Date: September 25, 2024
Published by: Markham Review
Evergreen Hospice offers compassionate care to individuals and families facing life-threatening illnesses, caregiving challenges, or the grief of losing a loved one. CEO Laura Lavallee and longtime volunteer Cindy Knowles reflect on their journeys of service and the impact Evergreen has in the Markham, Stouffville, and Thornhill communities.
Lavallee, who joined Evergreen in 2023, was drawn to its rich history and commitment to end-of-life care. She oversees programs such as in-home Hospice, Day Hospice, and Grief and Bereavement.
“I wanted to be part of an organization that honours the past while embracing growth and innovation,” Lavallee explains. “It’s a pivotal time for palliative, grief and bereavement care in Ontario, and I wanted to be part of the innovative shift.”
For Knowles, her connection to Evergreen began over a decade ago. Her strong sense of community involvement led her to volunteer at her church and then at Evergreen, where she organized a silent auction for the hospice.
“It grew from there,” she recalls. Initially scheduled for a brief four-week receptionist role, her commitment extended to eight weeks and then six years as an assistant office administrator. Reflecting on that time, she calls it the “best job of my life.” Since then, Knowles has continued to volunteer in any way she can, helping to support Evergreen’s mission.
Lavallee and Knowles agree that the most rewarding part of their work is witnessing the profound influence their work has on families during their most vulnerable moments.
Knowles says she “felt like a million bucks” when she consoled a grieving widow over the phone.
Lavallee shares a personal experience that drives her mission: When her dear friend Magda faced cancer, she lifted her spirits with light-hearted conversations and fun activities such as dancing in wig shops, wearing fur coats. “Magda received the dignified death she deserved, and that lesson guides everything we do at Evergreen,” Lavallee says.
Looking toward the future, Knowles highlights the need for a residential hospice in Markham. Currently, Evergreen volunteers go to people’s homes, speak to them on Zoom, at the office, or wherever they can meet. Evergreen currently has six palliative care doctors on its team.
Lavallee relates that they are thirty per cent funded by the government and rely on community members to pass their care forward, as well as donations and sponsorships.
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