History of the White Rock Hospice Society

The origins of the White Rock Hospice Society trace back to a community meeting initiated by First United Church in 1981. The impetus for the meeting related to the unmet needs of people in the community requiring palliative care. This first meeting evolved into a grass roots movement led by Teresa Hotell the Society’s founder and first Executive Director. This group moved forward quickly and in August 1982 the White Rock Hospice Society was incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia.

The 1980s

The early years were highlighted by volunteers providing their time and resources to ensure the Society achieved its mandate of providing support to palliative clients and their families and to educating the community about the hospice movement. The first hospice volunteers were trained by the Pastoral institute of British Columbia.

Peace Arch Community Services provided the first formal office space and some early funding support came from the United Way. By 1985, the Society’s trained volunteers were providing support to clients at Peace Arch Hospital, in care facilities in the community, and in private homes. During this period, the Society’s services were extended to provide professional counseling and grief support to individuals and families.

In the latter of half of the 1980s, the Society continued to grow locally and played an integral role in the development of a palliative care unit at Peace Arch Hospital. During this period, the Society also played a leading role in the establishment of the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association and had representation on the board of the BC Bereavement Foundation. By the end of the decade, the Society had a small paid staff and a vibrant volunteer group that needed more space in order to meet the community needs for hospice palliative care services and grief support programs.

The 1990s

In 1992 the Society purchased the home it currently occupies on Russell Avenue in White Rock. This residence was converted to office and multipurpose meeting room/program space and continues to this day to be known in the community as the Hospice House. Though generous bequests from supporters during the 1990s the Society was able to purchase the residence immediately to the west of Hospice House and it has been used as a source of rental income over the years. Throughout the balance of the decade and into the current century the Society’s base of volunteers continued to grow and now numbers over 200. Volunteers include those directly serving clients and those who provide clerical and fundraising services amongst a myriad of other opportunities that present themselves.

The New Millennium

The most recent group of volunteers was recruited in 2008 to provide support to the Society’s Thrift Store. In 2008, the Society purchased the residence immediately to the east of Hospice House to complete the land assembly required to build a 25,000 square foot, 14-bed Hospice Residence and expanded resource centre from which to deliver existing and new complementary hospice programs. A rezoning application was approved by the City of White Rock early in 2009 and the architectural drawings for the Hospice Residence have been completed. The Society is now looking at alternative strategies and plans that will lead to the completion of this important new asset for the community.