McDonald’s commits $100k over next decade to support Rose Garden Hospice

Bains continued that effort also holds deep personal meaning as the suite was renamed in honour of his father, who spent his final days in hospice care.

“My dad, during his end of life, he went through this kind of facility, so I know how important it is to say goodbye and have proper goodbyes. That’s [why] this is very close and near and dear to my heart. I just wanted to make sure I can cherish my good memories with my dad by sponsoring something like this.”

Bains’ father, Dr. Jay Bains, served as British Columbia’s provincial coordinator for a series of Self-Management Programs administered through the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging. There, he organized workshops and supported volunteer leaders throughout the province to improve access to chronic disease self-management education, particularly for seniors and underserved populations.

“When we were going through our personal experience, we knew how important it was to have a proper goodbye,” Bains continued. “Facilities like this provide you with that home away from home. We knew that my dad could never come back home and we couldn’t tell him goodbye, but a facility like this, there are all these services available. It gives you that private setting where you can come in as a family and sit together – we just wanted to create those last few memories in a home-like setting.”

Raj Bains (middle) stands with Gaurav Kumar (right), McDonald’s Prince Albert’s operational manager, and Ian Dickson in front of Suite 109 at the Rose Garden Hospice in PA, proudly displaying a new name in honour of Bains’ father. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

Ian Dickson, community engagement and philanthropy coordinator for the Rose Garden Hospice, said the donation stemmed from a call for sponsors for the home’s Brunch with Santa event in November.

“The response we got instead of ‘Here’s a sponsorship check’ was ‘We’d love to come see more about what you guys are offering’.”

Dickson explained that Raj and his team came to the hospice, where they thoroughly toured the facility. There, they had an “amazing conversation” about hospice care and what it means both personally and for the community, which quickly deepened into a real connection.

“That’s when Raj had the idea to look at a larger-scale sponsorship, which in this case was for one of our two remaining guest rooms that don’t have sponsors. As Raj spoke about before, that idea of being able to gather with your family in those last moments in a home-like setting, that was the goal with the original team that designed this place.”

“I think Raj could agree that when we were doing the tour, to close the door and be able to sit in a living room-like setting and have a conversation about that particular room, it’s a really powerful moment – knowing that he’s gone through it personally, that I have as well, and that many, many people in this community are also going to be calling some of these rooms home at some point as well.”

The hospice suite sponsorship is just one of the few ways the McDonald’s franchisee is extending his hand in the community.

In May, Bains and his team raised $83,000 in support of the new Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert, where Bains and McDonald’s are already set to sponsor a room there for its first three years. The facility is set to open in early 2027.

Meanwhile, Bains added that McDonald’s has also started an unofficial initiative with the Prince Albert Raiders, where they’ll purchase one set of season tickets every season, from 2025 onward, in honour of Trevor LaPlante. LaPlante was a longtime and well-known McDonald’s employee in P.A., and passionate Raiders fan, who was murdered in July 2024. One of his racing jackets, that donned the famous yellow arches, now hangs in the lobby of the 2nd Ave. McDonald’s as a tribute.

A photo taken when LaPlante’s jacket was hung in the lobby of the 2nd Ave. McDonald’s in Prince Albert. (Image Credit: McDonald’s Canada (3625 2nd Avenue W, Prince Albert, SK, Canada)/Facbook)

—

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

McDonald’s commits $100k over next decade to support Rose Garden Hospice

What's Trending