New West Hospice Society is continuing its quest to open a hospice and to provide community programming.
Since 2016, the society has been working on initiatives to promote and affirm that dying, death and grief are part of life.
Community members are invited to attend Compassionate City Café coffee house on Thursday, April 17 (today) and the annual RiverWalk fundraising walk on May 4.
The Compassionate Café take place in the Gallery at Queen’s Park at 7 p.m.
“We’re inviting everyone to come and enjoy music, coffee, and time together as we all navigate these difficult times,” said Wendy Johnson, the society’s co-president. “Now more than ever, we need to show compassion for one another.”
Etienne Slew will share songs about our connections to the environment and each other, while Francis Baptiste, an Indigenous songwriter, will share how reconnecting with his roots helped him handle turbulent times.
RiverWalk returns
Individuals and teams can now sign up for the RiverWalk fundraising walk that’s taking place on Sunday, May 4 at Westminster Quay. The stroller- and wheelchair-accessible route features a two-kilometre walk along the New West waterfront.
“It's an opportunity to walk in memory of someone you have lost,” Johnson said. “It's also an opportunity to come together as a community and to normalize the conversation about death and dying. And it helps us to raise funds for all of our programs.”
Folks who want to support the cause can also donate online.
“This year we are fundraising for a goal of $10,000,” said a notice about the event. “Join us in making a difference in the community and help us provide valuable hospice programs in New Westminster.”
People are invited to walk in memory of someone they have lost.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin shortly after 11 a.m. The event, which runs until 12:30 p.m., includes music, snacks and a memorial tent where people can paint a rock to remember a loved one.
New West Hospice programs
The New West Hospice Society offers a variety of community programs, including Expressive Art Therapy and Walk and Talk.
Johnson and Brock Nicholson, the society’s co-presidents, provided an update on some of its offerings at a February city council meeting.
“We've developed a volunteer training program that's based on the work of Dr. Allan Kellehear; it is unique to British Columbia in that it is based on his research into Compassionate Cities,” Johnson said. “And so, we train our volunteers to go into homes and support people at the end of their days. That could be in hospital, it could be in their homes, it could be in hospice care. We offer companionship, and we work with friends and neighbours to develop a circle of support.”
The Walk and Talk grief support group meets weekly for eight weeks.
“Participants share their experiences and come to know that healing happens gradually,” Johnson said. “It's facilitated by a graduate of the death doula program at Douglas College.”
The society’s Expressive Art Therapy program, a monthly drop-in facilitated by an expressive art therapist, aims to engages the imagination and provide a safe and caring place where folks can explore feelings and emotions.
The annual Dialogue on Death and Dying, held in conjunction with Century House, strives to normalize conversations in the community about death and dying.
“Last November, we had over 200 participants,” Johnson said. “It's a four-day event that includes an art exhibition, music and workshops on advanced care planning, MAID, and alternative funeral arrangements, engaging and thoughtful conversations, making informed decisions about end-of-life care and what we provide for citizens. And it's all about normalizing the conversation about death and dying.”
The Voice for the Vulnerable program works to provide advance care planning to local people who are unhoused. It was launched in partnership with the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition.
Creating a hospice
Along with its ongoing programs, the New West Hospice Society is continuing to work toward the creation of a hospice in New Westminster.
“We'd like to invite citizens of New Westminster to join us, because we're going to need everybody working together to establish a hospice residence in New Westminster,” Johnson said.
In January, council unanimously approved a motion from Coun. Ruby Campbell that the city work with the New West Hospice Society and external partners to explore potential locations for hospice services, and to advocate to the provincial government for the supports required to bring adequate and compassionate end-of-life care beds to New Westminster. Staff will report back to council on the issue.
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy welcomes the day that hospice services are once again offered in New Westminster. He said that’s something that was lost with the closure of the former St. Mary’s Hospital, but he’s confident the community will once again have hospice care in New Westminster in the future.
“I think community-based hospice care is really important because people don't have to be separated from one another when it's based in their local community,” he said. “So, thank you for all the work you do.”
Mayor Patrick Johnstone thanked the hospice society for its efforts to normalize the conversation around death and dying and to partner with people in the community. He added that it's time to create a hospice space in New Westminster.
“Staff will be working with you in order to see how the city can support you in seeing the actual location of a hospice happen,” he said. “Thank you for continuing this great work.”
