NEWS RELEASE

February 25, 2010

KANATA, Ontario: Friends of Hospice Ottawa is proud and honoured to have been voted by the community we serve, Ottawa West, as the People’s Choice in the Community Support/Non Profit category - Goulbourn, at the ceremonies held by the Kanata Chamber of Commerce tonight.
At the event, Beth Ada, Board Chair, accepted the Award with thanks and gratitude.
Mrs. Ada said, “Coming on the heels of winning this Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009, we are encouraged that our efforts in community support programs, including in-home support, day away hospices, transportation, caregiver and bereavement support, and training and education are not only making a difference in people’s lives, but also that people are taking notice and acting on it.
Having recently launched our Capital Campaign to acquire a centrally located property which will permit greater access to those who need our support while living and coping with a life-threatening illness, and ultimately, those who are no longer able to receive or give care in their own homes, we are excited about the increased exposure to our work that this Award will attract.”
The phases of the current Capital Campaign will involve purchase of the property, renovations to the building to expand and enhance core programs, plus provide space and access for additional community partners. The final phase, once operational support is approved and in place, will see the construction of a 9 bed residential hospice into which Friends of Hospice Ottawa would eventually welcome clients.
Ms. Ada said: “We are in the process now of actively seeking gifts from individuals so that we may close the purchase of this property in June this year. As this project evolves, we will provide additional updates and look forward to welcoming our community to our new premises, we hope, in the not too distant future. We are delighted to receive The People’s Choice in our category again this year and look forward to many more years of serving our community with dignity and care.”

CONTACT:
Kathryn Logsdail-Downer, Ed.D,
Executive Director
Tel: (613) 866-5744