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Choices in Life and Death

May 9, 2023 | Family Stories

When we are born, we have no say in the circumstances surrounding our birth. Some of us arrive in a hospital surrounded by bright lights, medical equipment, and highly educated professionals. Some arrive at home in an inflatable pool with family, a midwife or doula to welcome us. A few even arrive in the back of a car! But when it comes to our death, I would like to think we should have a little more say in our departure from this life if at all possible.

When my friend was at the end of her life, after valiantly living with colon cancer for a few years, she was fortunate enough to be able to make the decision to go to a wonderful hospice in Guelph for her final days. It was a few minutes’ drive away. She loved her husband, son, three daughters, baby granddaughter, and two dogs. She loved her home. But she was tired and didn’t want them to be responsible for her last days. She needed their love not their untrained ‘nursing’ abilities. She needed them strong not stressed, well rested not exhausted. She took great comfort in knowing that they could come whenever and for as long as they wanted, and the baby could be with her as fit the baby’s schedule. Her friends were welcome, the staff was warm, friendly, and well trained in the special needs at end of life. There was food and hot drinks, and all was calm. It was the best solution for her and for all of us who loved her.

Without a hospice the choice is twofold, stay home and it all falls on your family, or go to hospital where your family takes on visitor status, with paid parking, regulated hours and limits on numbers. Hospice should be available as the third choice. North Halton needs this facility, and the Townsend Smith Foundation needs our support to make it a reality. Come out on May 13th to hike with us or lend us your financial support and we’ll hike for you and for all our future ‘dying days’.

– Bonnie Walsh

Milton Memory Makers Donate to Townsend Smith Foundation

Jan 22, 2023 | Donation, Uncategorized

As Townsend Smith Foundation works toward building a hospice for North Halton, we plan for the little things that bring comfort and dignity at the end of life.

Many hospices enhance the hominess of their residents’ rooms with hand-made quilts, or use a specially-dedicated one as a covering to honour a resident’s passing. Recently, TSF received a special donation from a local group.

The Milton Memory Makers is a small group of quilters who’ve worked together for more than twenty years. A few years ago, one of their long-time members passed away, and her son brought the group a quilt from her collection, as he didn’t know what to do with it. He asked if they would finish the quilt, which only needed the outside borders stitched together.

Jean Lillie, speaking for the Milton Memory Makers, says, “We do not know who made the beautiful appliquéed quilt. We do know that there was more than one quilter. We know they were experienced quilters. The stitches are small, even, and very consistent throughout the quilt. The appliquéed flowers are very well done.”

Several quilters finished the work and then the group discussed what to do with it. After many conversations, it was decided that the Hospice would be a fitting location. “By donating the quilt, we are honouring the makers who spent many hours creating each flower square and then putting them together. We are confident that our former member would agree that this is where the quilt belongs,” Jean told us.

Thank you, Milton Memory Makers, for connecting with Townsend Smith Foundation, and helping us on our journey. Together we will build a hospice for North Halton!

Site Dedication for North Halton’s Residential Hospice

Nov 29, 2022 | Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MILTON, ONTARIO, November 29th, 2022- On this Giving Tuesday, a ‘global generosity movement’ held annually, the Townsend Smith Foundation (TSF) and our community came together to unveil signage that clearly proclaims the future home of North Halton’s first hospice residence.

“Today the momentum that has been achieved through the generosity of the local community continues with the TSF being able to loudly and proudly proclaim the first site of much-need hospice care for the residents of North Halton and area” said Astrid Lakats, Board Chair, and proud donor for TSF.

A variety of local dignitaries joined the TSF Board, leadership volunteers, donors, and other community leaders to celebrate the future for a state-of-the-art hospice that will serve the community once completed. “The support from the community has and continues to make all the difference,” said Astrid, who also noted that the next step will be a fundraising campaign to raise what the province often calls the “community share” for this vital project. “Every donation has an impact, and the ability to help us in reaching our goal. There is a lot of work ahead of us, so the support of our community is key in building a hospice residence on the property.”

Those wishing to learn more about hospice care in North Halton, the work of the Townsend Smith Foundation, or make a donation, on this Giving Tuesday are encouraged to visit: https://www.townsend-smith.ca/.

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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 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
bod@townsend-smith.ca I 289.878.3407

Let’s Complete Our Compassionate Community

Nov 8, 2022 | Donor Spotlight, Family Stories

“We have resided in Milton since 1970 and have witnessed the small town grow and flourish. But something is still missing. To complete our compassionate community, we need The Townsend Smith Hospice. We know from our firsthand experiences how draining the last days of a dying family member can be on the family and the caregivers. That is why we are sponsoring a “Family Room”. In a time of sadness, a hospice can be a positive and calming place. Family and friends can have quality time during the last days with their loved one because physical, emotional and spiritual support is available from staff and volunteers. We remember how physically and emotionally difficult it was for mother to care for father during his last days and hours at home. We have also seen how a hospice provides relief. The time came for a dear friend to move to a hospice and the relief was immediate. The family was relieved because now their loved one had 24-hour care and would not be alone. Caregivers could drop that role and become husband, daughters, sisters, and friends again. The patient herself was comfortable in her homey bedroom and she had some control of how she would spend her last days. We are looking forward to seeing the Townsend Smith Hospice become a reality in providing comfort, respite, emotional and spiritual support to those in need and their families.” – Joe and Zina Yaworski