We have been sharing glimpses into the lives of some of our incredible volunteers, board members and employees on social media recently.
Here are some of their stories:
Jodie, Director. Jodie grew up in Powell River, moved away for a decade and returned to Powell River after obtaining her nursing degree. Jodie has worked in various departments in the qathet Regional Hospital and currently holds a position in Home and Community care, providing palliative care and medical care to clients in their homes. Palliative care has always been an important part of Jodie’s career and she recently received Palliative Care Nursing certification through the Canadian Nurses Association. Away from work, Jodie spends her time with her family and loves being out in nature either on one of the local beaches, hiking in local trails, and paddleboarding in the summer.
Deborah, Volunteer Visitor and Group Facilitator. Deborah has been a volunteer for Four Tides Hospice Society for eight years. She joined FTHS when she retired from working as a counsellor with youth and families after almost thirty years. She enjoys spending time with her family, her flower garden and in the kitchen baking, cooking or canning. She is actively involved with her church and operates a mental health care home. Deborah has an enthusiastic laugh and is compassionate and welcoming to all.
Gauri, Volunteer Visitor. Gauri has dedicated over thirty years to palliative care volunteering in Powell River. One need only spend a few minutes in Gauri’s presence to appreciate her ability to listen intently and care deeply, two precious attributes in a palliative care volunteer. Gauri derives joy from the relationships she builds with clients and family members and is deeply honored and privileged to be included in her clients’ life journeys. She finds herself delivering volunteer supports at clients’ homes, within the hospital and in extended care settings. Four Tides Hospice Society is grateful to Gauri for the example she sets and all that she has and continues to bring to hospice care in our community.
Sarah Joy, Client and Volunteer Coordinator. SJ has been the Client & Volunteer Coordinator since October 2021 after moving to Powell River from Ontario. She moved here to be closer to the ocean and mountains! She was drawn to hospice because of its community-based approach (volunteer driven) to supporting people who are dying and grieving. She love the idea of the community supporting each other and meeting each other’s needs. Sarah Joy enjoys facilitating these connections. Her favourite part of her job is getting to know the volunteers and seeing their passion and commitment for this work. When she is not working, she enjoys whale watching, hiking, making dried floral wreaths, biking the trails, bouldering at the gym and hanging out with friends.
Ciara, Programs Coordinator. Ciara is the newest member of the FTHS staff. She became interested in hospice after helping to care for her grandmother in the last few years of her life. Prior to working with FTHS, Ciara worked as a nurse in both direct care and community care. She was drawn to work with non-profits and charities after recognizing the impact that they have on healthcare and the community. Ciara’s role with FTHS includes coordinating the programs and managing social media and marketing. When she isn’t working, she spends her time with her son, husband and two dogs exploring our beautiful region.
Niky, Board Member. Niky joined FTHS in the fall of 2022 as a Board Member. She decided to join after working as an RN in Home Health and on the Medical-Surgical floor of the qathet Hospital. As a nurse, she saw the difference that Hospice Volunteers made for patients and their families. She also has seen how challenging it is for people and families to provide end-of-life care at home or in the hospital, and believes a Hospice House in qathet would help to provide dignity and support to people during their end of life journey.
Michèle, Volunteer. Michèle became a hospice volunteer after moving to qathet in 2021. She is a retired high school teacher whose favourite activities include swimming in the ocean, bathing in the forest, playing word games, spending time with loved ones, listening to people’s stories and watching sunsets. She loves the colour orange and can often be seen wearing a smile.