By Teena Monteleone

P.A. group seeks provincial funding for hospice

Dec 8, 2016 | 5:08 AM

She didn’t get a no. That was promising enough news for Marina Mitchell.

The Prince Albert woman is part of a local group trying to raise $6-million to build a facility that would provide end of life care. She recently made a pitch for funding to provincial officials in Regina, including Prince Albert MLA Joe Hargrave. She said the meeting was promising.

“We met with the minister of health and rural health. It was a positive meeting. They essentially asked us what we wanted and we asked for operating costs annually, which is $1.8 million. They never said no. They just asked us how far along we were in the project,” Mitchell said.  

The Rose Garden Hospice Association was formed almost nine years ago after Mitchell lost her mother to cancer.

“Our small family tried to keep her at home for as long as we could but it just wasn’t possible and she died in the hospital. It was hard on us. After that, we started discussing the need for a hospice because there are none in the province,” she said.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

2h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

6h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

10h ago

The goal is to build and operate a 10 bed facility for individuals in need of care within the final days or weeks of life. It would include additional rooms for families, professional nursing care and bereavement support in what Mitchell described as a “home-like setting.” It would be the first stand-alone hospice in the province.

In July, retired businessman, long-time farmer and Prince Albert resident Fred Trach, donated almost ten acres of land in the West Hill to the project. Mitchell said the association hoped to start raising major funds in the New Year.

“We don’t have a lot of funding right now but we are getting some donations. We just finished a sponsorship booklet and we plan on contacting various businesses and donors in town soon,” Mitchell added.

Mitchell also met with Prince Albert’s NDP MLA Nicole Rancourt and Danielle Chartier, NDP MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale. In an attempt to keep the conversation in legislature, the MLAs advised Mitchell’s group to start a provincial petition for a hospice. Mitchell said people can sign the petition at city hall or at the Rose Garden Hospice Association development office located in the Gateway Mall.

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone