NORTH HALTON, ONTARIO, September 22, 2023 – The grassroots charity Townsend Smith Foundation (TSF) is pleased to announce that The Honourable Lisa Raitt has joined a growing number of dedicated leadership volunteers who are helping to bring much-needed health care infrastructure to North Halton in the form of a state-of-the-art hospice residence and its associated palliative care programs and services.
“As with all health care projects these days, there is a need to raise money within the community. It’s true when it comes to hospitals and its true when it comes to building and operating a hospice”, shared TSF Board of Directors Chair, Astrid Lakats.
TSF is lucky in that the fundraising achieved to-date allowed us to purchase land at the corner of Trafalgar Rd and 5 Sideroad, and we’re moving the construction to the next logical phase as we seek expertise from architects and the like.
“Looking at similar projects TSF knows we will have to work hard to engage our community, but we’ve found that the importance of building and operating a hospice residence in the community resonates with people who are responding with generous gifts of support”, added Lakats.
“As a former Canadian politician who served as a federal Cabinet minister and member of Parliament (MP) for our community I understand how impactful the work of charities like Townsend Smith Foundation is to building a better community for us all, and it is with this in mind that my choice to volunteer the help necessary for the capital fundraising effort was an easy one”, observed Ms. Raitt, adding, “We’re a community that has always worked collaboratively towards a common vision for a better future for all, TSF’ efforts to build the hospice in North Halton is an important project for our collective health care.“
TSF’s hospice care will prioritize its residents’ comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering but will also support the needs of family and friends in a caring environment.
Those wishing to learn more about hospice care for North Halton, the work of the Townsend Smith Foundation, or to offer support through a generous gift or as a volunteer are encouraged to visit https://www.townsend-smith.ca/donate/.
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About Townsend Smith Foundation
Working vigorously since 2012, the Townsend Smith Foundation, TSF, is a registered charitable organization with a unique mandate to provide the supports and education to those interested in hospice care, in the last stages of living, or bereaved.
Our meaningful projects include free seminars to raise awareness for the need and benefit of hospice palliative care, support for caregivers, children and will planning, group discussions of death through death cafes, and honouring those who have passed through candlelight ceremony. TSF conducts research on hospice care and volunteers consistently engage our community on hospice care and its needs in North Halton with a key objective being to raise funds to build hospice facilities in North Halton.
For further information at Townsend Smith Foundation please contact Ms. Astrid Lakats, Chair, Board of Directors alakats@townsend-smith.ca I 289.878.3407
Congratulations to Fay MacDonald who won our 50/50 draw with ticket# C-1545. Thank you to everyone who participated in the draw. Your support will go to the Townsend Smith Foundation.
NORTH HALTON, ONTARIO, September 06, 2023 – The largely volunteer operated charity Townsend Smith Foundation (TSF) is dedicated to building and operating a hospice residence in North Halton and seeing their fundraising efforts continue to build the needed momentum. Recently well-know business professional and philanthropist Teresa Fujarczuk agreed to join growing number of leadership volunteers tasked with raising the many millions of dollars needed to achieve what government euphemistically calls “the community share”.
Teresa joins a growing number of community leaders who have stepped up to help TSF secure the funds needed to build and operate a state-of-the-art hospice residence that will prioritize patient comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering but will also support the needs of family and friends in a caring environment.
“No major health care project including a hospice gets built without active community support demonstrated through fundraising”, noted Astrid Lakats, Chair of the Board of Directors for Townsend Smith Foundation. “While TSF is still in the planning stages based on recent similar projects in nearby communities TSF will have to raise millions of dollars, but the project is moving forward. Earlier this year TSF secured the land and planning permissions for a hospice residence approximately 5 kilometres north of the Town of Milton on Trafalgar Road”, added Lakats.
Those wishing to learn more about hospice care for North Halton, the work of the Townsend Smith Foundation, or to offer support through a generous gift or as a volunteer are encouraged to visit https://www.townsend-smith.ca/donate/.
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About Townsend Smith Foundation Working vigorously since 2012, the Townsend Smith Foundation, TSF, is a registered charitable organization with a unique mandate to provide supports and education to those interested in hospice care, in the last stages of living, or bereaved. Our meaningful projects include free seminars to raise awareness for the need and benefit of hospice palliative care, support for caregivers, children and estate planning, group discussions of death through death cafes, and honouring those who have passed through an annual candlelight ceremony. TSF conducts research on hospice care and volunteers consistently engage our stakeholders on the need for compassionate end-of-life care in North Halton with a key objective being to raise funds to build hospice facilities in our community.
For further information at Townsend Smith Foundation please contact Ms. Astrid Lakats, Chair, Board of Directors alakats@townsend-smith.ca I 289.878.3407
NORTH HALTON, ONTARIO, June 8th, 2023 –The much-needed fundraising efforts for the Townsend Smith Foundation (TSF) took another step forward as former Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette agreed to volunteer his time and talents on the charity’s capital campaign leadership team.
“Having proudly served Halton Hills as Mayor for almost two decades I know how important the work of charities like the Townsend Smith Foundation are to our community. Townsend Smith Foundation’s dedicated team has and continues to work tirelessly to bring a critical health program, a hospice residence, to North Halton” shared Rick.
Rick joins a growing number of community leaders who have stepped up to help TSF raise the ‘community share’ that is needed to build and operate a state-of-the-art hospice residence. “For leadership volunteers like Rick who know how to engage community-minded people and businesses the work on TSF’s capital campaign is likely just a couple of hours every few weeks, but the importance of the role and work can’t be understated”, shared TSF Board Chair, Astrid Lakats. “Like it or not, critical health care facilities like hospitals and hospices don’t get built without fundraising from the community” noted Lakats.
TSF has secured the necessary property and zoning at the corner of Trafalgar and 5 Sideroad and now needs to raise the millions of dollars to build the hospice residence in the community. TSF’s goal is to offer the type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms. It will also attend to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. The charity fully understands that under current provincial guidelines more beds will be needed as soon as possible.
TSF’s hospice care will prioritize patient comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering but will also support the needs of family and friends in a supportive environment.
Those wishing to learn more about hospice care for North Halton, the work of the Townsend Smith Foundation, or to offer support through a generous gift or as a volunteer are encouraged to visit https://www.townsend-smith.ca/donate/.
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About Townsend Smith Foundation
Working vigorously since 2012, the Townsend Smith Foundation, TSF, is a registered charitable organization with a unique mandate to provide the supports and education to those interested in hospice care, in the last stages of living, or bereaved. Our meaningful projects include free seminars to raise awareness for the need and benefit of hospice palliative care, support for caregivers, children and will planning, group discussions of death through death cafes, and honouring those who have passed through candlelight ceremony. TSF conducts research on hospice care and volunteers consistently engage our community on hospice care and its needs in North Halton with a key objective being to raise funds to build hospice facilities in North Halton.
For further information at Townsend Smith Foundation please contact Ms. Theresa Greer, Executive Director bod@townsend-smith.ca I 289.878.3407 For further information at Townsend Smith Foundation please contact Ms. Astrid Lakats, Chair, Board of Directors bod@townsend-smith.ca I 289.878.3407
My story involves the Ian Anderson House hospice in Oakville. My husband Gary was transferred to Ian Anderson House for his final two weeks of care before he died of a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumour.
I was caring for him at home and finding it increasingly difficult because he could not walk or speak, and he could also not lift his body to help with daily functions. We were so lucky to be admitted to the hospice because at that time there were only six or seven beds, and the only other hospice nearby was Carpenter House in Burlington, and it was full.
When we arrived, Gary was made clean and comfortable and began smiling again, even though he knew that his time on earth was quickly approaching. The staff at Ian Anderson were so compassionate and kind. They encouraged me to let them take care of Gary and for me to just relax and be there for him.
The room was so bright and comfortable, and the atmosphere was calm and quiet. Volunteers would come by to see if they could bring me a cup of tea and some cookies. We were allowed guests at any time and there was no limit as to the number of visitors. My daughter’s little dog was even allowed to come and lay on his bed.
The nursing staff let me know what to watch for as the end was nearing so that I was able to stay overnight with him and be there when he finally succumbed. There were no interventions, and it was a calm, gentle leaving with his loved ones at his side.
I have nothing but warm feelings for the hospice experience and we desperately need one in Milton. It is where I want to be at the end of my life, and I encourage everyone to support the fundraising efforts of the Townsend-Smith Foundation.
