Proposed design of the Rose Garden Hospice by AODBT. (Submitted photo/rosegardenhospice.ca)

By Teena Monteleone

A cause for comfort

A cause for comfort; local radio helps raise funds for future hospice

Mar 5, 2019 | 9:00 AM

On the heels of a major funding announcement last month, the Rose Garden Hospice Association (RGHA) is embarking on a public capital campaign through the power of local radio.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) in Prince Albert and the RGHA launched ‘A cause for comfort’; – a series of advertisements and interviews that will air on Power99, XFM and Saskatchewan Country CKBI over the coming weeks to raise awareness about hospice care in the hopes of encouraging the public to make financial contributions to the project.

“We believe the Rose Garden Hospice will make a positive impact, not only for the people of Prince Albert, but for everyone in our broadcast area,” said Duane Krip, JPBG sales manager. “That is why we jumped on board as media partner; first, to help raise public awareness for what a hospice is and now with the ‘Cause for Comfort’ campaign to raise the money needed to build it.”

Recently, the government of Saskatchewan announced a commitment of up to $2 million annually to help cover operating costs of the future facility. Canadian Tire store owner Malcolm Jenkins also committed $500,000 to the cause. With some funding the RGHA had previously raised, $3.36 million is still needed for the construction of the hospice.

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“I think we need this here in Prince Albert because we are the gateway to the north,” said RGHA chairperson Marina Mitchell. “We service a lot of people, not just PA. It will be the first stand alone hospice in Saskatchewan so its great for our community to take the lead on that.”

The plan is for a 10-bed hospice to be built on a piece of donated land at the corner of Marquis Road and Fourth Ave. W. It will provide end of life care and comfort 24-hours a day to patients with terminal diagnosis. The facility will address the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of residents approaching death while licensed medical staff will offer expert pain and symptom management to ensure physical suffering is relieved.

The hospice would have a homelike feel where patients could spend their last days in comfort. (Submitted photo/rosegardenhospice.ca)

“It will have a family rooms and a nice kitchen where families can cook, play rooms, gardens, a chapel area and it will feel very home-like,” said Mitchell.

According to the RGHA website, the hospice will be open to residents in northern Saskatchewan. A patient who has three months or less to live will need a referral from their family physician and will be able to register with the hospice. The cost of care would be free to those in need.

Another fundraising event is planned at the end of August, but Mitchell hopes the ‘Cause for Comfort’ radio campaign will be enough to get shovels in the ground. Donations can be made in person at the RGHA office located in the Gateway Mall, Tuesday to Friday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or online at rosegardenhospice.ca.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow