The New West Hospice Society will be paying tribute to founder Kay Johnson.
At its June 22 annual general meeting, the society will recognize Johnson’s leadership and years of dedication to the cause.
“There would be no New West Hospice Society without the vision, wisdom and perseverance of Kay Johnson,” said the society in an email to the Record. “She holds membership card #001, as she is the founder of NWHS. A triumph of ‘firsts’ occurred under Kay’s leadership over the past six years.”
Some of these firsts include: becoming the first hospice organization founded by New West, for New West, and in New West; being the first hospice society in B.C. to be recognized as a Compassionate City by the Public Health Palliative Care International; and hosting North America’s first-ever Festival of Loss and Healing, which is now an annual event.
Other accomplishments under Johnson’s leadership include: being named Best Not-For-Profit in 2017 in the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce’s Platinum Awards; seeing New Westminster city council become one of the first cities to adopt the Compassionate City Charter in principle; and developing partnerships with the city, the Arts Council of New Westminster, the Seniors Services Society, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the B.C. Centre for Palliative Care.
Other highlights during Johnson’s time at the helm included raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants from government and charitable sources, as well as launching programs and events such as Community Conversations, The River Walk and the Compassionate City Crew (in-home hospice volunteers).
“These ‘firsts’ have supported the dying and the bereaved, normalized conversations on ‘taboo topics’ and led to the betterment of the city of New Westminster as a whole,” said the society.
Here’s wishing Kay a wonderful – and well deserved – retirement!
