(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

compassionate care

WATCH: Red Deer Hospice celebrates conclusion of 15,000 sq.ft. expansion

Oct 5, 2019 | 5:28 PM

The largest freestanding purpose built hospice in western Canada is officially open in Red Deer.

Red Deer Hospice Society cut the ribbon Saturday on its 15,000 square foot expansion which will it to grow operations by 60 per cent, or 100 more families each year.

The expansion comes in at $5.2 million, half of which still needs to be raised to pay off the society’s mortgage.

“After a year and a half of construction and years of planning and strategizing, it is truly remarkable to be here and to see the result of the hard work of so many people,” shared Wendi Ronspies, President of the Red Deer Hospice Society Board of Directors. “As a Board of Directors, we wanted to design space that would serve our community and this building truly will.”

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Ronspies also noted the relief of being far less likely to need to tell a family that there’s no space for their loved one.

The hospice has operated since 2005 with the cost of staying there covered by fundraising. The hospice does not receive money from the government, though it does get some funding from Alberta Health Services for operations. It costs approximately $560 per day for a person to stay at the Red Deer Hospice.

“We are truly fortunate to have such a special community resource available in Red Deer and we are also so grateful for the donors who helped make it a reality,” shared James McPherson, Chair of the Expansion Fundraising Campaign. “Today we have a lot to celebrate. Everyone who helped make this home a reality should be extremely proud of the difference they are making in our community.”

More information is at RedDeerHospice.com.