Callwood award honours local Hospice volunteers

Hospice Prince Edward volunteers Annettee Gaskin and Stuart Brown receive the June Callwood “Circle of Outstanding Hospice volunteers award” at the annual Hospice Palliative Care Conference in Richmond Hill.

Two Hospice Prince Edward volunteers were among 40 new inductees into the June Callwood Circle of Outstanding Volunteers.  The late June Callwood was a journalist, author and social activist. She founded or co-founded more than 50 Canadian social action organizations including youth and women’s hostels. She founded Casey House (a Toronto hospice for people with AIDS).

Nominated by the hospices they serve, the volunteers exemplify the spirit and dedication of hospice palliative care, and are the driving force of the care provided each day throughout the province.
Annette Gaskin and Stuart Brown were honoured from Hospice Prince Edward (HPE).
“Annette and Stuart are ambassadors of HPE and provide exceptional service working alongside many hospice volunteers in our community,” said Nancy Parks, HPE executive director. “Each day, specially trained visiting volunteers from Hospice Prince Edward support clients in their homes, hospital or in a long-term care facilities. Our volunteers are a community link to information and resources for compassionate end-of-life care, grief and bereavement support.”

“Being a volunteer is a pleasure in itself, said Brown.  Being recognized amongst a host of volunteers who are equally deserving of recognition is an even greater honour. We thank Hospice for this wonderful award.”

Annette and Stuart have volunteered with Hospice Prince Edward’s team for the past five years. The former elementary school principals valued the contribution of volunteers to their schools, so this role of giving back came naturally. During the past year, they have given more then 600 volunteer hours to HPE in office administration, heading up the Ruby Young “County Treasures Program”, committee work as well as visiting clients who have life limiting illnesses.

For more information about Hospice Prince Edward, visit www.hospiceprinceedward.ca or on Facebook Hospice Prince Edward.