Canuck Place Children's Hospice

History and Mandate
Canuck Place opened its doors in 1995 as the first free standing children’s hospice in North America. Today it is recognized globally as a leader in pediatric palliative care sharing knowledge, expertise and research regionally, nationally and internationally to assist in the further development of best practices in this field.
Canuck Place offers a comprehensive continuum of care to over 350 children and teens with life-threatening illnesses and their families throughout British Columbia. The unique program offers world-class health care within a home-like environment. With comfortable surroundings, personalized programs, caring professional staff and dedicated volunteers, it is a place for children and families to come in their time of need.
Whether a life is measured in days, weeks, or months, children deserve the opportunity to learn, develop and grow. Canuck Place encourages each child to ‘embrace life’ and believes in enhancing the quality of whatever time a child may have left by empowering them to live fully and joyfully.

Unique Programs
Through all stages of a child’s illness, an individual program is designed to meet the needs of each family.
Family Support and Respite Care - 24 hour in-house care on a temporary basis for a child with or without the family staying providing opportunities for counselling support, rest and renewal for caregivers. Respite visits also provide an opportunity for ongoing evaluation of a child's health.
Expressive Therapies – music, art, play and recreational therapy are offered to encourage self-expression and foster communication throughout a child’s illness.
Pain & Symptom Management - doctors and nurses provide 24-hour in-house care aimed at managing the adverse physical and emotional symptoms of a child’s illness or the side effects of treatment.
End-of-Life Care - involves comprehensive services, including counselling and 24-hour doctor and nursing care for children whose life expectancy is measured in days to weeks.
Grief and Bereavement Counselling - for the family from the early stage of diagnosis and extending throughout the progression of the illness and after the child dies.
Nursing & Medical Consultation – 24-hour 1-800 number available for families, nurses, doctors and other care professionals to consult with doctors and nurses at Canuck Place throughout all stages of a child’s illness.

Funding
In 2007, Canuck Place received 27% of its funds from the BC Government, 20% from the Vancouver Canucks, and the remaining 53% was raised through fundraising activities relying on the generosity of individuals, corporations and various organizations. Over 80% of funds raised goes directly to patient care
which is available to families at no cost.
The Hospice currently has 9 beds and 4 family suites at the Matthews Avenue location.

The Growing Need
The demand for the Canuck Place program continues to rise. Recent studies estimate that the Hospice is only reaching 20-25% of the current need in BC. To extend its reach, Canuck Place is working with stakeholders in Kelowna, Victoria and the Fraser Valley to enhance services such as counseling and support groups in those locations.

For more information, please visit our website www.canuckplace.org.