I could do it for myself and build the kind of workplace I valued?

FIRST BIG IDEA

My first big idea grew from a defining teenage moment. On New Year’s Eve, I babysat fifteen military children, including my siblings, while their parents attended a party. I managed bedtimes, tidied the house, and later learned that the children wanted me back. That night taught me patience, calm under pressure, and responsibility. Those early lessons followed me into decades of health-care work, reminding me that trust, organization, and reputation matter. EverKind eventually became the expression of that teenage calling, shaped by nearly twenty years of experience in caregiving, observation, and service.

FIRST REAL MONEY

At thirteen, after all fifteen children were finally asleep, I felt exhausted and resentful that I was not out with friends. When the parents returned, grateful and slightly tipsy, they handed me $1,500. I remember staring at the money, shocked to silence. The experience taught me two truths: caregiving mattered, and people would pay for reliability. Word spread quickly. Families competed to book me each weekend, and my parents found themselves negotiating my schedule. That night did not simply give me money; it showed me that hard work had real value and that calm under pressure could become a future career.

GROWTH AND CHALLENGES

As my entrepreneurial journey evolved, I had to adjust from relying on employers to trusting my own capabilities. I learned that setbacks were often signals to recalibrate rather than stop. When challenges arose—uncertainty, financial pressure, or operational demands—I leaned on clarity of purpose, community support, and disciplined action. Those challenges carved out resilience, sharpened my decision-making, and reminded me that purpose could carry me through uncertainty when strategy alone felt insufficient.

NEW VENTURES

EverKind is my first formal venture, and it is the platform I intend to grow into several complementary branches. I envision offering organizing and cleaning services because order creates real satisfaction and clarity. A small-dog daycare appeals to me because there are no safe social spaces locally for tiny dogs, and as a Chihuahua owner, I understand that need firsthand. I also plan to offer in-home add-on services such as RMT, ear-wax removal, and light handyman support because clients often require these trusted services alongside ongoing care. I already have people in mind who would love to join EverKind and share our values. My approach is to grow slowly and deliberately, adding each service in phases. Rather than selling or closing ventures, these additions live within the same mission: thoughtful, practical support that brings comfort and confidence to families.

rebecca biernacki, everkind home support, victoria, bc, helen siwak, portfolioyvr.com

SCALING STEADILY

To elevate EverKind, I partnered with Victoria Digital Marketing to build consistent messaging and strengthen our visual presence. I pursued local advertising that avoided industry saturation, and I expanded my network by joining community groups like Think Local First. I also worked intentionally to grow my social circle so I could increase referral pathways. To make it easier for those closest to me to share what we do, I designed materials for family and friends to pass along in their circles. Each of these steps strengthened EverKind’s visibility and helped us reach the families who needed us most.

SACRIFICES MADE

Launching EverKind required significant sacrifice. I gave up a steady income and tightened my life so I could fund the business from our savings. I cut discretionary spending, embraced uncertainty, and learned to treat every dollar with purpose. Those sacrifices sharpened my priorities, improved my problem-solving, and deepened my sense of ownership. When money is limited, values and quality rise to the top as nonnegotiable. Balance came from strict routines and boundaries. I wake at 4:30 a.m., go to the gym from 5:00 to 6:00 a.m., stretch while my Chihuahuas eat beside me, enjoy tea and journaling in my comfortable chair, and then take a morning walk before I begin work. During the day I take short walks and commit to leaving work at a reasonable time. These rituals sustain my well-being and make sacrifice feel purposeful rather than punishing.

CONFIRMING SUCCESS

There was no single turning point. Instead, a steady rhythm of confirmation built my confidence. I met remarkable caregivers who aligned with EverKind’s mission through empathy and competence. Community conversations revealed how deeply people connected with our purpose. Opportunities arrived, including the chance to share my story in Portfolio.YVR, each affirming that EverKind was needed. These repeated experiences—trust, alignment, and momentum—shifted my mindset from hopeful to certain. Together, they made the work feel inevitable rather than risky.

VITAL SUPPORT

Support has been the backbone of EverKind’s growth. At the centre is my husband of sixteen years, Krzysztof Biernacki, whose confidence and calm made risk feel manageable. My parents, Doug and Brenda Pye, my sister and brother-in-law, Kate and Micah Claxton, and my mother-in-law, Irene Biernacki, offered hands-on help and honest feedback that grounded my decisions. My friends and mentors shaped EverKind in meaningful ways. Kaleena Lindsay gave us a visual voice through her photography. Hannah Olmstead provided creative support and morale. Myrna Laitnen taught me the empathic, high-level approach to care that defines EverKind. Together with many others, these people became my cheerleaders, offering encouragement, support, and credibility that transformed a personal vision into a community service.

LEADERSHIP SHIFT

As EverKind expanded, my leadership evolved from doing the work to owning the outcome. I learned to think like an owner rather than an employee, shifting from reactive task-work to proactive strategy. I defined non-negotiables, built systems, and created processes so the business could run without my involvement in every detail. When growth threatened simplicity, I paused and realigned with our core values—refining training, clarifying scope, and tightening policies. Over time I became a leader who protects culture while expanding impact, ensuring that empathy and dignity remain central.

rebecca biernacki, everkind home support, victoria, bc, helen siwak, portfolioyvr.com

LESSONS LEARNED

For aspiring entrepreneurs, research matters. Understanding your market, competitors, and true start-up costs builds a foundation for smart decisions. You do not need to excel at everything; identify your strengths and hire or contract the rest so your energy stays where it adds value. Patience is vital. When something does not work, it is not failure; it is information. Ask for help early and often. People want to support you, but they cannot unless they know you need it. Set boundaries and protect your time. Sustainable energy is a business asset.

What I wish I had known is that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Hiring sooner accelerates growth. Small failures are learning moments, not proof you are wrong. Boundaries are essential. My definition of success has shifted to focus on quality of care, trust, a values-aligned team, and personal well-being.

HEART OF THE WORK

EverKind exists to provide trusted, empathic, compassionate, and kind in-home care, and to teach others how to deliver that same standard. We hire and train caregivers for emotional intelligence as much as technical skill, coach families through care planning, and deliver hourly and scheduled in-home care, care coaching, caregiver training workshops, and short-term respite packages. Revenue comes through client fees, workshop fees, and community partnerships. Quality in-home care matters because it protects safety, dignity, and family stability. We scale our impact by teaching others how to care well, not only by providing care ourselves.

Our ask is simple: help spread the word about EverKind across the island. We need island-wide exposure so more families know about our trusted, compassionate care. We are also searching for an LPN to help us grow. Immediate support looks like referrals, sharing our story on social media, offering testimonials, or introducing us to community groups so we can teach communities how to care with dignity and kindness.

FUTURE VISION

By the end of 2026, I want EverKind to help shift what our island community expects from care. I envision a future where families assume that dignity, empathy, and consistency are standard, where caregivers are trained to deliver person-centred support, and where seniors can remain safely in their homes. My legacy will be measured in changed norms, strengthened systems, and a local workforce that honours kindness as a nonnegotiable part of care. I want EverKind to influence home care, long-term care, assisted living, and independent living spaces, proving that compassionate care is not only achievable but essential.”

Follow EverKind Home Support on IG: @everkindhomesupport

All images by Kaleena Lindsay Photography.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Collaborator: This story is created in collaboration between Helen Siwak and the featured subject. As the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, Helen works closely with entrepreneurs to share their paths of innovation, resilience, and growth. Each story in this series is co-developed through interviews and first-person insights, blending authentic voices with Helen’s editorial expertise to highlight the remarkable individuals shaping British Columbia’s business landscape.