Hospice bed in Tiverton could open by end of year, thanks to generous community

A hugely-successful Handbags for Hospice event, Thursday night at the Kincardine Pavilion, means Huron Shores Hospice can open a one-suite residential hospice at Tiverton Park Manor, hopefully by the end of the year.

The crowd of 170 people enjoyed a dazzling evening of canapes and cocktails, fun and fund-raising that netted $136,000 for the project. Handbags for Hospice featured a silent and live auction of almost 100 handbags from well-known designers, as well as several experiences involving area restaurants.

MC Mike Brough managed the evening, and Layne the Auctionista wowed the crowd with her auctioneering skills and humour. Meanwhile, Duncan Hawthorne, former president and chief executive officer of Bruce Power, who attended with his wife, Lesley, as the title sponsors, spoke passionately about the need in the community for the service.

"The idea for a hospice began with a very determined group of ladies," he said, referring to the steering committee that began developing a plan for a residential hospice for Kincardine and the surrounding area, several years ago.

"This is a great community," said Hawthorne. "A community is a group of individuals who come together as one to share common goals, values and beliefs. This community needs a residential hospice, so it's important to get this up and running.

"A hospice is not a place where you go to die; it's a place where you go to live before you die. People in the Kincardine area have the right to die with dignity in a compassionate home-like setting."

Hawthorne then turned to Cottrill and said if the evening's fund-raiser helped the group reach $300,000, he would donate the other $30,000 required to open the hospice. Before he left, he wrote out a cheque for $30,000 and gave it to Cottrill, bringing the Hawthornes' total donation to $90,000.

“We would not be looking at opening the doors for the residential hospice without their commitment to the project," said Cottrill. "We are so overwhelmed by the generosity of the whole community in support of this event and our larger goal to bring residential hospice to our community. On top of the $136,000, we had $18,000 donated through in-kind support. Just an amazing response from our caring and supportive community.

"We will continue fund-raising for Phase 2 of our plan to add a second suite, as we are very aware that one bed will never be adequate to look after the end-of-life needs of our community. The additional suite will require $175,000 for the two years of operating, plus capital costs to furnish and equip the room.

For more information, check the website at www.huronshoreshospice.ca.