Our hospice began as a dream that took nearly 15 years to become a reality. Thanks to the work of a small group, the community was brought together to build a hospice. Since then, we have worked tirelessly to ensure we provide the highest levels of care to our residents and families at end of life and on their grief journeys. We continue to honour that initial dream.
September 2006
Mathilde Gravelle Bazinet embarks on the mission of getting a residential hospice built for the Nipissing and East Parry Sound region. Her brother, Lucien, passed in a hospice in Chambly. She was amazed and deeply grateful for the high quality palliative care that he received and the support offered to his family.
Spring 2011
A FEDNOR grant allowed for the completion of a Feasibility Study by Lawlor & Associates that confirmed that community support would be available to raise funds for the building and to sustain operations of a 10-bed, bilingual, hospice residence.
On June 30, the inaugural Board of Directors received confirmation of the incorporation of the Hospice as a charitable, not-for-profit corporation.
November 16, 2012
First Aaron Caruso Dinner Theatre fundraiser was organized by Jim Marmino at the Davedi Club. Jim was a passionate supporter of the Hospice and served on the Board, as Vice-Chair, from 2012 until his passing in 2018.
November 2014
First community Christmas Concert, organized by Jim Marmino with the assistance of Adele Williams, was a huge success that paved the way for future years. Adele, like Jim, passed before seeing the Hospice dream become a reality.
2015
On June 8, a detailed proposal for a 10-room bilingual hospice, along with 30 letters of community support, was presented to the North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
Inspired by Adele Williams, a petition in support of a hospice facility, independent of the hospital, located in a park-like setting gathers 8,315 signatures and is presented by MPP Victor Fedeli in the Parliament of Ontario.
In November, the North East LHIN announces that the proposal from the Board of Nipissing Serenity Hospice has been selected as the most complete and appropriate community hospice residence.
Summer & Fall 2016
In May 2016, the first annual Hike for Hospice, organized by Dr. Sabrina Giustra, is held in Laurier Woods. The inaugural event raised just over $56,000.
In June 2016, the long, arduous search for a peaceful, centrally-located, park-like property is finally successful! Following the agreement with the City of North Bay, Dr. Klère Bourgault presents the $1 to Mayor Al McDonald for the purchase of a 2.4-acre property just above Chippewa Creek and adjacent to Laurier Woods.
After a thorough RFP process, on August 8, 2016 Larocque Elder Architects (LEA), is awarded the contract for the detailed building designs of the 10-bed hospice residence. The concept incorporates a peaceful setting with all rooms facing South, overlooking Chippewa Creek. Special consideration was taken to include a Sacred Room with a unique ventilation system to accommodate smudging.
On October 22, the first Girls Night Out Gala, organized by Patti Euler and Adele Williams, was a resounding success and sold out by August! The stage was set for many more fundraisers to come.
Fall 2017
Capital fundraising continues, with the second Girls Gala and 4th Christmas Concert fundraising events and many other appearances within the community to gather support.
On November 13, MPP John Fraser, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announces our Hospice will receive a capital grant of $1.2 million.
Winter & Spring 2018
Following an RFP process, Kenalex Construction is awarded the building contract for the Hospice. The projected building cost is $7.4 Million.
The 3rd annual Hike for Hospice, organized by Dr. Sabrina Giustra, sets a local record, raising over $80,000!
Fall 2018
In a sod turning ceremony on August 17, MPP Vic Fedeli (then Minister of Finance), announces that capital funding from the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care (MOHLTC) will be increased to $2 million. It is also announced that the project will receive a capital grant of $1,500,000 from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), bringing the total in capital grants from the Government of Ontario to $3.5 million.
Clearing of the property takes place and construction of the building officially begins.
Spring & Summer 2019
The building begins taking shape!
In May, the 4th annual Hike for Hospice takes place at Laurier Woods, raising over $60,000.
The first Executive Director is hired, along with an NOHFC-funded Marketing Intern. Work begins with a local marketing firm for one final push for the capital campaign to complete the facility. The "Buy a Stud" and "Buy a Brick" campaigns are launched.
December 2019
The finishing touches are installed, including furniture, decorative finishes, and security for the facility. The administrative staff begin working in the facility, ensuring the building is ready for operations in January 2020. The initial group of staff included an Executive Director, Care Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Kitchen Coordinator, Maintenance Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Marketing Intern.
January 2020
The Care Team begin working in the facility preparing to accept admissions. Prior to the first admission, the staff participate in multiple palliative end-of-life care and complementary therapy workshops.
On January 11, 2020, the Official Grand Opening Ceremony is held with over 500 community members touring our Hospice. In attendance were Mayor Al McDonald, MP Anthony Rota and MPP Victor Fedeli. Senator Lucie Moncion served as Master of Ceremonies.
The first resident was admitted on January 26, 2020.
Spring & Summer 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic is declared, NSH must restrict most of the public from the facility. Admissions continue throughout the year, however with a limited number of visitors.
The 5th annual Hike for Hospice, originally scheduled for May, is rescheduled to October. The campaign also goes online for the first time, as an in-person event is not permitted. The campaign raised over $64,000, despite no in-person event.
The outdoor landcaping of the facility begins as soon as the ground is thawed, which includes gardens planted by the North Bay Horticultural Society. All plants in these gardens are donated by members of the community.
The process for acquiring a French-Language Services Provider designation begins.
Nipissing Serenity Hospice embarks on it's first Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign. The campaign raises nearly $60,000!
Spring 2021
In February, the the hospice welcomed its 100th resident for care.
Visiting restrictions for are slowly lifted, allowing more visitors per resident. Volunteers are beginning to help out more within the facility. Our volunteer team in the building includes visiting/compassionate care volunteers, kitchen volunteers and administrative volunteers.
Work continues on landscaping around the facility. The Serenity Gardens fundraising project is launched, allowing people to purchase trees, benches and patio stones in memory of their loved ones, while creating a beautiful park-like environment for residents.
The monthly 50/50 online draw begins. The first winner is Norm Hillock, winning $14,000!
2021 - 2022
The Serenity Gardens project continues. Donations of plants and other landscaping products are received from The Rock Centre, Independent Grocer, Bruman Construction, Burrows, and members of our community, which help beautify our property. The pathway on the south side of the building is paved to make it fully accessible, donated by Pioneer Construction.
Funding is acquired and the hospice begins offering group grief & bereavement sessions, named Serenity Through Support. These group sessions are moved up to Canadore College, with funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program and support from Canadian Shield Mental Health. These sessions are offered to all in our community who are in need, free of charge.
In September 2021, the hospice's 2nd Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign took place and sold a record 12,000+ cookies. In October 2021, the second virtual Hike for Hospice takes place, raising $63,000.
Beginning in December 2021, the hospice begins hosting an annual Memorial Service, to honour all the residents who were in our care for the last year.
In Summer 2022, decorative metal panels are installed at the west end of the building, adding more privacy to the facility, inside and out. A mini orchard is also planted across the property, in collaboration with Canadore College, which includes 10 fruit trees around the property to provide future shade and fruits.
In September 2022, the hospice embarked on it's 3rd Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign. The campaign raised just over $60,000. In October, the annual Hike for Hospice took place online again, raising over $72,000.
By October, the hospice had cared for 250 residents and their families since opening.
Spring 2023
The first Escape to the Tropics event is held in March at the Beef n' Brand restaurant. The event featured a silent auction, dinner, a photo booth and live music, with a tropical theme.
By April, the monthly 50/50 draws end. The draws raised around $185,000 in just over 2 years.
In May, the Ontario MOHLTC announced ongoing funding for all hospices across the province for grief and bereavement services. This funding goes toward our Serenity Through Support program at Canadore College, ensuring it stays free of charge for its participants.
Our very own Mathilde Gravelle-Bazinet is presented with the Order of Canada, in part for her incredible efforts in bringing a hospice residence to our community.
The Nipissing Serenity Hospice is presented with the inaugural BayToday Community Builder Award in Health Care.
The hospice's 4th Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign takes place in early May, setting a major local sales record. The campaign raised nearly $85,000!
At the annual Gathering Place Soup's On competition, our own Chef Joël Latour's soup wins the "Golden Ladle" for Best Soup by a non-commercial organization.
Fall 2023
The first drive-in movie event, sponsored by the Palladino Auto Group takes place at Canadore College, with over 90 cars and a school bus in attendance. The movie shown was Back to the Future and the event also featured a 50/50 draw, pre-movie entertainment and multiple food vendors.
The 8th annual Hike for Hospice takes place in-person for the first time since the opening of the hospice. The event, sponsored by Degagne Group of Companies, took place on the hospice grounds, with music, a community BBQ and a hike around the community. Over $71,000 was raised.
The annual memorial service took place again in December, which was also livestreamed on our YouTube page, for those unable to attend in person.
The Stockfish Family Foundation made a very generous $104,000 donation.
Winter 2024
The hospice celebrated it's 4th anniversary of operations in January with our first Open House event since our Grand Opening. Over 150 people were in attendance.
The new bilingual version of the NSH website is launched in February 2024, made possible by funding from the United Way of North Eastern Ontario.
Funding is secured to construct a fully-accessible gazebo for our residents and their families. Construction is slated to begin in Summer of 2024.