(Pictured above: Team photo taken at the 2025 Candles of Remembrance, L-R: Hema Roopnarine, Rachel Lapensee, Whitney Vowels, Louise Brazier, Stefanie Collins, Sidney Grocott, Amanda Tevelde, Ashley MacGregor, Madison Lahay and Trooper)
In the midst of the busy holiday season, Giving Tuesday offers a powerful pause — a chance to look beyond the giving lists and celebrations and focus on compassion, community, and those who need our support the most. This year, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to stand alongside Hospice Orillia as they continue to bring care, comfort, and connection to individuals and families facing life-limiting illness, caregiving, and grief.
As a community hospice, Hospice Orillia provides compassionate support directly in people’s homes and in community spaces — wherever they feel safest and most at ease. Every day, staff and trained volunteers witness both the incredible strength of those living with serious illness and the quiet courage of the loved ones who care for them.
At Hospice Orillia, the belief is simple and powerful: no one should have to walk this journey alone.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, all Hospice Orillia services are offered free of charge. Your support has never been more important.
Through the Visiting Volunteer Program, trained volunteers provide companionship and emotional support in the comfort of home. Sometimes that means sharing stories, listening to music, playing a game of cards, or simply sitting quietly together. For caregivers, these visits also provide something invaluable — a moment to rest, run errands, attend appointments, or simply breathe, knowing their loved one is not alone.
Honouring stories and memories is also an important part of Hospice Orillia’s care. Through the Footprints Legacy Program, families are supported in capturing memories, stories, and reflections that might otherwise go untold — creating meaningful keepsakes that can be cherished for years to come.
A beloved member of the Hospice Orillia team is Facility Dog Trooper, who brings comfort, calm, and connection to people of all ages. Whether sitting quietly with someone who is grieving, offering a gentle paw to a child, or simply sharing his warm presence during a visit, Trooper has an extraordinary ability to ease anxiety, lift spirits, and remind families of the healing power of companionship.
When a death occurs, Hospice Orillia’s care does not end. Through one-to-one supportive counselling and specialized grief groups, individuals and families are gently guided through their personal journey of loss. These programs are available to anyone in the community, because grief touches us all — and everyone deserves a safe, compassionate space to be heard and supported.
As part of this season of giving, Hospice Orillia has also recently mailed its Annual Appeal letter. This letter shares the impact of Hospice Orillia’s work and invites the community to help ensure that these vital supports continue to be available for all who need them.
Didn’t receive a letter? You can still take part:
To make a donation, please visit https://hospiceorillia.ca/donate
If you would like to request a copy of the Annual Appeal, please email Amanda Tevelde at amanda@hospiceorillia.ca
This Giving Tuesday, your generosity can help provide comfort, dignity, and compassionate care — from the moment of diagnosis, through caregiving, and into grief and remembrance.
Together, we can ensure that no one in our community faces illness or loss alone.