Fifteen people attended Friday’s ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome the amazing Hospice team. It was immediately clear to all of us that these hardworking volunteers, Elly, Lorrine, Kathleen, Connie, and office manager Tracy loved their opportunity to help our community navigate dying and grief, offering care and wisdom during these emotion-laden journeys. And, that their important work nurtured them as well. 

Hospice began on Salt Spring in 1986 and was formerly known by the name of a local nurse who would care for sick and aging neighbours. When she died, her friends continued her legacy by establishing the Bessie Dane Foundation. One of our guests, Kathleen, has been a Hospice volunteer since its beginning, 34 years ago! Now a volunteer-run registered charity, our local Hospice offers a wide range of free services to help those in their final days as well as supporting their families (https://www.saltspringhospice.org/). Despite many changes in its over three decades of operation, Hospice is still fueled by that desire to create community connections in challenging times. 

Not a healthcare organization, Hospice offers a variety of compassionate programs to support individuals and families. These include home, hospital, and care home visits; one-to-one help; grief and bereavement support groups; overnight vigils that allow family members to rest, and Advance Care Planning workshops that help people prepare for the final chapters of their lives.

When our Hospice Team shared what “excited and delighted” them, their joy included: 

• Gratitude for the precious gift they receive by supporting someone in their last hours. 
• In recognition that these last moments can be very difficult, cherishing those things in their lives (like grandchildren) that provide a needed balance.
• A deep appreciation of their ability to give the gift of time. Unlike the overwhelming demands of our medical professionals, these volunteers need not bustle in to get a job done. Their mission, instead, is to simply be there, listen, guide, support, hold a hand/stroke a shoulder, and sometimes even offer that precious gift of silence.  

Some volunteers routinely visit Lady Minto Hospital long term residents, always asking “Would you like a visit today?” before entering. Others visit residents at our senior housing communities. Some provide home visits, and with the support of our volunteer team, visits can be arranged several times a week when additional support is needed. And, others respond to the request to sit vigil to support those in their last moments. Hospice also offers one-to-one help and support groups for family members and loved ones coping with grief and bereavement. 

As the needs of our community continue to evolve, Hospice remains committed to providing meaningful services, including support groups for families affected by Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Also, recognizing the important role pets play in our lives, Hospice can refer clients to one of our volunteers who founded a nonprofit organization that provides support for pets when needed.

Stories of courageous folks on their last journey (identity protected) enriched our time together, some sad, some funny, and all beautiful in their own way. In our world driven by statistics, this Hospice team leaves the blood pressure stats, temperature, hours since the last medication, etc. to the medical professionals. They focus, instead, upon emotional support by sitting quietly, listening, and loving, allowing themselves to be taught by the patient and supporting them to leave this life in the manner best for them. 

Radically different from its single focus on deathbed outreach in its early days, Hospice has grown in response to the changing needs of the community. Volunteers were asked whether they would like to see Hospice expand more, and we learnt about the community consultation Hospice ran last year which explored both end-of-life care needs and public awareness of Hospice programs. Community participants overwhelmingly said they would prefer to die at home. If that were not possible, their second choice was a Hospice residence, with dying in hospital being their least preferred option.  

Many large communities do have Hospice owned and run facilities. Volunteers were asked if they would like Salt Spring to have such a Hospice centre. Some responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!” They envisioned a small welcoming Hospice Home with a kitchen, living room, in a quiet natural setting. A place where medical professionals provided needed support but where Hospice provided that homelike environment and support during those last days. Many larger communities have such dedicated Hospice facilities, and the vision is very appealing. 

We often hear that Salt Spring organizations cannot get volunteers, theorizing that the drive to volunteer is decreasing in our community. Not so with Hospice. . . In 2024, a call for volunteers went out, requiring 40 hours of structured training, both online and in person with interactive practice. Applicants were also required to undergo a rigorous screening process that includes a detailed application, interview, criminal record check, and confidentiality agreement. With space for 15, 30 applied! This level of interest has continued, as the overwhelming desire to volunteer speaks to the unique nature of our Hospice organization and demonstrates how deeply meaningful this work is for so many people.

When a participant asked how Hospice volunteers could be contacted with a request for help, we learned that these requests can come from a variety of sources, including nurses, social workers, case workers, as well as family members. Anyone knowing of a Hospice need is welcome to make a request, either by calling Tracy at 250-537-2770 or emailing office@saltspringhospice.org. She will get back to you with the information you need. 

Hospice services are available to everyone, and they are provided at no cost. In today’s increasingly complex and expensive world, many wonder how this is possible. How does Hospice continue to offer these essential services without charging the people it supports? While Hospice receives some provincial funding and support through grants, a significant portion of its funding comes from the generosity of donors in the community. Interested in helping? Contact Tracy. . .she would be happy to provide information about making a donation or arranging a bequest. You can also visit the Hospice website and select the “Donate” button at the top of the page. (Maybe one of us will bequest that perfect Hospice Home that some volunteers dream of offering?) 

Coming July 18–19 is one of Hospice’s important fundraisers: the Cycle of Life Tour.  

Sponsored riders begin their journey in Victoria, travel to Salt Spring Island via Crofton, where we host them overnight at the Farmers’ Institute. They are provided with a delicious meal, rest and camp for the night, before continuing their ride the next day back to Victoria. Volunteers help with setting up their tents, prepping food in the kitchen, serving dinner and cleanup. With two riders representing Salt Spring, this is a wonderful opportunity to show your support, whether through a pledge or by volunteering your time.

When a participant asked if our guests believe that one’s soul leaves during death, it was clear that they did not know. But, they did tell us of a magic in those last moments of life and events that remain unexplainable by science or medicine. As one participant said “Maybe it is best not to know, honouring, instead, the uniqueness of each person’s life journey.”

Our time together too soon over, these wonderful Hospice volunteers asked if they could come back again. The answer was a resounding “Yes!” Our conversation far from done, we all recognized that dying, sometimes accompanied by fear and grief, can also be full of love, patience, and a deep joy. With heartfelt applause for these hardworking and patient volunteers, we thanked them for the important work they do everyday, year after year, in the middle of the night and often in inclement weather while also supporting grieving family members. (Thank-you Elly, Lorrine, Kathleen, Connie, and Tracy!)  

Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring, currently also a Salt Spring Local Community Commissioner. It has also been reviewed by the Hospice Team.