As we greet 2026, we want to begin with one simple but heartfelt message: thank you.

Whether you supported Rotary Hospice through donations, event participation, volunteering, advocacy, or by simply sharing our work with others, your generosity and care made a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, loved ones, and caregivers throughout the past year.

Hospice care truly takes a village, and we are deeply grateful to be supported by such a compassionate community. Thank you for being a part of it.

Moments That Mattered...

Giving Tuesday at The Hitching Post: Our heartfelt thanks to Shannon O'Shea Ross and Karna Brennan for hosting a coffee and cookie fundraiser on Giving Tuesday in support of our hospice home.

A Beautiful Holiday Meal: Residents, loved ones, staff and volunteers shared a festive meal together, creating special moments and sustaining important traditions.

Staff & Volunteers Give Back: Rotary Hospice staff and volunteers came together to collect food donations in support of House of Blessing at a time of year when the need is so great.

Special Holiday Gatherings: Many families and loved ones gathered at our hospice home to celebrate the holidays together, supported by a caring and welcoming environment.

SK8 Jam 4 Sam Success: Funds raised through last year's SK8 Jam 4 Sam were gratefully received and continue to support hospice care and programming, while honouring the community spirit and generosity of Sam Beauchamp.

Carol Singing: Carolers from the Stratford Concert Choir filled the hospice with music, bringing comfort and familiar holiday songs to our residents and their loved ones.

Ellie & Shawna Visit: A special holiday visit from Ellie and Shawna brought smiles, connection, and meaningful moments.

Deidre Gerrits Book Donation: Author Deidre Gerrits generously donated copies of her book My Parents Died to our hospice library, expanding resources for grieving families.

Demetre's Sweet Support: Demetre's Family Eatery raised funds for hospice care through the sale of Rheo Thompson Mint Smoothies.

Elgin Church Soup Fundraiser: Elgin Missionary Church hosted a soup fundraiser and generously chose Rotary Hospice as the recipient of the proceeds. Thank you.

Gifts and Cards from Stratford Intermediate School Students: Thoughtful, handmade cards and snowflakes from the students at SIS brightened the days of residents and their loved ones.

Tradition Mutual Volunteers: We are deeply grateful to Stephanie and Natalia from Tradition Mutual Insurance Co. for choosing to spend the day volunteering with us and for making a generous donation in support of our hospice home.

Lights of Love: Thank you to everyone who supported this year's Lights of Love campaign and submitted a dedication message. We added a window display this year, allowing staff, volunteers, and visitors to pause and remember.

😊Silly Joke of the Month: What do you call a penguin in the desert? Lost! But in January, he is just on vacation.

Every Day Counts

At the heart of Rotary Hospice, making every day and every moment count is integral to those affected by life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones. Our Every Day Counts campaign provides a unique opportunity for you to commemorate a special day by contributing to the cost of a day (or more) of care for one (or more) residents at Rotary Hospice.

We all cherish stories of special days and people that linger in our memories. To those who have already chosen to Pay for a Day (or more) of care for a resident here at Rotary Hospice, thank you. Your generosity has made a significant impact on the lives of those in our care. 

The following individuals and organizations were honoured or remembered in October, November, and December of 2025:

In Honour of Hospice Care by Meghan Seaman

In Loving Memory of John Mavity by Laurie Brown Mavity

In Loving Memory of Hazel Redshaw by Geoffrey Redshaw

In Loving Memory of Mary Scherbarth by Garry, Sarah, Calib, Lorelai, and Judy

In Loving Memory of Phyllis Parsons by Bev Gregory and family

In Loving Memory of Muriel Boyd by the Boyd Family

In Loving Memory of Eileen Yantzi by Orlin and family

In Loving Memory of Ron Johnston by Shelley Johnston

In Loving Memory of Marlene Ruby by Linda Furtney

In Loving Memory of Joan Holmes by Ron Holmes

In Recognition of Community Physicians by Physiotherapy Alliance

In Loving Memory of Sue Dunseith by Glen Dunseith and family

In Loving Memory of Nancy MacDonald by Heather & Scott Campbell

In Honour of Rotary Hospice Staff & Volunteers by Hollie & Marlene Archer

In Honour of Sandy Blackman by Wayne Douglas

In Celebration of Christmas Blessings by Norma & Michael Reese

In Loving Memory of Walter Kollman by Gloria Kollman and family

We also wish to acknowledge those who contributed to the Every Day Counts campaign but chose to keep their donation private.

Our most heartfelt thanks for these special 'pay it forward' gifts of care.

Interested in dedicating a special day? Rotary Hospice must fundraise $350 per room per day to cover operating costs not covered by Ministry of Health funding. Help us fill the calendar with special memories! 

A Christmas Carol: A Remarkable Community Success

On December 7, our community once again showed what is possible when people come together with purpose and heart.

Thanks to the incredible success of A Christmas Carol, we're honoured to receive the proceeds, totalling over $19,000 (net), from this beloved production in support of hospice care. From the performers and organizers to every person who attended, donated, or helped spread the word, your support helps ensure compassionate end-of-life care, grief support, and comfort services remain available to those who need them most. A heartfelt thank you to the evening's sponsors, Jeff Leney & John Wolfe of Re/Max a-b Realty, and Dan & Carolyn Mathieson.

We are so thankful to Judy Maddren for producing this event and choosing to support Rotary Hospice in this way. We are also deeply grateful to the performers, volunteers and guests for showing up for hospice care in such a meaningful way.

Grief in the New Year: We're Here for You

While we are often encouraged to 'move on' in January, we know that grief doesn't reset in the new year.

For many, this season can feel especially heavy, the quiet after the holidays, the absence of loved ones, or the pressure to feel hopeful when you may still be hurting. If you're grieving, please know that whatever you're feeling is valid, and you don't have to carry it alone.

Our hospice offers free bereavement support throughout the year, including support groups, one-on-one counselling, walking groups, and educational resources. These services are available to anyone in the community, whether or not your loved one received hospice care.

If you or someone you know could use extra support as the new year begins, we are here to walk alongside you with compassion, understanding, and care.

If you or someone you know would benefit from connecting with our social work team, please reach out to sw@rotaryhospice.ca

Coming Soon: Hospice Hearts Monthly Giving Challenge

If you've been thinking about becoming a monthly donor, February is the perfect time to do it. Thanks to the generosity of Quadro Communications, all new or increased monthly gifts started in February will be matched up to $25,000. More details coming soon!

Wondering How to Access Hospice Care?

Hospice care can begin much earlier than many people realize — even right after a life-limiting diagnosis. Whether someone is interested in connecting with a visiting hospice volunteer or exploring future residential care, early referrals are encouraged and welcomed.

The main way to begin the referral process is through Ontario Health at Home (Southwest). Individuals or their care partners can call directly with their health card number ready. The phone number for Ontario Health at Home Information and Referral line is 310-2222 (no area code required).

Referrals can also come from:

• Family doctors or community nurses
• Hospital care coordinators
• Directly through our hospice team — we’re happy to guide you through the process

We don’t have a traditional waitlist. Instead, we maintain a list of individuals who have indicated hospice is part of their care plan. We stay in touch with them and assess readiness for admission based on their needs and timing. Some individuals come to us earlier in their journey, and that can help ease the transition when the time comes.

We're also supporting more individuals with non-cancer diagnoses as part of our commitment to equitable access. Our team works closely with healthcare providers to ensure timely, appropriate care.

For our Visiting Hospice program, individuals can self-refer by calling the hospice directly.

We're here to help - give us a call at 519-508-4900.

Tuesday, March 3: Spring Webinar

Sunday, June 14: Hike for Hospice

Thursday, October 1: Handbags for Hospice