Ground has finally been broken on a $10 million, 6 bed hospice to be built in Walkerton. “It is definitely a required facility. We need this structure so badly,” said Saugeen Hospice volunteer Board Chair, Carol Kraft. Construction will begin on the Saugeen Hospice this September. The centre will provide end of life care for hundreds of families from parts of Grey, Wellington, Bruce, and Huron counties. “We’re very excited about it. It’s got a lot going for it. It’s centrally located, so everybody can come from Mount Forest to Goderich, all over the area to a central location here,” said Ken Brown, volunteer vice-chair of the Saugeen Hospice Board. Brown was around at the beginning of the Saugeen Hospice, which has been in the planning stages for 11 years. Managing massive fundraising, regional politics, and provincial regulations has meant it’s been a long journey to breaking ground, but a worthwhile one, say hospice organizers, including Municipality of Brockton Mayor Chris Peabody, who has a very personal reason to support the Saugeen Hospice. “My wife was very sick with cancer. She wanted to stay at home. And we honored those wishes, but it was quite a struggle. I know that this type of care close by, because we just lived right across the field there, would have made a world of difference to our family 25 years ago,” said Peabody. Three Saugeen Hospice board members have had to use hospices for their dying loved ones outside of the region in recent months, including Julie Johnston. “The importance of being closer to home is paramount. Our region does have a long winter, and travel can be a barrier,” said Johnston, Saugeen Hospice’s Fund Development, and Operational Readiness volunteer. The six-bed hospice, with an emergency seventh bed available just in case, has raised $8.6 million of their $10 million fundraising goal to build the facility. Another $1.3 million will be required each year to cover operations, as the government covers no more than 50 per cent of yearly hospice costs in Ontario. “It ain’t over till it’s over. So, we need another $1.4 million. We’re hoping today will motivate people, now that they can see that we’re taking it serious,” said Brown, who has been part of planning the Saugeen Hospice since Day 1. “We’re not just talking anymore. We’re putting shovels in the ground.” “It is an absolutely essential part of the healthcare ecosystem. And we’re glad to fill that piece of the puzzle, right here in Walkerton,” said Peabody. “We will be open in 2028. And I would like to say that it will be mid-summer 2028, and if we can expedite things to get it open sooner, we will,” said Kraft.
