Hospice House Expansion Opened

Friday, October 23, 2009 11:21 AM

l-r Acting Mayor- Shari Green, Hospice Society President- Karen Beeson, Chair of Capital Campaign program- David Yarmish, Minister Transportation and Infrastructure- Shirley Bond, Hospice Society Executive Director- Donalda Carson, Minister of Forests and Range- Pat Bell and Northern Health Chief Operating Officer- Michael McMillan.

Prince George, B.C.- Rotary Hospice House has officially opened its newly renovated expanded facility on Clapperton Street in Prince George. The $2.2 million dollar project was paid in part by a $700 thousand dollar grant from the province, $150 thousand from the City of Prince George and $1.2 million raised in the community.

The new "Dean Shaw " wing, provides 10 guest rooms which have more space to accommodate family, complete with a futon for visiting family members to rest, flat screen t.v., dvd, two piece bath with built in "lift" system, and larger windows. (one of the new guest rooms at right)

"Supporting families and their loved ones during the end-of-life stages is absolutely essential. I can speak from very personal experience that Rotary Hospice House does that exceptionally well. An incredible team of people provide the care, compassion and relief that families like mine required, and I want to give special recognition to that team today," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and MLA for Prince George- Valemount. "I am very thankful that even more families will be able to access this residence. I know it will make a significant difference to them and our community."

The expansion of the Rotary Hospice House, provides a total of 10 beds for hospice guests (up from the previous 5) and includes a nurses' station, lounge, outdoor patios, bathing room and offices. The existing hospice was renovated to expand the kitchen/dining area, laundry, storage and family spaces.

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Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 11:21 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: apester on October 23 2009 12:52 PM

Can someone tell me why the minister of transportation and infastructure as well as the minister of forests and range are in this picture. This has nothing to do with either of their ministries yet they must get their pictures in the news. What a couple of publicity whores. This is about the same as all these signs along our roads and hwys were the liberals pat themselves on the back at the tax payers expense. I am glad they feel good about themselves because not many others do.

Posted by: MrPG on October 23 2009 1:07 PM

Complain complain complain...

Posted by: MsPG on October 23 2009 1:56 PM

It's pretty obvious that apester needs to get a life and a little common sense so I'll spell it out for you. hmmm - provincial grant of $700k = local provincial government representatives, hmmm - Shirley Bond (a local government rep.) has shared a very personal experience with Hospice House hmmmm Pitious is the day when such a GOOD community story gets slammed by the likes of you! For your lack of empathy I sure hope that if you have loved ones they are not dependant on you to provide support such as Hospice House is more than able to provide!!

Congratulations! Hospice House!! This has been a long time coming!

Posted by: flowerchild on October 23 2009 2:59 PM

apester:
having sat by the beside of two loved ones and held their hands as they gently slipped out of this world, I can tell you I wish it had been in a setting as beautiful as this. The best the facility could offer was a room for family , albeit down the hall, and no one wanted to use that room for fear they would leave their loved one to die "alone".
I know how hard Shirley Bond battled to get the provincial dollars for this project. This was not about politics for her, it was about community, it was about family. She deserved to be at this opening, and she deserves the credit for securing some of the funds to make it happen. For once, could we simply say thanks? I don't think the families that will benefit from the expansion give a hoot about the politics, only that someone, somewhere was able to help make a facility better. On their behalf Shirley, please allow me to say thank you.

Posted by: apester on October 23 2009 3:44 PM

I too have sat in the Hospice house and held the hand of a dying loved one. The Hospice Society does a wonderful job and provides a great service. To say that these politicos are responsible for the expansion is BS. The Hospice Society has been lobbying for expansion money for sometime. This money would have come weather or not shirley was involved or not. It is the Health Authority and the Hospice Society that did all the hard work in order for this wonderful expansion to take place and for these two politicos to be in the picture and rob their thunder is crap. I don't recall poo pooing on the expansion which is way over due and an excellent thing. But I did poo poo on the publicity whores that will have people thinking that they made this happen. The families that are sitting in there may not care about politics at the moment but I will tell you that after sitting in the Hospice house for 2 weeks at a time on 2 different occasions I resent the fact that these politicos feel they must be involved in the opening. Why aren't they doing something like lobbying to have all cancer drugs covered etc.etc. instead of trying to take the Health Authorities and the Hospice Societies thunder. If they spent as much time working for the people as they do smiling for pictures they might have a chance of getting re-elected.

Posted by: apester on October 23 2009 3:47 PM

Oh and if you must put politicos in the picture put in the ones from the ministry responsible.

Posted by: palomino on October 23 2009 3:49 PM

Couldn't have said it better myself, flowerchild ! Anyone who's lost or losing a loved one knows full well what hospice house means not only to them, but to the entire community as a whole.

This is not the story, or the time, to puke your political drivel, apester! There are too many families out there who'll see this development as a godsend for those who are suffering, and are at, or near the end of life, both now, and/or years down the road.

Someday, we'll all face the end, and it'll be nice to know that there is a place like this where we can hope to die in dignity, with our family around us for those of us lucky enough to have family left, and be attended to by caring people, even if we are all alone at the end.

I too, say thank you!

Some tax dollars very well spent IMO.

palomino

Posted by: faxman on October 23 2009 6:01 PM

This is good new for the Hospice House. It's good to see that everyone dressed up for the photo op. ;)

Posted by: Rockin on October 23 2009 6:39 PM

Hey Shari...
Did you have to show up in blue jeans???
You are representing the city as acting mayor!!!

Posted by: caranmacil on October 24 2009 9:31 AM

I dont think apester is spoiling the good news story, just pointing out what he thinks is an inappropriate photo op. I would disagree with him though on whether the two polititians deserve to be there. While others may have done a lot of lobbying, it is the polititions in the end who approve the money.
Good work to ALL involved. This money spent in the hospice house is money well spent in my view.

Posted by: DPJ on October 24 2009 10:46 AM

These MLA's represent our city in Victoria. It is AWESOME they come to support the hospice home expansion. good MLA and the federal name (forgot at the moment) are the ones that come and be involved in their communities when they can.