Aboyne Rural Hospice gets stamp of approval

ABOYNE – Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced on Jan. 27 that funding for the Aboyne Rural Hospice facility has been approved by the Ministry of Health.

The team of volunteers gathered at the Aboyne Library, who have been working for years on getting a rural hospice in Wellington County, breathed a sigh of relief as Rae made the announcement.

Family physician Dr. Sarah Gower became emotional as she thought of all the patients who would have benefitted from a hospice facility closer to home and the impact it would have had for them and their loved ones.

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“Offering compassionate, end-of-life care has been the goal for so many years,” she said.

“To think we will be able to do that down the road is overwhelming.”

Rae said the province has pledged $19.75 million in capital funding and $16.03 million in operational funding for 84 hospice beds across the province.

Although the Aboyne Rural Hospice requested funding for 10 beds, only six have been approved.

Rae said that’s pretty standard and once the facility is up and operating, funding for additional beds would be considered if the need is demonstrated.

He couldn’t say what the Aboyne hospice’s share of the overall funding will be, as that is still being negotiated.

Gower said organizers have raised $2.5 million since launching a capital campaign in 2023.

But they will soon launch another fundraising campaign, Back the Build, as much more will have to be raised locally – in the neighbourhood of $10 million, she estimated.

“There’s been incredible depth of support in the community for this project,” she said.

“People understand hospice and can see why it’s useful. The support so far has been unbelievable.”

“We are really excited we have the ability to build this ... to service all of the county,” said Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters.

“And I want to express my appreciation to others in the room.

"You have been the planners of this. I am very proud to know you. The whole community is very proud.”

The ministry is working with Aboyne Rural Hospice to complete early planning and design for the project.

Once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded, a construction schedule will be confirmed.

Gower said she doesn’t expect shovels in the ground for another year or two as officials work through the process.