This is Hospice L&A’s 19th year serving Lennox and Addington area and what a year it has been. This organization has come a long way because of people like you in our community. Here's a little history to update you:

In 1990 a need for Hospice Care in the community was realized. The organization was formed and began to work out of the home of Ann Burrows, a volunteer Board member. The following were members of the First Board of Directors:

      • Ann Burrows – President
      • Linda Burke – Vice President
      • Rita Wales – Second Vice
      • Sue Meech – Secretary
      • Colin Wartman – Treasurer
      • Sally Armstrong
      • Jean Martin

Members at large were also established and included the following:

      • Dianne Readman
      • Monica Smith
      • Sue Walden
      • Murray Rogers
      • Dr. Liz Touzel
      • Dr. Tom Touzel

In 1997 a part-time Coordinator was hired to enhance the efficiency of Hospice L&A. It was also this year that the organization moved to the Lennox & Addington County General Hospital. In 2004, Hospice L&A moved to 91B Dundas Street East, Napanee

Over the next 6 years Hospice L&A came a long way with the support of the community. Some of the major occurrences were the following:

      • The development of a policy manual
      • Applied for and received a summer student
      • Development of the HLA Douglas Thompson Children’s Wish Fund
      • Received funding from the Ministry of Health
      • Part-time Coordinator became Full-time
      • Received a grant from Goodyear Napanee to develop a Lending Library of books and videos on topics such as Palliative Care, Saying Goodbye and Bereavement.

2003 was an important year for Hospice L&A. We received a 3 year grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation in the amount of $75,000. This grant will enable Hospice to further enhance services to the community to include bereavement care.

Our 20th Annual General Meeting was held in June and our current Board of Directors are:

1. Marg Baldwin - President
2. Jane O’Neill -Vice-President
3. Keith Chapman - Secretary
4. Marion Wannamaker
5. Pat Dafoe
6. Ellyn McEwen
7. Sandra Beaubien
8. Deb Van Vlack

Our current staff consists of Peggy Sunstrum as Executive Director and Cindy Crowson as Administrative Assistant..

As you can see, Hospice L&A has evolved over the past 18 years. However, the mission statement of Hospice L&A has not. It remains;

Hospice Lennox and Addington is a community based volunteer visiting service dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and their families who are facing the crisis of the terminal phase of their illness. Hospice Lennox and Addington will assist these people to remain in their own home longer or to die at home if they so choose. For individuals unable to remain at home, our volunteers will continue needed support throughout hospitalization.”