Ridge Meadows Hospice Society
22320 119th Ave V2X 2Z3 Maple Ridge, BC, Canada

Have you heard of this beautiful initiative?? Already, patients in Hospice and in the community have benefitted thanks Bouquets for Baba!

Some hope for a Friday evening. We wish you all peace and comfort as you move through your own stories of grief and loss. Please call 604-463-7722 to learn more about how the Hospice Society can support you. Quote from "Safe Passage" by Molly Fumia

Good morning! Do you have your early bird tickets yet? Please take a look at this link to our fundraiser on March 6th https://trellis.org/the-white-dove-dinner! 50/50 is selling fast and available NOW! Along with our evening program of stories and celebration, we will be featuring musical guests Sam Ellington https://magneticartists.ca/sam-ellington , Robert Campbell html, http://campbellandgreen.ca/ and the Bruce James Orchestra Vancouver Big Band! See you there...VIRTUALLY!

Thank you, Everyone!! The response has been TERRIFIC so far... and since we want you ALL there to celebrate on March 6th, we would like to extend early bird pricing until this Saturday, Jan 30th!! All the information about this event is on https://trellis.org/the-white-dove-dinner Grab your 50/50 while you get your tickets, they are selling fast, up to $2500 to be WON!

Many Hospice Society volunteers have shared, while they can't currently volunteer like they used to, that they continue to support their community through being there for friends and family, using the skills they have learned. One of the primary skills a volunteer learns in training is to just "listen", and be present for another person...and we ALL can do that.

Thank you so much for this very meaningful article about how the Hospice Society serves our entire community, even our youngest! See you all at the White Dove Dinner! https://trellis.org/the-white-dove-dinner

Happy New Year to all. When we had to close doors in March at our office and store we wondered what the future held as a non-profit, charitable organization. We have been humbled by the commitment of our board of directors, volunteers, and community partners. We are so grateful for the financial support of individual donors, businesses, and those who felt they could give back to a non-profit so we could continue our valuable work and serve our community as we have for 25 years. Grief and loss during a pandemic, have been incredibly challenging but with your support, our services have remained available and we look to 2021 with great hope. Thank you!

Remember that grief has no timeline Be gentle when your grief surfaces and allow space for it. The best way to grieve is your own way

Please call 604-463-7722 to speak with our counsellor Susanne and get more information about our upcoming grief groups. There is no cost to participate, and they will be offered in a virtual format. You do not have to be alone in your grief. If email is easier [email protected]

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We will be out of the office until January 4th, but will be periodically checking phone messages and emails. We will respond promptly to anything urgent. Take good care yourselves and each other. A very Happy 2021 ahead to you all!

Tickets are selling...thanks! PLEASE find tickets, 50/50, and EVERYTHING you need to know about this very special virtual fundraising event at https://trellis.org/the-white-dove-dinner. Let's support the Hospice Society to be able to continue offering specialized grief and loss support and counselling in our community! Thank you to our Silver Dove Sponsors Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association T's/ OnceUponATeaLeaf.com Nicole MacDonald Notary Avanti Planning Group Ltd., and the Wesbrooke Senior's Living. This community always steps up to support and we thank you!!

If you missed hanging an ornament at the store, you can still do so virtually at https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life. Please leave a message and upload a photo of someone you may be missing over this Christmas holiday

If you asked Susanne, our grief counsellor she would say this week before Christmas is normally one of the hardest for so many people who are grieving. Christmas grief plus a pandemic was unimaginable, yet here we are, and there is a depth to grief that can feel unbearable. People we love are in hospital, Hospice, or long-term care at end of life; we are separated from loved ones. Please reach out for help, a simple medicine for grief is connection, and we are here to support you. 604-463-7722

We are about to share ALL the details on this very special event. Fundraisers look a little different now, but what will never change are the people behind them! We look forward to inviting everyone and anyone who has been a part of the Hospice Society over the last 25 years to join us on March 6th, for our virtual event. Over 25 years there have been thousands of people in our community who have been a part of the Hospice Society, as staff, clients, community partners, vol...unteers, donors etc and we ALL have a story. We will offer a night of storytelling, music and all the great fare a terrific fundraiser has to offer from silent auction to 50/50...please start sharing far and wide, this will be a night to celebrate!! Thank you to Manion & Associates Financial Services for offering to be our Presenting Sponsor, we are so grateful for the support of our community! **Please let us know if you would like any information on our sponsorship opportunities. 604-463-7722

Merry Christmas Eve to you ALL! We would like to thank our community, volunteers, donors, and friends who have supported the Hospice Society through this very different year. Your commitment has made the difference to all of us, and the services we provide to those facing grief and loss. THANK YOU!!

On this stormy day, let us remember everyone is facing their own storm. The storms of illness, caregiving, loss and grief. When you feel you cannot offer much; offer compassion.

Time to Remember will be Dec. 2nd at 7pm. The entire service will be live-streamed, and will be available on St. George's web-site that evening at https://stgeorgemapleridge.ca/ Please still submit your photos to [email protected] to have them included in the photo tribute slideshow. We will light a candle for all of those included. You can also email Susanne, [email protected] to ask her to light a candle on your behalf for a loved one that evening.

UPDATE: Time to Remember will be completely VIRTUAL and live-streamed this year, on Dec. 2nd at 7pm. When we planned and started promoting this very special evening the current provincial orders were not in place, and we are choosing to offer this format instead this year. We know this completely live-streamed format will be a beautiful and accessible option for all. The service will be available on St. Goerge's web-site that evening at https://stgeorgemapleridge.ca/ Please still submit your photos to [email protected] to have them included in the photo tribute slideshow. We will light a candle for all of those included. You can also email Susanne, [email protected] to ask her to light a candle on your behalf for a loved one that evening.

Gratitude to those who voted, and helped us to make this years' A-List for the The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News For the Hospice Society, this kind of recognition helps us to raise our profile, and remind our community that we are here to support them through life-limiting illness and grief and loss. Thank you to our volunteers, the board of directors, and staff for their commitment, integrity, and passion for their work.

Please join us and light up the celebrate a life Christmas tree at https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life. This fundraiser allows you to pick a light and upload a photo and a message in memory of a loved one. All are invited.

The magnitude of grief and loss can feel that much larger when we are separated. These days are challenging, and no one has to walk this road alone. If you are wondering how the Hospice Society can offer support during this time please give us a call at 604-463-7722

Our office will close tomorrow, Dec. 24th at noon, re-opening on January 4th. We will be checking phone and email messages periodically throughout the week and will respond to urgent messages. Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas.

We have a very large team of volunteers and staff and board...over 100 people!! Part of the reason we all love our work and what we do is the great people we are surrounded with. We work very closely, supporting each other and at this time of year we miss our "typical" days and each other's presence very much! Merry Christmas everyone! (and yes, pic from last Christmas)

https://youtu.be/0ZnqEmp_A7k The third Tuesday in November is National Bereavement Day in Canada. As a society, we often give very little thought to what happens at the end of our journeys including to those who are left behind. Here at the Hospice Society, we would like to remind people to allow time to grieve, to remember, and to heal. We all handle bereavement and grief differently and helping each other understand that would go a long way to improving the ends of one’s life for those who are dying, their family caregivers, and other loved ones. We are sharing this video below of a Hospice Volunteer sharing her thoughts around grief, and suggestions for those who are apart right now from loved ones.

Sometimes parents die, and sometimes very young parents die. This is one of the losses we are hesitant to talk about; for so many it feels very close to home and we simply can't imagine. Children in our community lose their parents to illnesses, suicide, accidents...many ways, and when a parent dies there are some common fears children may have. What about me? Will I die too? Please reach out if we can support you or someone you know. The Hospice Society offers grief support and counselling for people of all ages, our youngest community members included.

Please follow the link to choose a light and celebrate a life! https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life We wanted to share what this very special tree looks like when you choose your light. Thank you to those of you who have already participated in ths fundraiser, and for sharing your photos and messages. This virtual option will run until Christmas, along with our real trees at our Thrift Store. Please remember to reach out to the Hospice Society, we understand how these days may feel long and dark when you are grieving during this season.

Our newly revised "care packages" that families will receive when leaving their time at Hospice. We know those first steps as people leave Hospice after their loved one has died is often very difficult and things can seem "surreal" It is important to have this resource to connect them to support services should they want to access them as they return home. Thinking of the many patients and families in Hospice at this time and the team who cares so well for them.

Hang in there everyone, 2021 is coming! Our very popular calendar is HERE! Available at our Thrift Store at 12011 224th st for only $10.00...all proceeds go to support our grief support programs and groups. Thanks to Manion & Associates Financial Services for your help!

McKenney Creek opened in 2006! Thinking of you all today, congratulations to an incredible team

In these new Provincial orders, the isolation and loneliness some are feeling in their grief may become even more difficult. Please think of those in your world who may be grieving and reach out. Please remember people in your world who are dealing with life-limiting illness in their family this Christmas. Now more than ever we need to care for each other. The Hospice Society is here to support our community.

Our Celebrate a Life tree is filling up as people continue to share photos and messages by donation, in memory of loved ones. This is very simple to do, just follow this link and help our fundraiser get brighter as we continue to light up our Christmas tree!! https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness day. Each year thousands of families across Canada mourn the death of their babies. In 2017 1,699 infants died within the first year after birth and 3,159 babies were stillborn. Remember these little ones together, by speaking their names and keeping their precious memory alive. https://www.october15.ca/

"Should we even put up a tree?" During the holidays we hear a lot of questions like this. Be gentle with yourself as you move through the Christmas season with your grief, and trust the right way to grieve is "your way".

Please stop by the Thrift Store today at 12011 224th st, to hang an ornament in memory of a loved one. OR try our virtual option where you can light the tree and leave a message without leaving home. https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life

SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, MARCH 6th, 2021! We are more than excited to announce our upcoming celebration of 25 years of serving our community! We are creating a heartfelt, accessible virtual evening full of stories and song for you to enjoy along with all the fundraising elements of an in-person gala! We hope anyone and everyone who has been a part of the Hospice Society story over the last 25 years will join safely from the comfort of their own home and participate in this unique and wonderful fundraising event! Much more information to come, and many ways to be involved from sponsorship to sharing your story. Stay tuned....

Lots of information coming in the next couple weeks! Everyone is invited to celebrate 25 years of the Hospice Society serving our community!

Wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Please remember that you welcome to light up the tree virtually at https://visufund.com/celebrate-a-life or come and hang an ornament in memory of someone in our Thrift Store!

Time to Remember was a wonderful evening of reflection and remembrance. You can still watch the whole service and share with others on YouTube, or St. George's web-site. The program starts at about 13 minutes in.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YYruh7einw Thank you again to St George Maple Ridge and Garden Hill Cremation & Funeral Services for their dedication to making this event go virtual and accessible to all! We wish much healing peace and comfort to those grieving at Christmas.

World Hospice Palliative Care Day! https://www.thewhpca.org/world-hospice-and-palliative-care-

We will see you in five, thanks!

Our grief support is available to anybody who has lost someone under any circumstance. We understand it can be misleading, because we are called the Hospice Society.. so people are still surprised when we inform them we can support any loss. About half of the referrals our grief counsellor gets, are from accidental deaths, suicides, mental health and victim’s services. Right now we are seeing an increase volume of calls for losses that have been complicated by the Covid pandemic i.e. not being able to be there when a loved one died, or now not being able to gather for funerals and honouring the loss. We also offer a grief support for people of all ages from children and youth, to our seniors. Please call if we can offer more information 604-463-7722

A tremendous thanks to Global BC Community Central and the team at Centra Windows for including us in the Month of Giving campaign!! https://globalnews.ca//month-of-giving-back-ridge-meadows- We were so grateful to have this opportunity this morning to share the work we are proud and honored to do in the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. We have already heard from many clients, staff, and volunteers today who want us to let you know how these donations make such a difference in our ability to offer our services. But what means JUST AS MUCH to us at this time especially, is the kindness of strangers, and knowing that caring companies are out there that do so much for others every day, THANK YOU!!

We are glad you asked. It’s a hard question, and a lot of people do wonder about this. Working with people who are facing death and dying, grief and loss can be very difficult...and we recognize that. Our staff and volunteers are supporting people during some of the most profound times in their life, and in those moments there are so many emotions ...sadness, grief, love, and even happiness. We are honoured to bear witness to life and love and our work teaches us every day... about what’s truly important. Self care is essential, so we make time to take care of each other, work to share our feelings, debrief difficult days, and find support for ourselves. Honestly we could answer this question for hours, it’s a big one; thanks for asking

Please share this link for tonight's Candle lighting service with anyone who may be experiencing loss and grief this Christmas. St George Maple Ridge has made it incredibly easy to watch, just click the green button that says "watch time to remember" at https://stgeorgemapleridge.ca/ shortly before 7pm. If you would like us to light a candle on your behalf, there is still time to email us, or call 604-463-7722. We will check messages and email until 4:30pm, thank you.

Great question! These terms often get used interchangeably, depending on who you are talking to, where you are looking...but in Canada, both terms often mean the same thing. Both provincially and Nationally, we have the BC and the Canadian Hospice/Palliative care associations. Palliative Care-a specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of the illness. Palliative ca...re is appropriate at any stage of an illness. Hospice care- when someone has a life expectancy of weeks or months rather than years. The focus is on quality of life and comfort care. **Both of these approaches to care address the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of a person and their loved ones.

We are so so fortunate to be a part of this campaign tomorrow morning on Global BC Morning News at 7:50am!! Tune in

This one can cause a lot of confusion, but YES we are two separate places and organizations. We do work closely together and follow the philosophy of Hospice/palliative care. McKenney Creek Hospice-This is a ten-bed, facility owned and operated by Fraser Health for people to access specialized end-of-life care in their last weeks or months of life. RM Hospice Society-We are a non-profit, separate organization that offers programs and supports in our community to those faci...ng end of life, grief, and loss. HOWEVER!! We are grateful to work very closely WITH our Hospice, providing the volunteers, support programs, and comfort items in McKenney Creek. We are also part of our local Palliative team supporting patients in our community. So yes, the Hospice is one of the places where we support patients and families, but we also work in the community, the hospital, long-term care, and in people's homes. See more

World Hospice Palliative care day is coming up on October 10th! Let's get to know what your Hospice Society really does! We know you have many important questions, and like we say in our training," if you are wondering you can bet everyone else is too!" We would like to take the next couple of days and share some of our most frequently asked questions and common misconceptions. Please ask any questions below in the comments, or email them to [email protected]

Our community is full of incredible organizations doing incredible things! The Ridge Meadows Hospice Society was more than honoured to create a gingerbread house to contribute to a fundraiser for Alisa's Wish Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

Grief is weighing heavy for many right now. With COVID-19 there are so many losses, in so many different ways and forms. You can have a great effect on someone by simply extending kindness. We never know what journey someone is on...always start with compassion.

Please be reminded that we will light a candle on your behalf, on Wednesday evening at our Time to Remember service. Please email your request to [email protected] The evening will be live-streamed by our wonderful partners at St George Maple Ridge and it is very easy to join and watch this service open to the entire community. Just click on the link a bit before seven...https://stgeorgemapleridge.ca/

Hello all, our web-site is down with server issues. Please call 604-463-7722 for any info you are seeking we are here!Hello all, our web-site is down with server issues. Please call 604-463-7722 for any info you are seeking we are here!

Many of you are missing someone you have lost today. At the Hospice Society we say, "grief has no timeline"; it changes, it softens, but it is always OK to miss someone as long as you do.

Sale day at your favourite thrift store!! 11-4Boutique 50% off

When we are losing someone we love the pain can be fierce, but so can the love. And it is this love that we trust will bring comfort in time. You are not alone.

We have just taken a tour of the tree, and welcome to those of you who have made the tree brighter with your lights and loved ones! Everyone is welcome to join this fundraiser... follow the link, pick a light, and add their message in this very special way to Celebrate a life at Christmas. Please call the Hospice Society should you have any questions about how we can offer support. 604-463-7722