Philip Aziz Centre / Emily's House

06/10/2026

Encouragement is always welcome

Some encouraging notes to our hospice clients from event guests earlier this year….

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06/09/2026

The Puck Drops Here!

Our CEO, Rauni Salminen, dropped the puck to start the kids’ tournament for Hockey for Grace 2026.

She reports: “It was a lovely event on Saturday in Newmarket, with 40 kiddos on the ice. Amy and Chris were run off their feet but already talking about the next big hockey event!”

Thank you, Amy, Chris, Carter, family, friends, volunteers, donors, sponsors, participants, Newmarket, … and “Grace Nation” … for celebrating Grace, and supporting Emily’s House children and families through this annual event!

For Grace’s Story at Emily’s House children’s hospice:
https://paceh.ca/graces-story/

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06/05/2026

Hockey For Grace ... is happening this weekend!

Shout out to nurse Dio for getting a hockey tournament award named after him!

Not everyone gets a trophy at Hockey for Grace, you gotta earn it 🤣 But those trophies are well worth it as they celebrate some of the very special and important people from Grace’s care team from each of the stops her journey brought us.

The Nurse Dio Trophy:
Our first night at Emily’s House is special for so many reasons and one is because it’s the night we met Nurse Dio. Anyone who knows us knows how special this man is to our family. Dio was Grace’s favourtie nurse at Emily’s House and was there our first night helping us get settled in. That first night I woke up in the wee hours of the morning frantic, I had a nightmare and thought something was wrong with Grace. Nurse Dio came rushing in made sure she was alright and calmed me down. He then took her upstairs and spent the next few hours cuddling with her so we could get a few hours of sleep because I didn’t want her to sleep alone.

Grace loved Nurse Dio and so do we. They shared special moments cuddling upstairs on the couch and Dio always warmed up the stethoscope because Grace hated the cold. It was the little touches like adding the Blue Jays and Habs logo to her room name plaque that made us feel so cared for. He and Grace shared a special bond and we are forever grateful for his love, care and empathy not only while at Emily’s House but through the years since.

Dio was with Emily’s House for 7 years and was there since they opened their doors. 7 years he was there to love each child, hold their parents hands and be an incredible health care provider. But that also means he has been there for 7 years of goodbyes, of tears as ones who shouldn’t be leaving us do. I don’t know how he did it. How he gave a part of himself with each child that came through the doors and after saying goodbye would go back and do it all again. Dio, you are an angel right here on earth.

06/05/2026

Thank You to our Volunteer Drivers!

On Mother’s Day we celebrated mothers who are impacted by hospice care – both at Emily’s House children’s hospice, and in homes in the community.

Today we want to issue a big and celebratory shout out to the volunteer drivers who selflessly, hand-delivered Mother’s Day gift bags and encouragement.

We celebrate you and appreciate you!

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06/04/2026

Sailing Ship Strawberry

Who doesn’t want to sail away on S.S. Strawberry right now?
The Emily’s House back yard has become a gateway to the high seas!

Gotta love the Emily’s House Rec Team and volunteers who are taking a complete soaking to bring some joy to this very young sailor!

06/03/2026

Hockey For Grace ... it's coming up this weekend!!!

06/03/2026

Memories in Monarch Butterfly “Community” Legacy Art

In tribute and in memory, sometimes it helps to share memories and hopes in a collage of art with a group of friends, like this framed collection of special notes on paper butterflies.

Memories of thumb wars and smoothies; and hopes that there is cookie baking in heaven.

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06/02/2026

Shai DeLuca and Jill Schneiderman are hatching a design “refresh” plan for Emily’s House after a first visit….

Shai currently appears as a regular design and décor expert on Global News’ The Morning Show. He also frequently serves as a design expert for CityTV’s Breakfast Television.

Special thanks to Care For Kids (Toronto) and Michelle Goldstein Zaldin for introducing them to Emily’s House when Shai recently emceed the Care For Kids (Toronto) event benefiting PACT and Emily’s House.

Thanks also to two anonymous donations/pledges that help kick start this exciting adventure.

Thanks to Donna for giving Shai a warm welcome!

; #𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

05/27/2026

Toronto’s Ripley's Aquarium isn’t just for children.

“Believe it or not” … when this hospice client made his first visit to Toronto’s Ripley's Aquarium with his volunteer, he was mesmerized and didn’t want to leave.

Such a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care: Supporting a life lived fully to the end by making a difficult journey more manageable, meaningful, and memorable.

Hospice volunteers are always needed – for adults and for children:
https://paceh.ca/volunteers/volunteer-information/

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05/26/2026

Face to face connection

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