Led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), this year’s theme, “Palliative Care is for You,” underscores that palliative care can begin at any stage of a life-limiting illness and be delivered in a wide range of settings — including at home, in hospital, in long-term care, or in the community. It is whole-person care that helps manage symptoms, ease suffering, and provide emotional and spiritual support.

At Chilliwack Hospice Society, palliative patient visitation plays a vital role in delivering this compassionate care. Specially trained volunteers and professional staff provide one-on-one companionship to individuals receiving palliative care — offering a comforting presence at Cascade Hospice Residence, Chilliwack General Hospital, Bradley Centre, in care facilities, at the Hospice Society, and in private homes.

“Palliative care improves the quality of life by addressing the person as a whole — not just the illness,” says Candice Quesnel, Palliative Services Manager at Chilliwack Hospice Society. “We are here to walk alongside people wherever they are in their journey. It’s never too early to consider palliative care. Our team provides comfort, support, and human connection every step of the way.”

Another essential program offered by Chilliwack Hospice Society is the Caregiver Connection Support Circle — a monthly peer support group designed specifically for those caring for a dying loved one. Caregivers are invited to share experiences, explore anticipatory grief, learn from one another, and access resources in a compassionate, understanding space.

“Caregiving can be both beautiful and challenging,” Quesnel notes. “This group provides emotional support and helps caregivers feel less isolated. It’s about creating a community where people feel heard, seen, and supported.”

Chilliwack Hospice Society provides these and many other palliative care support services at no cost and without the need for a referral. The organization is committed to ensuring individuals and families in Chilliwack and surrounding areas receive the care and support they need, when they need it most.

To learn more about palliative care support, visit www.chilliwackhospice.org.

Chilliwack Hospice Society is a community-based organization that helps individuals and families dealing with dying and death through support, education, and programs that promote wellness and healthy grieving.

At Cascade Hospice, our skilled palliative care support volunteers offer their time, presence, and empathy to those who are dying and to the families walking alongside them. They provide gentle companionship, a listening ear, and comfort during life’s most difficult moments.

Volunteers are also essential to our grief and bereavement support programs, caregiver support, and Relaxation Program — offering emotional support, wellness practices, and meaningful connection to those navigating loss or caregiving.

We also honour the dedicated volunteers at Thrifty Boutique, our vibrant social enterprise. They sort donations, assist customers, create beautiful displays, and help foster a welcoming shopping experience. Revenue from Thrifty Boutique partially funds all of Chilliwack Hospice Society’s programs and services, helping ensure we can continue to provide compassionate care for all who need it.

All our programs are offered free of cost to adults, youth, and children in Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, and neighbouring Indigenous communities. We accept new volunteer applications year-round at www.chilliwackhospice.org/volunteer. Volunteers supporting patients and clients complete our 35-hour Basic Hospice Training course.

To every volunteer: your kindness brings light, your care brings comfort, and your presence changes lives. Thank you for making waves where they matter most.

Chilliwack Hospice Society is a community-based organization that helps individuals and families dealing with dying and death through support, education, and programs that promote wellness and healthy grieving.

In addition to recognizing the growing needs in our community, the PieceMakers acknowledged the financial challenges that often accompany those needs. Their donation was made with the intention that it would support and strengthen our ongoing commitment to compassionate, community-based care.

Beyond financial support, the PieceMakers Quilting Guild also contributes in a deeply personal way—by donating handmade quilts throughout the year. These beautiful quilts are placed on the beds at Cascade Hospice Residence, offering warmth and comfort to those who are dying. After the death, the quilt is gifted to the surviving family as a keepsake — a lasting reminder of care, dignity, and compassion.

At Cascade Hospice, Chilliwack Hospice Society provides comfort care and skilled volunteer support to patients and their families. Our team offers presence, companionship, and practical help to those navigating the final days of life. The quilts from PieceMakers play a quiet but powerful role in that work.

“These quilts wrap our patients and families in comfort,” says Candice Quesnel, BSW, RSW, Palliative Services Manager at Chilliwack Hospice Society. “They represent the spirit of community care that makes Chilliwack such a special place.”

We are deeply thankful to the Chilliwack PieceMakers Quilting Guild for their kindness, generosity, and continued support. You make a difference.

Candice Quesnel

In her important role, Candice will oversee the training, support, and scheduling of our dedicated, skilled palliative care support volunteers at Cascade Hospice Residence, as well as providing essential support to palliative patients both in hospital and within the community. A key part of her position will also be to facilitate groupwork, with an emphasis on anticipatory grief and caregiver support, enhancing the services already offered by the Hospice Society‘s grief support programs.

Additionally, Candice is set to reintroduce vigil services, further enriching the care and support provided to individuals and families during the very last stages of life. Her new position marks a significant step in our commitment to delivering compassionate, empathetic, and comprehensive palliative care support services.