Cultural Considerations at End-of-Life
A panel discussion on Cultural Considerations at End-of-Life was held on October 20 ,2022 at the Gellert Community Centre in Georgetown. There were over 40 people in attendance for a very informative and interesting discussion about faith and cultural rituals, beliefs and practices at end of life.
The panel included: Rev. Steve Boose Minister at the Knox Presbyterian Church and Limeshouse Presbyterian Church, Iman Daood Butt, Director of Community Outreach and Education at the Islamic Community Centre in Milton, Harmohan Singh Parmar, Trust Secretary and Governing Official Halton Sikh Cultural Association and Rabbi Stephen Wise Shaari-Beth El Congregation, Oakville.
Panel facilitator Kristina Tesser Derkson guided the panel through a number of topics including faith and cultural practices prior to and at death, support for individuals and their families, burial and cremation beliefs and practices, role and approach to suffering, grief support and perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying.
Townsend Smith Foundation would like to thank the panelists for participating and providing the attendees with new knowledge and insights about faith and culture and its intersection.
A Heartfelt Thanks to Mayor Bonette for His Support
Many thanks to Mayor Bonnette for his recent column in the The Independent and Free Press and his endorsement of Townsend Smith Foundation and our dedicated volunteers who are working tirelessly to build a hospice for North Halton.
“Hospice care is the gift of dignity during the dying journey, support for families and compassionate care. A hospice is a critical part of our community, a truly selfless and loving environment, but one that is often forgotten about and underserved.”
Townsend Smith Foundation looks forward to working closely with the Town of Halton Hills to make the vision of a hospice in North Halton a reality. Again our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Bonette for his support.
Our Mission cannot be achieved without the support of the Mayor, our amazing volunteers and the community of North Halton.
As TSF Board vice-chair Margaret Doma says “This is a journey of many hands and many hearts.”
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2020
Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz proclaimed that this Saturday, October 10th will be recognized by the Town of Milton as World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.
Kate Holmes, Director of Development at Townsend Smith Hospice Foundation and Parm Gill were on hand for the flag raising to celebrate the occasion.
Townsend Smith Hospice Foundation’s mission is to provide access to palliative care for residents of Milton and Halton Hills, serving the needs of terminally ill people and their families.
The need for a hospice to serve the people of Milton and Halton Hills
Twenty years ago the best friend of my father, Stan Croll, was diagnosed with cancer; the disease progressed and towards the end he was admitted to Ian Anderson House in Oakville. My father, an Oakville resident, visited him regularly and was so impressed by the care given that he kept going to Anderson House after his friend had passed away. Stan became a faithful volunteer there doing whatever odd job needed to be done and chatting to the residents. He believed in Anderson House and the ministry it provided to both the residents and their families; indeed my mother often joked that far from being retired, he now had a new job!
My father volunteered there for years but was himself diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2007. Even so, Stan continued his volunteer work until he was no longer able to do so. As with his best friend, the disease progressed and like his friend, he too was admitted to Anderson House. It was then that my family and I truly appreciated what Anderson House does and what it means. Up to that time my family had been on the “giving side” as it were; now we were on the “receiving side”. It is almost impossible to convey what my father’s being there meant to us as they not only provided exceptional care for my Dad but also for the rest of us as well. They made the seemingly impossible to cope with possible.
As a thirty year resident of Milton and a minister, I am well aware of the need for a hospice to serve the people of Milton and Halton Hills. It would truly be so wonderful if the families of our communities could receive the same wonderful care closer to home that my family received in our time of need. – Shawn C.