Janet Townsend realized the need for a hospice when her husband Ron was diagnosed with lung cancer. “His wish was to die at home. However he also wanted us to know that should caring for him become too much physically and/or emotionally, he wanted to be placed in a hospice,” she said. Ron Townsend served as district chief of the Milton Fire Department.
There was no hospice in North Halton (Milton, or Halton Hills), or availability at other area hospices. The illness hit the family hard. “Our children Matt and Amy as well as daughter-in-law Tammy were unable
to have time with their father. Our grandson, Jake could not have time with his poppa. I did not have the time to be his wife. Those connections were lost and we all missed them so very much,” she said.
The friends and family of Tessie Smith, a local Tai Chi instructor had a similar idea. The two groups began working together and formed the Townsend Smith Foundation. “Our goal is to build a place where families can be together with their loved ones as they begin their end-of-life journey in a gentle, dignified way. Everyone should be able to have that time together, to just be there for each other,” Townsend said.
The Townsend Smith Foundation is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. It is guided by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation has embarked on a capital campaign to fund the building, and equipment for a 10-bed residential hospice in North Halton.