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Moments That Mattered...
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Canada Day Celebrations: Staff and volunteers decorated our hallways and dressed in red and white, celebrating the diversity, beauty, and community spirit that make our country so special.
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A Luau to Remember: At the request of a resident, staff and volunteers brought the tropics to Rotary Hospice, hosting an afternoon luau complete with festive decorations, Hawaiian shirts, delicious treats and lots of sunshine.
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Connect Four Fun: An oversized version of the classic board game "Connect Four" is a new addition to our outdoor space, inviting a moment of play and fun when needed.
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Sweet Support for Hospice Care: Our friends at the Corner Story Candy Co. hosted a Cotton Candy fundraiser, donating the proceeds to Rotary Hospice.
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It's a boy! A resident's loved one had a gender reveal for their baby in our hospice home, ensuring that everyone in their circle could attend.
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Hike for Hospice Success: We proudly shared that thanks to the incredible support of our community, we reached our Hike for Hospice fundraising goal!
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Our Little Band Farmer's Market Proceeds: Following their fundraiser at the Stratford Farmer's Market, we gratefully acknowledged the talent and generosity shared by Our Little Band!
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Chocolate Barr's Champ Bars: As a sweet tribute to Rheo Thompson, Champ Bars are being sold at Chocolate Barr's Candies all summer, with proceeds benefitting Rotary Hospice. Stop by and pick one up today!
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Barbecue Season at Rotary Hospice: Our BBQs and lush outdoor spaces have been frequently used by loved ones and families, allowing them to enjoy the warm summer days.
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Breaking Ground on the Serenity Garden: With the ceremonial groundbreaking complete, we are excited to share that plans for the Serenity Garden are officially underway! Read more below.
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Thank you to St. Marys Insurance: A generous donation was made by the team at St. Marys Insurance in memory of Chris O'Hearn and we are so grateful for their support!
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Memory Care Training for Staff: In collaboration with the Alzheimer's Society, Rotary Hospice staff members, as well as staff from Jessica's House Hospice, participated in Gentle Persuasive Approaches dementia care education.
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Sebringville Firefighters Association Boot Drive: Our friends at the Sebringville Firefighters Association raised over $5,000 for Rotary Hospice during their May Boot Drive!
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Hike for Hospice Sock Donation: Thanks to everyone who purchased our limited edition Hike for Hospice socks, we were able to donate 750 pairs of socks to our friends at the Stratford Connection Centre, supporting individuals facing homelessness in our community.
😊Silly Joke of the Month: Why do seagulls fly over the sea?
Answer: If they flew over the bay, they would be bagels.
| Pictured left to right: Stratford Perth Hospice Foundation Board Chair John Brightwell, Donor Jackie Hayton, Donors Doug and Valerie Pinder, Rotary Hospice garden volunteer and member of the Serenity Garden Planning Committee Beth Ennis, Executive Director of Rotary Hospice Louise Lepp and Landscape Architect and Serenity Garden designer Jane Eligh-Feryn. Not pictured: Erin, Veronica, and Lauren from the 2024 Hog Jog committee. |
Breaking Ground on the Rotary Hospice Serenity Garden
We're thrilled to share that with the ceremonial groundbreaking complete, plans for our Serenity Garden are officially underway! Construction is expected to begin in early August, with projected completion in summer 2026.
Nestled on the hospice greenspace nearest Norwood Court, the Serenity Garden will be a tranquil, accessible place for contemplation that honours the importance of nature, connection, and reflection at every stage of life.
The idea of creating a meaningful outdoor space has been quietly growing at Rotary Hospice, an aspiration rooted in the understanding that nature offers solace during life’s most tender moments.
Making this garden a reality is the result of tremendous community support, spearheaded by all those who participated and donated to the 2024 Hog Jog. The success of that event inspired two very generous donors to match the funds raised during the Fund-a-Need segment of last year’s Handbags for Hospice event. Together with this early support, the hospice received a sizeable donation from a local family thus transforming what was once a vision into reality.
The Serenity Garden will be an extension of the beauty that Rotary Hospice holds indoors, and a place to make even more moments that matter. This beautiful space has been made possible by the generous support of our community, and we look forward to sharing progress along the way.
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When you have lost someone you love…
Do not make the mistake of living in sadness, or living small to honour their absence.
You owe it to them to live even more vividly than before.
If they could reach you, they would surely say..
“Take the love you had for me and turn it into gladness,
use the love you had for me to drive away the sadness.”
Love is an energy, so powerful, so all-consuming that when the person you felt all that love for is not here, you are a vessel filled with a boundless source of power that has nowhere to go.
Harness it.
Use it to burn even more brightly and live even more loudly than before.
Share the love you felt for that person with all the other special people in your life, for it is limitless. There is no end to it and there never, ever should be.
If they could reach you they would surely say…
“Make my time on earth count loudly, so I’ve not lived in vain.
Use the love we shared to make more love and not more pain.”
If you are struggling to move on, to find the way to carry on. Without them.
This is it.
Use the love.
Carry them with you in all that you do, using their love as the source.
It is what they would want.
Tell their stories, mention their name, feel their love – and share it.
Do not let the pain of their loss overshadow the love that they created whilst alive.
Make them count.
Remember, grief is the price you pay for a love divine. The stronger the love, the deeper the grief but love, love will always win in the end.
-A Poem by Donna Ashworth
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Visiting Hospice Program
Did you know? Hospice care doesn't only happen within our walls. Our Visiting Hospice Program brings dedicated volunteers into people's homes, offering comfort, companionship, and support to those living with a life-limiting illness, wherever they call home.
A team of highly-trained, compassionate and knowledgeable volunteers make weekly visits to clients’ homes. The focus of their visit is to provide emotional, social and/or practical support to individuals facing end-of-life and support to their caregivers.
How does the program work?
An in-home assessment is completed, and volunteers are matched one-to-one with an individual in the community based on shared background, interests, or hobbies. The same volunteer visits weekly to provide support, companionship, and respite time to the individual and their loved ones.
Who are the volunteers?
Our phenomenal team of visiting volunteers:
- Are thoroughly screened, including interviews, reference checks, and vulnerable sector police screening.
- Receive 30 hours of training specific to hospice palliative care.
- Display sensitivity, good communication skills, willingness to help, and have respect for the privacy and dignity of others.
- Provide emotional, social, and practical support as well as an opportunity for caregivers to take time away or to rest.
- Receive ongoing training, supervision and group support.
- Are part of a larger team of professionals committed to providing optimal care to bring quality of life to those they serve.
Interested in learning more or getting involved? Visit www.rotaryhospice.ca/volunteer-visiting or contact chelsey@rotaryhospice.ca
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Handbags for Hospice: Call for Donations
Our 7th annual Handbags for Hospice is coming up this October and we need your help to make it a success.
We're currently seeking donations for our Wine Wall (bottles of wine valued at $25 or more), as well as unique items and experiences for our silent and live auctions.
Looking to support local? We encourage you to visit your favourite local retailers to purchase a beautiful handbag or other special item to donate to our silent auction. For the live auction, we're looking for high-value items and experiences such as cottage stays, event tickets, or one-of-a-kind local adventures.
Your generosity directly supports compassionate, end-of-life care in our community.
Stay tuned for more details and ticketing information coming soon!
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In Honour of my Mom, Shared with Gratitude
"In April 2024, I rode on the patient transfer bus with my mom as she arrived at Rotary Hospice. I promised her I would stay until she fell asleep that night – and I did. The next morning, I wanted to be the first face she saw when she woke up, so I arrived bright and early at 7 am.
When I got there, her door was closed. From the hallway, I could hear the voices of three women inside – staff members gently talking to my mom, so kindly, as the Everly Brothers played softly in the background (some of her favourite tunes).
I stood quietly in the hallway, trying to hold myself together, but the emotion was overwhelming. When mom’s nurse stepped out of the room and saw me crying, she immediately asked, “Oh dear, are you okay?” as I started to sob.
I could only gurgle out apologies for being so overwhelmed with their compassion for mom. That nurse gently reassured me: “Everyone here at hospice is here to do everything they can for your mom.” She added that working at Rotary Hospice was her dream job.
I’m still crying tears of gratitude over a year later.
Everyone should be lucky enough to live at hospice during the final leg of their earthly race. The volunteers and staff are UNBELIEVABLY amazing."
~ Michele
Michele's story is a powerful reminder of the impact hospice care can have on the end-of-life journey, not just for the individual in the bed, but also for those in their circle.
If your life has been touched by Rotary Hospice. we invite you to share your experience. Your words can help bring comfort to others, raise awareness, and help more people understand the difference hospice can make. It's another meaningful way to give back.
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Bringing Hospice Awareness to our Community
"I wish we'd come here sooner..." is a sentiment that is often shared with our social worker.
Many people don't realize what hospice care truly offers - or even that there is a hospice right here in our community.
Our team is committed to spreading awareness through informative presentations at local community groups, clubs, churches, and workplaces. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn about the compassionate, specialized care hospice offers to individuals and their loved ones facing end-of-life journeys.
From understanding when hospice care is an option to exploring our grief support and advanced care planning, our presentations help answer important questions and dispel common misconceptions.
By reaching more people, we hope to ensure that when the time comes, community members know that they are not alone and that compassionate support is available.
If your organization or workplace is interested in hosting a presentation, we would love to connect!
Please contact Lucie at lucie@rotaryhospice.ca or 519-508-4900 ext. 720
We look forward to connecting with you!
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