CORNWALL, Ontario – Many families of Cornwall and SDG are touched by the end-of-life services of Carefor Cornwall Hospice. About 200 community members attended the BMO Building Arts Centre on Wednesday, Sept. 11 to show their gratitude and celebrate the organization’s 10 years
“(The event) is in recognition of Hospice’s 10th anniversary, just to celebrate all the volunteers, all the businesses, all the organizations that supported us to make it a successful 10 years and show this to them. We are really embedded in the community now with such a nice turnout (tonight),” said Jason Samson, Director of Operations.
Samson, who recently changed roles from the position of Manager, said that he took part in writing the original business case of Hospice when he worked for the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), now known as Champlain Local Health Integration Network.
“You don’t see the end result of the work you’re doing right away,” said Samson, reflecting on the process of opening Cornwall Hospice in 2009. “It takes a few years before you notice things are shifting…it’s really good looking at it now from a different role…it’s really nice to see.”
According to Fundraising Coordinator Sandy Collette, the $4.3 million capital campaign for Hospice launched in 2008.
“Jean Courville (Executive Director) and Dr. Mary Jane Randlett (original Hospice G.P.) were the two driving factors (in founding Cornwall’s Hospice),” said Collette.
The anniversary celebration included art pieces of statements that clients and patients made about their experience with Hospice. Some attendees were also invited to sign their name on a pillar and view a timeline of how Hospice has changed over 10 years.
“We (also) have four obituaries that living people have written for themselves. It’s to trigger people to realize that you’re not going to be around all the time…live life as best as you can, be in the moment and enjoy what you have when you have it,” said Samson about another art installation at the event.
