Fraser Valley Extension Project

The Growing Need

Thirteen years ago, a child with a life-threatening illness would have had nowhere to turn for the care offered at Canuck Place. Today, families from across BC can access a world-class program to cope with the greatest challenge any of us could face.

A recent Study commissioned to assess the need for the extension of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice pointed to the Fraser Valley as a critical region in need of urgent service enhancement:

Currently 46% of Canuck Place families live in the Fraser Valley
Future projections suggest that the Fraser Health region will be home to essentially half of all children living in BC
Canuck Place currently serves approximately 210 children per year, a number estimated to represent only 20-25% of the total population of children living with life-threatening illnesses

The conclusion drawn from the Study is that the Fraser Health region represents an important area to extend the Canuck Place program.

Meeting the Need - Our Plan

Canuck Place will build a 10 bed, 20,000 square foot hospice in Abbotsford, which will essentially double our capacity. One key factor in choosing this location is the relative proximity it offers to other communities in the Fraser Valley as well as the Interior, making the program available to children and families closer to their own homes, lessening the need for travel.

To make this vision a reality, $ 9.75 million must be raised.

Upon completion, the operations of the hospice will be phased in over 3-5 years, beginning with support groups and palliative care beds open during the day, then progressing to weekday and/or weekend openings, then 3-4 beds open 7 days per week, working incrementally to a fully operational 10 bed children’s hospice as funding is secured on an ongoing basis.

Canuck Place has teamed with two Abbotsford based organizations to model a ‘Campus of Care’. In addition to Canuck Place building a children’s hospice, the Abbotsford Hospice Society will construct an adult hospice, and Matthew’s House will build a long-term respite facility for children with chronic illnesses. The City of Abbotsford has agreed to a 99 year lease for $10/year and allow the three organizations to build on the city-owned property located at 32766 Marshall Road.

The three organizations agree there is significant potential for collaboration and partnership. They will operate independently but share a common interest in looking at ways to cooperate, share some services and ideally, lower overall costs.

How can you help?

Each child and family that has come to Canuck Place has left an imprint behind. But many more still need to be reached – so many of them in the Fraser Valley.

To learn more about how you can get involved or make a gift please email Michele Cadario, Managing Director of Marketing, Communications and Development, at mcadario@canuckplace.org or call 604 646 1340 or toll-free in BC 1 877 882 2288.

"We began going to Canuck Place when Matt was just 5 years old. The physical comfort and medical care offered to our son, and the support offered to Andrea and I is invaluable. All families living with these challenges would so greatly benefit from having access to Canuck Place – especially closer to home" - Doug, Canuck Place father from Abbotsford

Canuck Place Children's Hospice - a summary
Background information on the organization