Jun 8, 2023 | Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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
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
Apr 21, 2022 | Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MILTON, ONTARIO, April 21, 2022 – The Townsend Smith Foundation (TSF) accomplished the first of many steps to achieving specialized hospice care for North Halton following a recent agreement with the Hillcrest United Church to purchase the Church’s property and redevelop the site for a 10-bed community hospice facility. “As the saying goes, ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’, and today TSF secured long sought property in North Halton which with planning and approvals secured, will be developed into dedicated hospice care for those in need” shared Board Chair, Astrid Lakats.
The Hillcrest property offers a unique opportunity for TSF to finally develop a project that will offer the type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms. It will support emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life for those in need. The charity fully understands that under current provincial guidelines more beds will be needed as soon as possible and TSF continues discussions about a facility at the Milton Education Village (MEV) Innovation Centre.
“Hillcrest United Church was built following a gift from a local family that still has deep ties to our Church and community, said Hillcrest United Church Council Chair, John Field. “We’re proud to continue that tradition of community philanthropy through our partnership with TSF. Hillcrest United Church will not cease to exist, but will continue as an active congregation during the construction, and will have a unique space within the hospice to continue our ministry in the community”, he added.
“Through our dedicated team of professionals and volunteers, TSF has and continues to work tirelessly to build access to hospice beds, programs, and supports that our community needs. With the achievement of property for our first site, TSF will ramp up our community engagement and fundraising efforts to ensure the ambition for specialized end of life care in North Halton is realized as quickly as possible”, summarized Lakats.
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/.
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
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Jun 17, 2021 | Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE
(MILTON, June 17, 2021)
Today, Premier Doug Ford and MPP Parm Gill announced the development of the Milton Education Village (MEV), which will include a potential hospice, campuses for Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as a new retirement village and long-term care home owned and operated by Schlegel Villages.
Townsend Smith Foundation has been working to build a hospice for North Halton. The community support has been continuous and overwhelming. In the information session this morning, MPP Parm Gill referenced the Townsend Smith Foundation and we are encouraged by today’s announcement and grateful that Premier Ford and MPP Gill recognize the need for a hospice within our community.
For more information, the Government of Ontario’s Press Release can be found here https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000362/ontario-supports-expansion-of-postsecondary-education-and-long-term-care-in-milton.
CONTACT
Astrid Lakats
Chair, Townsend Smith Foundation
Telephone: 905-875-3936
