Hospice Orillia offers practical, emotional, and spiritual support to those in our community coping with advanced illness, death, and bereavement.
12/22/2025
𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀
We would like to extend a very happy holiday season to you and wish you the best for the new year ahead!
Please note our office will be observing adjusted hours over the holidays, with rotating staff availability:
Dec. 22nd & 23rd, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Dec. 24th, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Dec. 25th & 26th, Closed
Dec. 29th & 30th, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Dec. 31st, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Jan. 1st, Closed
Jan. 2nd, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Regular business hours will resume on January 5th, 2026.
Wishing you all the best and please know we look forward to being able to serve you in the New Year.
12/21/2025
❄️✨ Winter Solstice ✨❄️
As the longest night of the year softly embraces us, we pause to honour the stillness and the promise of returning light. May this Winter Solstice bring moments of peace, gentle reflection, and quiet renewal—today and throughout the season ahead.
Holding space for warmth, hope, and new beginnings. 💙
12/21/2025
🕯️ Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day 🕯️
Today, we pause to remember and honour the lives of people who have died while experiencing homelessness. Each name, each story, each life mattered.
As winter deepens, this day calls us to reflect on compassion, dignity, and our shared responsibility to care for one another—especially our most vulnerable community members. May we not only remember, but also commit to kindness, understanding, and action.
We hold space for those lost, for those still struggling, and for the hope of a future where everyone has a safe place to call home. 🕯️
12/20/2025
✨ A Gentle Holiday Reminder ✨
The most precious gift you can give yourself is the gift of well-being.
During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, may you remember to slow your pace, take a deep breath, and listen to what your heart and body need. Rest when you can. Say no when you need to. Create space for moments of quiet, comfort, and care.
Well-being doesn’t have to be wrapped or rushed—it begins with kindness toward yourself.
12/19/2025
🎄🧶 International Ugly Sweater Day | December 19, 2025 🧶🎄
Joy to the wool!
Today we’re sending warm wishes (and a few good laughs) your way as we celebrate International Ugly Sweater Day! We hope you’re wrapped up in your coziest, quirkiest, most wonderfully ugly sweater today.
This fabulous cartoon of our COPE Facility Dog, Trooper, shows him fully embracing the spirit of the season and reminds us that a little fun, warmth, and connection can go a long way—especially during the holidays.
So whether it’s bold, bedazzled, or downright outrageous, wear that sweater proudly and spread some cheer! 🧵❄️
12/18/2025
📢 Upcoming Registration Deadlines — Don’t Miss Out! 📢
Are you a healthcare provider looking to enhance your skills in palliative care? There are important registration deadlines approaching for several highly valuable education programs — secure your spot today!
🗓️ Programs with Upcoming Deadlines
Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care (FHPC) – A foundation course ideal for anyone new to hospice palliative care or looking to strengthen their core knowledge. (deadline: January 1st - https://nsmhpcn.ca/fhpc)
Comprehensive Advanced Palliative Care Education (CAPCE) – Dive deeper into advanced palliative care practices and enhance clinical confidence. (deadline: January 6th - https://nsmhpcn.ca/capce)
A Palliative Approach to Care with Dementia (APACD) – Focused on providing compassionate, person-centered care for people living with dementia. (deadline: January 14th - https://nsmhpcn.ca/apacd/)
Essential Pain Management (EPM) – Practical skills and tools for safe and effective pain management across care settings. (deadline: January 19th - https://nsmhpcn.ca/epm)
⏰ Don’t wait! Registration closes soon.
Secure your seat and invest in your professional development. These programs are perfect for nurses, PSWs, support staff, and care partners committed to quality palliative care.
Advance your practice. Support your team. Strengthen care for those who need it most.
12/17/2025
🎨🐘 Holiday Colouring Contest Winner Announced! 🐘🎨
We are so excited to share that Sylvie is the winner of our Holiday Colouring Contest!
Thank you to all the wonderful children who took the time to colour, create, and share their beautiful artwork with us. Every entry brought smiles to our faces and helped spread a little extra joy this holiday season.
Sylvie will be taking home her very own stuffed Ellie the Elephant — a special keepsake to celebrate her creativity. 💙
From all of us at Hospice Orillia, thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this contest such a heartwarming success. Wishing you and your families a joyful and cozy holiday season!
12/16/2025
Special Gifts for Someone Who Is Bereaved
When someone is grieving, the most meaningful gifts are often those that offer comfort, nourishment, and a lasting way to remember a loved one. Simple, thoughtful gestures can bring reassurance during a difficult time.
Here are a few heartfelt ideas to consider:
🤍 Sharpie Custom DIY Plate
A plain dinner plate can become a cherished keepsake. Personalize it with a favourite quote, meaningful words, a treasured photo, or even a beloved family recipe—creating something that can be used or displayed as a reminder of love and connection.
🤍 Memorial Ornament
A memorial ornament offers a gentle way to honour a loved one’s memory. Whether displayed seasonally or year-round, it becomes a meaningful moment of remembrance and reflection.
🤍 Homemade Meals
Comfort food can be one of the most caring gifts during grief. Dishes like lasagna, mac & cheese, and tomato soup provide warmth and nourishment when cooking feels overwhelming. Packaging your homemade meal in a thrifted container also makes it one less thing they need to worry about as they can keep it for future use.
To make this even easier, we’ve included recipe cards with clear, step-by-step instructions in the graphics, so these meals can be prepared with confidence and care.
There is no perfect gift for grief—only thoughtful ones. What matters most is the compassion and love behind the gesture.
12/15/2025
Reminder: Pop by the Orillia Public Library Today 💛
If you’re downtown Orillia today, we invite you to stop by the Orillia Public Library and say hello to Ashley, our Volunteer Coordinator, who will be on hand until 1:00 p.m. today with free Memory Tree envelopes for anyone in the community.
Introduced during our 2025 Candles of Remembrance ceremony, Memory Tree envelopes are simple, heartfelt keepsakes created to offer comfort during the holiday season.
Inside each envelope is a card where you can write a message or memory for the person you are missing. You may choose to hang it on your Christmas tree or place it somewhere meaningful in your home—a gentle way to honour their presence during the holidays.
✨ No registration required. Just pop in, pick up an envelope, and take a quiet moment for yourself and your heart.
📍 Today until 1:00 p.m.:
Orillia Public Library
36 Mississaga St W
🗓️ Additional library pickup times are listed in the graphics.
📍 Ongoing pickup:
Hospice Orillia Office
Orillia Common Roof, 169 Front St. S.
Monday–Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
On behalf of Hospice Orillia, NSMHPCN, and PILO NSM, we extend our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah.
May the Festival of Lights bring peace, reflection, and hope, and may the glow of the menorah remind us of the power of compassion, community, and caring for one another.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Hanukkah filled with light, love, and meaningful moments. ✨
12/13/2025
Memory Tree Envelopes - Additional Pickup Location Added
During our 2025 Candles of Remembrance ceremony, we introduced our Memory Tree envelopes—simple, heartfelt keepsakes created to offer comfort throughout the holiday season.
We are pleased to share that these free envelopes are now available for anyone in the community.
Inside each envelope is a card where you can write a message or memory for the person you are missing this holiday season. You may choose to hang it on your Christmas Tree or place it somewhere meaningful in your home—a gentle way to continue honouring their presence in your life.
No registration is needed. Just stop by, pick up an envelope, and take a moment for yourself and your heart. 💛
Available for pickup:
Hospice Orillia Office, located at the Orillia Common Roof, 169 Front St. S.
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Orillia Public Library, 36 Mississaga St W
Dec. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Dec. 18th 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Registration Now Open - Canadian Serious Illness Conversations
NSMHPCN is proud to be offering the free online workshop, Canadian Serious Illness Conversations
This essential training is designed for healthcare professionals who want to enhance their ability to have compassionate, patient-centered conversations with individuals, families, and caregivers facing serious illness.
The program empowers professionals with the skills to navigate complex discussions around goals, values, and wishes—ensuring that care decisions are aligned with what matters most to the individual.
What’s included:
- A self-learning module to get you started
- A facilitated session to deepen your understanding and practical application
- Guidance in using the Serious Illness Conversation Guide developed by Ariadne Labs and Pallium Canada
We are excited to announce an upcoming session of the Canadian Serious Illness Conversations program, taking place on February 12th!
This essential training is designed for healthcare professionals who want to enhance their ability to have compassionate, patient-centered conversations with individuals, families, and caregivers facing serious illness.
The program empowers professionals with the skills to navigate complex discussions around goals, values, and wishes—ensuring that care decisions are aligned with what matters most to the individual.
What’s included:
- A self-learning module to get you started
- A facilitated session to deepen your understanding and practical application
- Guidance in using the Serious Illness Conversation Guide developed by Ariadne Labs and Pallium Canada
Join us to learn how to create meaningful, person-centered care plans that reduce confusion and offer clarity during challenging times.
Don’t miss out—register today and take the first step towards improving communication and care for those facing serious illness. https://nsmhpcn.ca/csic
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Hospice Orillia offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to those in our community coping with advanced illness, death and bereavement. Our volunteers and staff serve clients and their loved ones of all ages and backgrounds with compassion and respect, while honouring their choices and supporting them through their life journey.
We believe that death is a part of life, a rite of passage. There is much that can be done to help individuals and their families face this time with dignity and quality in their lives. Each person is unique and his or her distinctness will be respected within an atmosphere of confidentiality.
Mission / Vision / Philosophy
Mission: Hospice Orillia offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to those in our community coping with advanced illness, death and bereavement. Our volunteers and staff serve clients and their loved ones of all ages and backgrounds with compassion and respect, while honouring their choices and supporting them through their life journey.
Vision: Hospice Orillia will be recognized as a leader in both providing and advocating for Hospice Palliative Care services within our community. We will enhance the awareness and understanding of the need for these services through education, collaboration and community involvement.
Philosophy: We believe that death is a part of life, a rite of passage. There is much that can be done to help individuals and their families face this time with dignity and quality in their lives. Each person is unique and his or her distinctness will be respected within an atmosphere of confidentiality.
Inclusion: Hospice Orillia is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, can contribute fully, and have equal opportunities. Hospice Orillia’s programs, services and opportunities will be accessible regardless of age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, receipt of public assistance, record of offences, s*x, or s*xual orientation.
