As a new volunteer, I am still very much in the learning phase.  I am practicing being in the present, active listening and group dynamics, as well as exploring meaningful activities for the group participants.
​- Kim Wilson-Wiles

 I have been a volunteer co-facilitator with the weekly palliative care peer support group since January 2022. I was interested in volunteering in this area due to my own personal experiences with palliative care support (friends and family), as well as the opportunity to use my professional skills as a social worker (working with people with chronic health conditions and disabilities) to improve individuals quality of life.
 ​
I enjoy the meaningful connections with our clients and observing their positive interactions with each other and support they give and receive.  Their caring and honesty in discussions is an honour to observe.  I also enjoy the support and guidance from the other co-facilitators and staff.

​I have been a HPC volunteer for nearly 3 years. I realized these clients desperately need someone to listen to them and show understanding; I know I do not have the skill sets or experience to resolve their issues.  I can however listen to them and also help them with tasks ( such as driving them) that will ease their burden.

I enjoy listening to my clients and understanding their views and seeing that it makes them feel better.  On rare occasions, I pose a few questions (not solutions) that may make my clients rethink their views.

I understand the perspectives of my clients with a non-judgmental stance. Prior to this, I had a view on how we should act in situations and tried to influence people around me.  
- Rajaratnam Satchithananthan

I think that the most important lesson I learned what that It was really possible to give back dignity and specks of livelihood and hope to someone no matter where there are in their battle with illness. I learned a lot about holding space quietly for someone and I didn’t know that it could mean that much. It is a very humbling work and it connects us to core values. I feel that our time is used in a service driven way towards people that really need an environment where they can breathe and find solace and we also learn a lot from them as well.
- Awa Blade

When I was in high school, I had the chance to volunteer in hospitals were I saw a lot of people willingly giving their time and dedication to the physical and mental wellbeing of others. Those simple acts of kindness resonated with me so much that I felt that I wanted to be that kind of person.
 
I enjoy being with my client a lot. I enjoy playing games with her, she is always very happy when she wins and tries her best. I feel that by welcoming me they allowed me to hone my communication and cultural listening skills. I like that I get to be more patient and understanding towards others their temperaments, views of the worlds and accept and respect them for that.

Recently, I visited a client at her home.  This was the 2nd client within the same family unit over a space of time.  When I arrived to do the home visit and assessment, the client reminded me that it was the one year anniversary of the death of her family member.  She said that I had been in the client’s home on the day of his death a year ago and  had assisted her mother and sister know that they could bathe the client’s body and that they could take their time in saying their goodbyes before they called the funeral home.  She said it was no coincidence that I came on the same day and that they were going to attend a special Mass for him after the assessment.  She added she felt it was his way of saying thank you. 
​
Our programs touch the lives of clients, their caregivers and families in their own individual journeys.
- Chrystalla Chew, Palliative Care Coordinator, Home Visiting and Day Hospice

My name is Chrystalla Chew, Palliative Care Co-coordinator in the Hospice Palliative Care team.    My three programs support clients namely, by matching them with a volunteer to visit in their home who provides social and emotional support or respite for their caregiver.  The two other support programs are our Peer-to-Peer Day Hospice Support Group and our Caregiver Peer-to-Peer Support Group.
​
One of our clients who recently attended the virtual Day Hospice group said this was the first time had she been able to interact with others in a long time via our virtual ZOOM group.  Our placement student Hisham Payamkulath and I observed her engaging and listening attentively.  Her partner said this was the first time he had had any time to himself where he could do something knowing our client was engaged with the volunteers and other clients. In this case, we went to the client’s home and provided the WiFi link.   Subsequently, I secured a loan tablet as well WiFi from Cedarbrae Library also on load so she can participate and also enjoy surfing the internet.