Cowichan Hospice

08/28/2026

📣 We're Hiring | Development Coordinator

At Cowichan Hospice, every act of generosity helps make compassionate hospice, palliative, and grief support possible for people throughout our community.

We're looking for an experienced Development Coordinator to join our team on a 6-month temporary contract.

In this role, you'll help steward donor relationships, support fundraising initiatives, and contribute to the programs that make our work possible. If you're an organized, collaborative fundraising professional who enjoys building meaningful relationships and making a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

✨ Hybrid position (2 days/week in our Duncan office)
✨ 35 hours/week
✨ $35–$40/hour + extended benefits

📅 Applications close September 7, 2026.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter to:
📧 [email protected]

View the full job posting here: https://www.cowichanhospice.org/job-opportunities

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your network. 💛

08/18/2026

On Saturday, August 29, Cowichan Hospice will join community partners for Purple Ribbon Day at Charles Hoey Park in Duncan.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to acknowledge loss, honour lives, and strengthen our collective commitment to compassion, support, and change. We will be present at the service provider booths and welcome the opportunity to connect with attendees throughout the day.

💜

In honour of International Overdose Awareness Day, we invite you to join us for Purple Ribbon Day on Saturday, August 29th, 2026. 11am-3pm at Charles Hoey Park (124 Canada Ave) in Duncan. A time to be together in community, to remember loved ones and hold space, and to look to the future with hope for change.

11am- Opening Ceremony with Tzinquaw Dancers and Drummers
12pm- Free BBQ begins
All Day - Memorial tent, service provider booths, art, music, and prize basket giveaways

Hope to see you there 💜

08/18/2026

Upcoming ACP workshops for seniors!

ADVANCED CARE PLANNING WORKSHOP

What would you want if you were unable to make your own healthcare decisions?

Join us for a two-part Advanced Care Planning workshop for seniors, presented by Cowichan Hospice. You’ll learn how to talk about what matters to you, explore your healthcare wishes, and make sure your loved ones know what’s important to you.

📅 Thursday, September 17 & 24
🕐 1:00–3:30 PM
📍 Cowichan Lake Community Services (121 Point Idea Drive, Lake Cowichan)

Both sessions must be attended!

✨ FREE TO ATTEND — REGISTRATION REQUIRED

To register:
📞 (250) 749-6822
📧 [email protected]

Taking the time to plan now can make things easier for you and your loved ones in the future. ❤️

08/17/2026

For many people, reaching out to Cowichan Hospice for the first time takes courage.

A hesitant phone call. Not quite sure if they belong here. Not sure what to say.
When that call comes in, it’s often Nigel who answers.

As our Office Coordinator, Nigel is the first point of contact between Cowichan Hospice and the people who reach out to us. Before any intake form, before any formal appointment, there is a conversation. And something in the way Nigel holds that space seems to always say: you’re in the right place.

Before moving to Canada, Nigel supported people living with long-term mental health challenges as they transitioned back to independent living in the UK. He brought that same commitment to meaningful, humane work here — and he brings it to every call.

We are grateful for the quiet steadiness Nigel brings to this role every day.

🌟 We’re proud to introduce our team, one person at a time.

🌐 cowichanhospice.org/staff

If you’ve been wondering whether to call — this is your sign.

There is a real person on the other end of the line, ready to listen.

📞 250-701-4242 📧 [email protected]

08/13/2026

Death is the one experience every human being shares.

And yet, across cultures, it is understood, prepared for, and honoured in many different ways.

Every community brings its own beliefs, traditions, and practices to the end of life. While no culture is the same—and every person's experience is unique—learning about different perspectives can help us approach these conversations with greater understanding, respect, and compassion.

At Cowichan Hospice, we believe every person deserves care that reflects who they are, their values, and what matters most to them.

What does the end of life look like in your culture or tradition?

We'd love to hear your perspective in the comments.

📞 250-701-4242 🌐 cowichanhospice.org

08/11/2026

🍿 Lights, camera, community!

The Reel Alternatives 2027 Fall Series is officially announced, featuring another fantastic lineup of acclaimed films.

Every ticket sold helps support Cowichan Hospice and the compassionate care we provide throughout our community. 💛

🎟 Series renewals available now 📅 Single tickets on sale September 2

Check out the lineup and join us for a great season of movies with purpose.

Hello to all Reel Alternatives viewers...

We are pleased to advise you that we have selected the 2027 fall series of our movies.

The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre box office is selling the series renewal tickets now.

Single ticket sales start on September 2nd. If you are new to purchasing the series tickets, they are also available on September 2nd.

If you want to help us spread the word about the Reel Alternatives movies and our support for Cowichan Hospice, please share with friends, co-workers or relatives.

Thank you and see you at the movies.

The Reel Alternatives Film Selection Committee

08/08/2026

Many of us go through life without ever learning what the dying process can look like.

We learn about birth. We prepare for illness. But the physical changes that can happen as a person approaches death are often not spoken about openly.

Because of that, patients and families may be surprised or frightened by changes that can be a natural part of the dying process.

Here are some changes that may occur in the days or weeks before death:

🌿 Sleeping more or becoming harder to wake

🌿 Eating and drinking less as the body's need for food and fluids changes

🌿 Changes in breathing, including slower breathing or longer pauses between breaths

🌿 Hands and feet becoming cool to the touch or changing colour

🌿 Becoming less engaged with the outside world, speaking less, or having experiences that loved ones may not fully understand

These changes are often a normal part of the body's natural process as life comes to an end. While each person's experience is unique, understanding what may happen can help reduce fear and uncertainty.

Knowing what to expect doesn't make saying goodbye easier. But it can help families feel more prepared, supported, and present during a meaningful time.

Cowichan Hospice is here to help clients and families navigate this journey with information, compassion, and care.

📞 250-701-4242
🌐 cowichanhospice.org

07/24/2026

🚴💙 Another Year. Another Amazing Ride. Another Incredible Impact. 💙
What an incredible journey!

For another year, our Cowichan Life Cyclers came together to ride with heart, determination, and a shared commitment to compassionate hospice care. Thanks to their dedication and the generosity of so many supporters along the way, the team has raised an incredible $86,193 so far for Cowichan Hospice Society.

Every kilometre ridden, every donation made, and every word of encouragement helped make a difference.

Today, we're celebrating our amazing riders:

💛 Joanna Sofield
💛 Gretchen Hartley
💛 Mark Barry
💛 Sonja Efford
💛 Mary Hof
💛 Peter Lake
💛 Danna Lyngard
💛 Amanda McArthur
💛 Marianne Palou
💛 David Pope

👏 A special congratulations to our Top 3 Fundraisers:
🥇 Mary Hof
🥈 David Pope
🥉Marianne Palou

We'd also like to give a special shout-out to three riders from the Country Grocer team who chose to designate their fundraising specifically for Cowichan Hospice: Brian Hartley, Karen Hartley, and Allan Hess. Together, this trio raised more than $7,000 in support of compassionate hospice care right here in our community.

Your commitment inspired so many and helped make this year's campaign such a success.

This achievement also belongs to the incredible community that stood behind our team. Thank you to everyone who donated, cheered from the sidelines, volunteered, shared our story, and supported our fundraising events. You were part of every kilometre and every dollar raised.

And the journey isn't over yet. If you'd like to be part of this incredible story, there's still time to support the Cowichan Life Cyclers before fundraising closes on September 1. Every donation—no matter the size—helps ensure compassionate hospice care remains available for individuals and families across the Cowichan Valley.

💙 Donate here: https://secure3.convio.net/vh/site/Donation2?PROXY_ID=3602&2252.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&idb=1027177362&df_id=2252&PROXY_TYPE=22&FR_ID=1390

Together, you reminded us that hospice care is truly powered by community.
Thank you for riding, supporting, giving, and believing in compassionate care. We couldn't do it without you. 💙

👇 Were you part of this year's journey? We'd love to hear your favourite memory in the comments!

07/23/2026

🌿 Pause With Us
Because sometimes understanding begins with listening.

One of the unexpected gifts hospice has given me is the way it has changed how I experience stories, poetry, music and art.

A few weeks ago, while travelling home from my holidays, I was looking for something gentle to watch during a long flight. One title quietly caught my attention: Come See Me in the Good Light.

I knew almost nothing about it.

But sometimes, a story finds us exactly when we need it.

The documentary follows acclaimed poet Andrea Gibson and their partner as they navigate love, creativity, serious illness, and the uncertainty that comes with a life-changing diagnosis. It's a deeply human story that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

The quote we've shared today comes from Andrea Gibson's poetry collection You Better Be Lightning. Although it isn't taken directly from the documentary, it beautifully captures its spirit—and reminded me why conversations about illness, grief, love, and death matter.

If you're looking for something thoughtful to watch, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

💚 Has a book, poem, film or song ever found you at exactly the right moment? I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments. They may become a gift to someone else.

07/21/2026

Meet Marcia Aftimus, a local artist whose generous donation is helping transform patient rooms at Cowichan Hospice House into spaces of comfort, reflection, and peace.

Through her beautiful artwork, Marcia reminds us that care extends beyond medicine. Art has the power to bring calm, create meaningful connections, and offer comfort to patients, families, and visitors during life's most tender moments.

Read the full Artist Spotlight and discover how one artist's generosity is making a lasting difference in our community.

📖 Read the story here: https://wix.to/lUlb0Mg

By Diana Viafara - Communications CoordinatorAt Cowichan Hospice Society, every detail of our space is shaped with intention, creating an environment of comfort, dignity, and peace. Thanks to the generosity of local artist Marcia, that experience is now deepened through art. Marcia recently donated....