Inside this issue

Hike for Hospice Report…..2

Sponsorships/Rest Area......3

Camp Skylark 2014…...…….4

Basic Hospice Training……..5

Summer Walking Group .....5

Annual Report………………...6

Staff and Board of Directors Ashleigh Erwin—Coordinator Ken Hurley—Camp Director

Pat Besse—Chair Kathy Gordin –Vice-Chair

Barbara Sharrers– Secretary Liz King—Treasurer

Judy Miller—Director Jean Stephens—Director

Ray Scott—Director Fraser Canyon Hospice Society 1275-7th Avenue Hope, British Columbia V0X 1L4 (Phone) 604.860.7713 (Fax) 604.860.7709 info@frasercanyonhospice.org www.frasercanyonhospice.org Follow Us on FACEBOOK

Quarterly Newsletter

Summer Edition 2014

Making it Rain! In January, Hospice Volunteer Jill Last facilitated an introductory workshop to

our volunteers on the healing benefits of music. We had a very fun and en-gaging session, participating in exercises to show how various styles of music,

and even the tone in how we sing a song, can affect our moods. Music has a vast number of therapeutic uses, including as a memory aid, a stimulant to

various parts of our brain, a learning tool, helping to invoke emotions and

release feelings, along with providing calming and comfort both physiologically and emotionally.

In February, with input from the volunteers on how to integrate music care

into our current hospice programs, we decided to compose a large selection of music from various eras and genres to make playlists based on each client’s

unique preferences. From this, and after learning more about our client’s ex-

periences with music, our volunteers will be able to share with the client a small kit which will include an iPod shuffle donated by Room 217 Foundations’

Room 2 Room program, mini speaker, a drum, rain-stick, scarves and a shak-er. Together, they can listen to music while playing along with the available

instruments. The relaxation and vigil teams, along with support group facilita-

tors can also integrate music care into their programs.

In May, we offered our volunteers rain stick making workshop to craft supplies for our kits (photo above). Thanks to Paz and Denise Pascucci for their help

with the rain sticks! We are also looking forward to a drum-making workshop in the fall with one of our local First Nations Bands, in order to complete the

kits and officially launch the program.

2014 HIKE SPONSORS

GOLD Sponsors Envision Financial Valley Helicopters StarFM Hope Standard Black Press Emil Anderson Construction

SILVER Sponsors Hope Auto Body McDonalds Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa

Bronze Sponsors Pharmasave RE/MAX Nyda Realty Manning Park Resort Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Bayshore Home Health The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

Hike for Hospice 2014 Raises $6,361!

On Sunday, May 4, 2014 the town of Hope joined together at Memorial Park to raise funds and awareness for our Society during our 9th Annual Hike for Hospice. With just over 75 people registered the event raised $6,361 in registrations, pledges and donations. Following the Hike, Dennis Adamson of Fraser Valley Regional District Area ‘B’ presented the Society with an additional $3,000 grant.

TOP FUNDRAISER AND TOP TEAMS

Congratulations to Mike Steer (bottom right) who raised $770 and won an evening at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa with complimentary dinner. In 2nd place was Bob Romano bringing in $420. Bob won an evening at Manning Park Resort with a canoe rental. Of our 6 Teams, Team Richardson (bottom left) came in 1st ($320), in 2nd was Team HATS

($290), in 3rd our local physicians who chal-lenged the community to “Walk with your Doc” (255) and 4th Envision Awesomeness ($160). Thank you to every-one who sup-ported this event!

Photo courtesy of Shanon Fischer—Pixel Mountain Studio

What better way to celebrate our national holiday than by offering time and talent to help better our community. Thank you very much to Hell's Gate Airtram staff members Jessica and Sam (left) for donating the proceeds of their jewelry sale ($73) during this year’s Memorial Park Canada Day celebration to our hospice. Thank you also to Randy Swope who kindly donated some of their materials. You all make us proud to be Canadian! In April, Gordin, FCHS Vice-President, accepted Hell’s Gate Wishing Well funds of $573 from Deb McKinney, Corporate Relations (below right). These funds are used for our ca-ble system.

In May, the Fra-ternal Order of

Eagles #2690 and Ladies Auxiliary donated a com-bined $2,150 towards both Camp Skylark and patient comfort funds. We have been honoured to receive continual support from the Eagles over the years.

Corporate Sponsor Hell’s Gate Airtram Helps Us Kick-Off Summer and Fraternal Order of Eagles #2690 Donates $2,150

Hospice Rest Area Ready for Summer

Thank you to Richard Winger and Barry Kviste (left), the kind gentlemen who donated their time to clean up our Hospice Rest Area in preparation for the sun-ny weather. Now our patients and their families can enjoy the summer season at this beautiful place of solitude. Our Rest Area is situated along the Co-quihala River at the hospital and is overlooked by Mount Hope. Hospice Volunteers donate their time to keeping it clean and well-maintained.

We are currently accepting volunteers to help with this over the summer months. If you are interested please send a resume, 3 references and availability to ashleigh.erwin@fraserhealth.ca.

“My sons attended Camp Skylark in 2013. It was truly amazing support we received. Thank you Fraser Canyon Hospice Society for such an amazing and professional experience. “

Camp Skylark Celebrates 10th Anniversary Year!

We are currently accepting referrals for this year`s Camp Skylark which will take place September 12-14 at beautiful Camp Squeah. It is open to children ages 7-12 who have lost a loved one. To learn how you can register a child or apply as a volunteer please visit our website at www.frasercanyonhospice.org/camp-skylark or email Ken at campskylark@gmail.com.

Thank you to our 2014 Camp Skylark Grants: Envision Financial—First West Foundation Green Shield Canada General Mills Canada Fraser Valley Regional District Area B District of Hope Fraternal Order of Eagles #2690

Sponsor a Child Program Beta Sigma Phi Kal Tire Our Camp Skylark programs is the proud recipient of the 2014 Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem and BC Hos-pice Palliative Care Association Award recognizing enhanced end-of-life care for British Columbians. (Pictured right)

We are pleased to welcome Ken Hurley as our 2014 Camp Director. Ken has two children, six grandchil-dren and two great-grandchildren with his wife Susan of 46 years. An avid outdoor nature enthusiast and writer of children’s stories, Ken loves to sing and dance. He has been active in volunteering with school, sport, art, music and charity work his community of Chilliwack, and has been President of several commu-nity groups and associations for the development of programs for children and adults. Ken is a member of the Chilliwack Rotary and has been active in organiz-

ing and coaching soccer leagues, hockey, community recreation programs, elder college courses and charity events in the communities in which he has lived. In 2010, Ken helped to raise 200k in South America for ‘Climbing for Prostate Cancer.’ Upon returning, he started his own annual charity activity to raise awareness for three chronic illnesses that have affected his family, friends and community: cancer, auto-immune disease and mental health. Welcome to the team, Ken!

On May 1st we wrapped up our spring Basic Hos-pice Training Course. Beyond learning how to support those who are dying and their loved ones this dynamic course offered participants the opportunity to discover their unique values and how to live their own lives to the fullest. Some final course comments included: “I have much to be grateful for. I have made a conscious

effort to see how I meet my needs, what be-haviours are productive and what ones could be changed. I have bigger dreams than I thought! I am more balanced with the tools learned in this course. It’s ok to not have all the answers. I learned how to put myself in someone else’s shoes. How to be happy. How to leave the bad things behind. I learned the power of being heard. How lucky I am to be alive. I learned how to make time for myself. To live more in the present and to move forward. To fully appreciate each day and honour all the people in my

life. Not to judge others. Different ways to ground and relax. How to say no. How to speak from the heart. I enjoyed feeling confident and happy in a safe environment. I enjoyed all of us sharing on a personal, authentic level. I found this to be a comprehensive course and a great support.” To join our course waitlist please contact the hospice office.

Above left to right: Susan, Tamara, Mike, Christina, Elsie and Chester. Absent: Vanessa, Lisa and Betty

Basic Hospice Training Offers Renewed Perspective on Life

Left: BHT partici-pants complete

reflection exercis-es under the view of Mount Hope,

while listening to the sounds of the Coquihala River. .

Annual Report— As presented during 2014 AGM on June 26, 2014 During the 2013 fiscal year Fraser Canyon Hospice Society had 28 active volunteers plus an addi-tional 24 for our Camp Skylark program. Not including Skylark, a total of 1,861 hours were re-ported by volunteers, 80% of which were spent directly supporting clients/families. This is the equivalent of a 0.75 full-time employment position. We served 89 clients, 44% of whom were palliative, 34% bereaved and 22% providing care to a loved one. 19 were in hospice, 13 in acute care and 15 in the community. 18 attended our relaxation, caregiver and bereavements support groups and 24 children attended Camp Skylark. We provided a total of 302 hours in education and training to 41 individuals, including our 30-hour Basic Hospice Training Course, a 5-hour Vigil Training Course, Relaxation Training and a Music Care workshop. Finally, we partnered with Dr. Ursula Asche, Investor’s Group and Baker Newby to offer community workshops on both Dementia and Wills and Estate Planning. We also provid-ed various community agencies with information on grief and loss, traumatic loss and supporting children through grief. Through our Patient Comfort services we were able to provide kitchen supplies, journals and guest books as well as books on audio for hospice patients. In the community, we purchased items such as a specially designed toilet, boost and a body pillow. In addition to our nine core vol-unteer programs, patient comfort services and resource library, we are currently piloting both a Walking Group and Music Care service. A Volunteer Handbook, including updated policies and procedures, job descriptions, volunteer requirements and rights was finalized and distributed. Volunteer meetings consisted of educa-tion pieces such as stress management and self-care, as well as the use of film in processing grief and loss. Our Camp Skylark program was awarded with the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Award recognizing enhanced end-of-life care for British Columbians. In additional to this recog-nition, we have secured 100% of the funding for this year’s Camp Skylark program through grants and sponsorships. We are thrilled to welcome Ken Hurley as this year’s Camp Director! As a member of Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association, Volunteer Network, Hope Healthy Communities, and Fraser Canyon Integrated Health Team, FCHS is helping to identify important client needs and receive innovative resources on local, regional and national levels. With the continued support of our community we can help to ensure that more Canadians receive the end of life care they desire. Respectfully, Pat Besse, Board of Directors Chair Ashleigh Erwin, Hospice Coordinator