Bailey’s Hope, in partnership with the Colchester East Hants Hospice Society, is currently preparing to offer Camp Dragonfly. Camp Dragonfly is an annual one week day camp that provides children grieving the death of a significant loved one with the opportunity to reflect on their feelings, and the ability to work through their doubts, fears, and questions surrounding death and grief. The camp is staffed by caring, screened, trained volunteers and professionals.

This year Camp Dragonfly is taking place at the Redcliff Middle School in Bible Hill from August 9th - 12th, 2010. Parents or caregivers with grieving children between the ages of 6 - 12 years who feel that Camp Dragonfly would be beneficial to their child(ren) are invited to contact the Hospice for more information or applications. Camp Dragonfly is offered to participants at no cost.

“The best part of Camp Dragonfly was meeting new people that know what I am going through,” said a participant from previous years. “The most important thing I learned at Camp Dragonfly was that I can feel sad and it’s o.k.” Children report that getting to know other children who have experienced a significant death really helps them to feel normal again.

Bailey’s Hope Society has been providing programs to support grieving children and their families since 2003, and has helped hundreds of families from across Nova Scotia, and Atlantic Canada. They offer two other annual programs including Dragonfly Retreat (for teens) and Path of the Dragonfly (for parents and caregivers).

Bailey’s Hope Society and The Hospice Society are both registered charities providing a wide range of programs to support those families living with a life-threatening illness, or those grieving the death of a loved one. For more information about Camp Dragonfly or to find out how you can support Bailey’s Hope or the Hospice Society, contact 902-893-3265.

“I have had the great privilege of meeting and working with many remarkable individuals during my years as a Palliative Care Physician” said Dr. Henderson, Medical Director for the CEHHA Palliative Care Program. “Most patients and families have expressed that they found having clear and accurate information about what to expect, despite how difficult it is to hear at the time, to be tremendously empowering. We are so pleased to have worked with the Hospice Society to have this information produced and available for families and would like to personally thank the Sodhi family for their generosity.”

The booklet is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Bhagat Sodhi, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who died recently in the care of the Palliative Care team. "The Palliative Care Team, Hospice, VON, doctors and pharmacists involved in my Dad's care were all so wonderful” said Sandeep Sodhi. “Without them we would have been lost. I am a pharmacist and health care provider. Nonetheless when a family has to go through the end of life process ... it is invaluable to have caring, professional, and dedicated members of the health care team in your corner providing information and support. Truly, one of the most helpful resources for my family was the previous edition of this booklet. As a tribute to my father's memory, our family wished to make a donation to help others going through a similar situation. We hope others can gain some comfort from the wisdom and information that the booklet provides”.

The Hospice Society is a registered charity providing a wide range of programs to support those families living with life-threatening illness, and those grieving the death of a loved one. “This booklet is the first in a series that the Hospice plans to produce” said Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director of the Hospice Society. “When families are facing end of life it can sometimes be difficult to hear and remember all the things the medical team shares with you. Having a resource guide to refer to on your own time can be of significant benefit to the family. The booklets we are currently working on include one that covers the things you might face when you are first diagnosed with a life threatening illness, as well as a booklet that provides a wide range of support after the death of your loved one.”

The Hospice Society is pleased to offer the 3^rd annual session on Coping with the Holidays. This year the sessions will be offered in four locations to help reach more families across Colchester & East Hants. The session offers a blend of support and information on how to manage the holiday season after the death of a loved one.

"The holidays are a difficult time for many of us, or for someone we know in our community" states Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director. "This session will give people some coping tools as well as some much needed support."

The sessions are free of charge and being facilitated by the Hospice Society’s newly hired Grief Counsellor, Serena Lewis, RSW. "Past participants have told us that this session offered them relief by helping them to understand why their grief was intensified at this time" said Lewis. "They were able to take home some coping tools and find ways to bring balance into their holiday celebrations as they acknowledged the loss they had experienced and find support in the loneliness."

The addition of Ms. Lewis to the Hospice team adds significantly to the programs the society is able to provide and was made possible in part by the generous support of the Rotary Club of Truro.

The sessions will be offered as follows:

ELMSDALE	December 9 at 10:00 a.m.	Sobeys Community Room in Elmsdale
BASS RIVER	December 9 at 7:00 p.m.	Bass River FireHall
TRURO	December 14 at 7:00 p.m.	Wynn Park Villa (Education room), Windsor Way, Truro
TATAMAGOUCHE	December 15 at 10:00 a.m.	Tatamagouche Centre

For more information please contact us.

“The Angels Remembered Tree is a bereavement program that provides people a space and an opportunity to acknowledge significant losses in their lives during the holidays, which is often a difficult time” states Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director for the Colchester East Hants Hospice Society. “Unfortunately many people in our area are grieving alone or in silence, and the Angels remembered Tree provides an opportunity for public recognition that a death has left an impact”.

Stories shared with the volunteers during the campaign are heartwarming: a husband honouring his wife, a mother grieving a child, a boy remembering his dog. Angels Remembered Trees will be set up in 4 locations around the region: Truro Mall, Tatamagouche Foodland, Elmsdale Resource Centre and Masstown Market from November 27th to December 13th. “The Hospice Society appreciates the outpouring of support from these communities from space provision, tree donations and volunteer support” says Yuill.

Any donations made during the campaign will be used to support local individuals, families and the community at large through requests, programs and services. The Hospice Society is a registered charity providing a wide range of programs to support those families living with life-threatening illness, and those grieving the death of a loved one.

For more information or to consider volunteering with the Colchester East Hants Hospice Society, please contact us.

The program, which provides Sobeys gift certificates to local families who are facing life threatening illness and financial hardship, distributed over $24,000 in certificates this year and was seriously under funded. “We knew we needed to do well with this drive and we worked with the very supportive and committed Sobey’s team to plan the event and set aggressive targets” said Yuill. “We were not anticipating the community’s strong support and were thrilled to find that we raised $18,614 in just nine days”.

Families who need the Food From the Heart program come from all across Colchester and East Hants. They may be our friends and neighbors. Recently a family on the program wrote this letter: “My husband was found to have terminal cancer in March 2009. He not only was very ill but also had to worry about finances, but almost immediately Hospice was there to offer us help. The help we received put his mind at ease. My husband passed away earlier this month and our daughters and I just wanted you all to know how great a service this is for families in need.”

“We absolutely could not have done it with out the drive and commitment from Sobey’s, Foodland and Price Chopper staff from Tatamagouche right down to Elmsdale” said Yuill. 100% of the Food From the Heart donations go directly to supporting local families. The drive runs twice each year and will be back in a Sobey’s, Foodland or Price Chopper near you next spring.

“Jim is such a generous supporter of this community.” said Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director of the Hospice Society. “Not only that – he can organize a great event without breaking a sweat – I don’t know how he does it all”.

The Hospice Society is proud to acknowledge the donation of this year’s generous tournament proceeds of $2912. The Golf Tournament was held on Sunday, October 4th at the Truro Golf Club in the drizzling rain. The tournament had already been cancelled and rescheduled once due to Hurricane Bill. Rain or shine, participants were in great spirits for an afternoon of golf, good friends, and a great cause. Many teams participated including corporate teams from APEX, WBLI, AJ Walker & Son, Smitty’s, and the Truro Centre. The winning teams were APEX on the front nine and Donna Bowman’s team on the back nine.

The Golf Tournament was supported by a variety of committed community members, donating their time, prizes and afternoon golfing for a worthwhile cause. Special thanks to the Truro Golf Club and Coors Lite for their major support.

“Many people are not aware of the services required during end of life until they face it with a close friend or family member” said Yuill. “It is important to have a community-based organization like Hospice that helps to address the very practical, spiritual and emotional needs that people face.”

Working with community partners, like the staff of the Engine Room is significant to the Hospice Society not only for monetary support, but also to increase awareness. The services and supports offered by Hospice can only help families if the community is aware. “We are grateful to Jim, Bernice, Mike and the staff of the Engine Room, as well as the multitudes of people who contributed time and prizes to make the event such a success” said Yuill.

“The Hospice Society is honoured to receive the support of the Rotary Club of Truro on this initiative” noted Ms. Yuill. “The Rotary Club really leads the way in supporting community based initiatives that strengthen local families and this project does just that. Hospice provides support directly to families primarily through trained volunteers. With the addition of a counselor to our team the Hospice will be able to respond to family needs that go beyond what a volunteer can provide. A counselor will also be able to guide and mentor our volunteers and others in the community who may be in contact with families facing loss. We see this as a significant addition to the services we will be able to provide.”

When faced with a terminal diagnosis, the entire family requires support in order to not only survive the journey but to find quality in their remaining life, opportunities to experience treasured moments, peace and even joy. In Colchester East Hants there are approximately 500 deaths each year. It is estimated that for every death, five family members are significantly affected. Grief is a normal life experience and with the right support in place, most individuals will move through their grief in a healthy way. Hospice aims to provide that support when it is not available within an individual’s personal circle of support.

“Rotary's motto is Service Above Self” stated Brian Matthews, President of the Rotary Club of Truro. “Sometimes that means we have to support groups in our community that have an expertise in fields we are not capable of. The Rotary Club of Truro is pleased to assist Colchester East Hants Hospice Society in bringing a new level of capability to our community”.

Colchester East Hants Hospice Society has been providing care and support to families facing terminal illness and grief for over 5 years. The Hospice Society works closely with the Regional Palliative Care team to compliment and supplement the excellent care they deliver to palliative patients. With the support of individual donors and organizations like Rotary the Hospice has been able to serve local families by supporting quality in life, dignity in death and comfort through the bereavement process.

“We do a lot of work in the wedding industry” said Densmore of Densmore’s Video, “and I wanted to help bring brides and local businesses together while raising funds for Hospice. This is a charity close to my heart.”

“Weddings are one of life’s major celebrations – a time of joy and happiness, but also a time when we acknowledge that someone in our life may be missing” said Serena Lewis, Master of Ceremonies for the event. Lewis, a grief counsellor and former Executive Director of the Hospice knows well the impact major life events can have in bringing forward grief and loss for some individuals.

The Hospice Society is thrilled to be the charity of choice for the third year in a row for Weddings for Wellness. “It is an honour to receive this generous gift” said Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director of the Hospice Society. “This gift will help us to touch the lives of many families in the year ahead.” This year, thanks to an original idea from Courtney Creelman (now Julien), a recent bride, the Hospice was promoting the donation of wedding flowers at this year’s Weddings for Wellness show. “If a bride is wondering what she can do with her flowers after the wedding, we would be pleased to receive them and distribute them to palliative patients in our region” said Yuill. “When Courtney came to us with this idea earlier this month we were very enthusiastic. Our volunteers were able to brighten up the day of many patients both in the hospital and at home.” Courtney and her new husband Justin Julien are currently away on a 3 week honeymoon in Hawaii and could not be reached for comment...

Truro: Sobeys - Prince Street and Fundy Mall
Bible Hill: Price Chopper
Elmsdale: Sobeys
Stewiacke: Foodland
Tatamagouche: Foodland

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans' Association, proud of their traditions, commits to promote the physical, social and economic welfare of former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their immediate families and to be of service to our communities and Canada when required or requested through rendering assistance to the Police, especially the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in matters of common concern.  "We are pleased to be able to support the Hospice this year" noted Charles.  "We hope that this donation can assist in helping the Hospice touch more lives in our communities with their important programs and services."

“The Hospice is so pleased to have been selected as a charity of choice by the local RCMP Veteran’s Association members” said Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director of the Hospice Society. “The RCMP are such an integral part of Canadian life, and to see the RCMP Veteran’s Association leading the way in community support and development is a testament to their strength and commitment to improving the lives of families in their own neighborhoods. ”

The Hospice Society provides care and support to families in Colchester East Hants communities who are facing life threatening illness. Support encompasses the whole family and continues on grief support after the death of their loved one. The support from the RCMP Veteran’s Association will give a major boost to programs including Food From the Heart, a program that provides Sobey’s grocery vouchers to individuals who are terminally ill and experiencing financial difficulties.

Charity is a cornerstone of the Freemason’s way of Life. The mission of the Masonic Foundation is to encourage the active practice of the Masonic Principles of Benevolence and Charity, and to promote a positive image of Freemasonry in the Community. The Mason’s have supported individuals in need, education, community groups and natural disasters for generations.

“The Hospice is so thankful for this offer of support from the Freemasons” said Cathrine Yuill, Executive Director of the Hospice Society. “The Masons have an international history of supporting Hospice and we are so pleased to be united with our local Masons in our desire to bring care and support to those in our communities who are facing end of life.”

The Hospice Society provides care and support to families in Colchester East Hants communities who are facing life threatening illness. Support encompasses the whole family and continues on grief support after the death of their loved one. The support from the Masons will give a major boost to programs including Food From the Heart, a program that provides Sobey’s grocery vouchers to individuals who are terminally ill and experiencing financial difficulties.

Grief Support Coordinator, Cathy Bernard comments “Grief can be a lonely and isolating experience for many – and for those people a casual opportunity to connect with peers offers the right support.”

The Hospice Society is also taking registrations for a six week support group for individuals who are grieving the death of their spouse, to be held in East Hants. The group will begin later this summer as soon as there are a sufficient number of participants. This is a more structured group format led by a Grief Group facilitator. People will find compassion and comfort among fellow group participants while our experienced facilitators offer strategies for healthy grieving.

The Hospice Society’s Grief Relief programs have been made possible through the generous support of The United Way of Colchester County and funding from the Wellness Fund of the East Hants, Along the Shore, Truro, and South Colchester Community Health Boards. Other grief support services available through the Hospice include Grief Follow-up Calls & Book Program to the Palliative Care Program families, Memorial Services held twice each year in various communities, the annual Angels Remembered Trees in four locations over the Christmas holidays, as well as a variety of community educational offerings throughout the year.

Colchester East Hants Hospice Society is offering a six week support group for individuals who are grieving the death of their spouse. The group will begin on March 22, 2009 and will be held in Great Village. This group was developed and piloted with great success in Truro last year. Later this spring and fall there will be groups held in East Hants, Tatamagouche and Truro. People will find compassion and comfort among fellow group participants while our experienced facilitators offer strategies for healthy grieving.

Facilitator Serena Lewis comments “Grief can be a lonely and isolating experience for many – we hope that by providing this opportunity to gather we will offer some much needed support.” There are still a few spots available and anyone interested in this group should contact the Hospice Society at 893-3265.

The Hospice Society’s Grief Relief programs have been made possible through the generous support of The United Way of Colchester County and funding from the Wellness Fund of the Along the Shore, Truro, East Hants, and South Colchester Community Health Boards. Other grief support services available through the Hospice include a weekly drop-in Grief Walking Group, held each Wednesday morning at 9:30 am at the Agridome (November through April) and the Kiwanis Park in Truro (May through October), Grief Follow-up Calls & Book Program to the Palliative Care Program families, Memorial Services held twice each year in various communities, the annual Angels Remembered Trees in four locations over the Christmas holidays, as well as a variety of community educational offerings throughout the year.