Board of Directors Meeting Highlights
March 8, 2022
1. The Board is seeking two new Directors with a focus on adding diversity to their numbers – ideally persons skilled in one or both of fundraising and communications. More information is available by clicking here.
2. Dorothy Scorsone, Past President of the May Court Club of Ottawa, spoke about the over 120-year history of the May Court Club, describing their charitable works and the journey they took to become a Sustaining Donor of Hospice Care Ottawa (HCO). Since 1999 the Club has housed May Court Hospice and donated over $1.2 million to HCO. Their members carry out reception duties during the week and some have taken the course to volunteer with clients. Their continued dedication to HCO, despite 2021 being a very challenging year for them, is greatly appreciated.
3. Lisa Sullivan, Executive Director, provided the following updates:
4. Meetings with local Members of Provincial Parliament have provided an opportunity to make the case for 100% funding of clinical care to hospices across Canada. This advocacy work will continue and others are encouraged to support these initiatives through their own letter-writing. Tools to support this are available through https://www.hospicecareottawa.ca/advocacy.html
5. Work continues apace to find funding for the establishment of palliative care beds in the East end of Ottawa. This will be possible only if more government funding is provided. The Board has been very appreciative of the support of many people and organizations, including the Ottawa East OHT, Francophone leaders and decision-makers, doctors, and the Montfort and Bruyère hospitals. A Business Plan for Establishing La Maison de l’Est has been provided to Ontario Health in the hopes that increased funding will be included in the upcoming provincial budget.
6. The Board agreed to the establishment of a Working Group to strengthen work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in HCO.
7. Tony Grieg will be HCO’s nominee for the June Callwood Outstanding Volunteer this year at the Hospice Palliative Care (HPCO) Conference.
2. Dorothy Scorsone, Past President of the May Court Club of Ottawa, spoke about the over 120-year history of the May Court Club, describing their charitable works and the journey they took to become a Sustaining Donor of Hospice Care Ottawa (HCO). Since 1999 the Club has housed May Court Hospice and donated over $1.2 million to HCO. Their members carry out reception duties during the week and some have taken the course to volunteer with clients. Their continued dedication to HCO, despite 2021 being a very challenging year for them, is greatly appreciated.
3. Lisa Sullivan, Executive Director, provided the following updates:
- All COVID cases have been resolved, some restrictions for visitors lifted and Day Hospice has been reinstated.
- Staffing challenges in the residences are being overcome, however, some administrative and community staff have tendered their resignations.
- Compassionate Ottawa is planning a city-wide event for late June that will provide opportunities for like-minded organizations to celebrate the end of the stringent COVID restrictions and look to the future together.
- The “Meet the Hospice Team” on social media has been well received
- A compilation of compliments and complaints underscores our anecdotal knowledge that there are considerably more of the former.
4. Meetings with local Members of Provincial Parliament have provided an opportunity to make the case for 100% funding of clinical care to hospices across Canada. This advocacy work will continue and others are encouraged to support these initiatives through their own letter-writing. Tools to support this are available through https://www.hospicecareottawa.ca/advocacy.html
5. Work continues apace to find funding for the establishment of palliative care beds in the East end of Ottawa. This will be possible only if more government funding is provided. The Board has been very appreciative of the support of many people and organizations, including the Ottawa East OHT, Francophone leaders and decision-makers, doctors, and the Montfort and Bruyère hospitals. A Business Plan for Establishing La Maison de l’Est has been provided to Ontario Health in the hopes that increased funding will be included in the upcoming provincial budget.
6. The Board agreed to the establishment of a Working Group to strengthen work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in HCO.
7. Tony Grieg will be HCO’s nominee for the June Callwood Outstanding Volunteer this year at the Hospice Palliative Care (HPCO) Conference.