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This article shines a spotlight on Canuck Place Children's Hospice, a Nicola Wealth charitable partner, and the profound impact they have on children and families throughout British Columbia and the Yukon.
Can you describe Canuck Place's mission and the core values that guide your organization's work?
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice provides innovative, interdisciplinary clinical care in our hospices, in community hospitals, and in families’ homes throughout B.C and the Yukon.
The compassionate experts at Canuck Place care for children aged 0 to 19 with progressive, life-threatening illnesses. We offer family support, respite care, management of pain and symptoms, a provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, music and recreation therapy, education and art, grief and bereavement counselling, and end-of-life care. All at no cost to families.
Our goal is that all newborns, children, youth, and their families living with progressive, life-threatening conditions will benefit from Canuck Place compassion, knowledge, and holistic clinical practices in pediatric palliative care.
Canuck Place is committed to a team approach that is inclusive and supports diversity, compassion and connection, quality and safety, embracing life, and accountability.
How has Canuck Place made a tangible impact on the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families in our community?
Canuck Place patients are the most medically complex and ill children in the province and because of generous partners, like Nicola Wealth, we ensure families have special moments. Pediatric palliative care addresses serious medical conditions, including genetic disorders, cancer, prematurity, neurologic disorders, heart and lung conditions, and others. It relieves the symptoms of these diseases, such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression. In short, it helps the child and the family improve their quality of life.
On average, a child is in Canuck Place care for six years, and their family on the bereavement program for three years. That is an incredibly difficult road for a family to journey for a decade. For parents in particular, dealing with the complex medical system can be a difficult and troubling task. Many seriously ill children have several medical providers taking care of them, and receive treatment in more than one location. This can add to parents feeling overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information they are given. Parents also struggle with making the “right” choice for their child and family. These decisions can range from practical issues—like whether to send a child to school during medical treatments—to more complicated ones about which medical treatments to try. By spending time getting to know the patient and family, the Canuck Place clinical care team can help them make decisions that are in line with their goals and values. Getting the right support for families is vital.
Could you share a specific success story or heartwarming example that highlights the difference Canuck Place has made in a family's life?
Premia Family
When a family embarks on the journey of parenthood, they are not prepared for the unimaginable—the earth-shattering news that their child has a life-threatening diagnosis.
Sam and Helen Premia were faced with difficult decisions about their daughter Angelina’s care before they even had the chance to meet her. Angelina was born with a rare neurodevelopmental genetic condition called Oral Facial Digital Syndrome - Type 1, which is classified as the most severe of eight different categories for this condition.
Angelina was introduced to Canuck Place at 18 years old when her family received the devastating news that she also had chronic kidney failure, a complication related to her genetic disorder. Helen and Sam lovingly made the decision to pursue compassionate comfort care for Angelina, prioritizing her quality of life and making memories together as a family. The Canuck Place team supported the whole family at home, as they navigated Angelina’s rapidly changing condition, from helping with her dietary needs and medication support, to pain management and ensuring she was comfortable.
“This was the hardest decision we have ever had to make. The Canuck Place team was very professional, caring, and gave us all the information, helping us as we were trying to process everything. They made us feel very comfortable, walked us through all the options, and were very patient with us,” explains Sam and Helen.
Canuck Place also helped create cherished memories for the whole family, including her sisters Hanna and Sharon. They made keepsakes like molds of Angelina’s hands and professional photos of her handprint. “When the Canuck Place team came to capture Angelina’s fingerprints, it was so important and beautiful for our family to be a part of the process and hold her hands,” says Hanna. It was only after receiving her fingerprint in a necklace following her passing that I can truly say how cherished that piece is. It brings me comfort knowing I have a little piece of Angelina physically with me still.”
“Angelina was such a spirited, loving, hilarious soul, and a fighter by nature. Her laugh and smiles were absolutely infectious and despite being non-verbal, she was always able to express herself so clearly, with a smile on her face and a hug for everyone around her. She was the sweetest little sister anyone could have ever asked for.”
Toews Family
Canuck Place Parents Marie and Wes Toews received the heartbreaking news of a Trisomy 18 diagnosis during Marie’s pregnancy in 2022. Trisomy 18, also known as Edward’s syndrome, is a chromosomal disorder caused by having an extra copy of chromosomes in the cells. In their time of need, Canuck Place emerged as a steadfast support for the Toews, providing compassionate complex care and helping them create cherished memories with their daughter, Sophia.
The news of Sophia’s diagnosis plunged Marie and Wes into a world of uncertainty. However, their introduction to Canuck Place nurse practitioner, Camara van Breemen was life-lifting for them. Van Breemen’s calming presence, knowledge and experience absorbed some of their shock and helped prepare them for both the possibilities and hopes. Together, they created a unique care plan that accurately reflected Sophia’s diagnosis and the family’s values in caring for her through end-of-life.
Van Breemen and the Canuck Place clinical team provided the Toews with information and education about Sophia’s condition as well as available resources on how to take care of her medical needs. Counsellors and support staff offered emotional and psychosocial support to help them navigate their feelings, fears and hopes, while grieving the loss of their sweet Sophia. Canuck Place nurses and physicians also worked closely with the Toews to assist in finding the necessary medical support in their hometown on Vancouver Island. Canuck Place’s community-based care approach and advanced care planning ensured that the Toews family could receive the support they needed at home, in the hospital and even virtually, without any financial burden.
“We visited Canuck Place for medical respite care while they taught us how to care for Sophia,” explains Marie. “This skill-building allowed us to help Sophia thrive more at home, which was very important to us, and the Canuck Place team continued to support us in our home for the rest of Sophia’s life.”
Sophia’s life may have been short, but her impact was profound. Canuck Place recognizes the importance of creating meaningful moments and memories for families on program, ensuring a child’s life would forever be cherished. Canuck Place recreation therapists took special care to capture precious moments through making foot molds and a pendant with Sophia’s footprint, allowing the Toews family to cherish and hold onto these memories for a lifetime.
Canuck Place guides families through the darkest of times and helps them find solace, strength and joy along the way. Through their comprehensive care, emotional support and commitment to creating precious memories, Canuck Place care has a profound impact on families like the Toews, facing unimaginable challenges.
“When we first got Sophia’s diagnosis, the weight of responsibility to navigate that on our own, was a lot,” Wes explains.
The story of the Toews family is just one among many that illustrate the transformative impact Canuck Place has on families facing similar circumstances. Canuck Place continues to be a lifeline for families who find themselves in the midst of medical complexities, providing comprehensive care and support from diagnosis and beyond. By offering compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of each family, Canuck Place ensures that no family walks this challenging journey alone.
Nicola Wealth has been honoured to support Canuck Place. In your perspective, could you share how this partnership has played a role in enhancing your organization's success and impact?
Through the generosity of Nicola Wealth, their employees, and John and Claire Nicola, Canuck Place has increased capacity to provide care for children with complex life-threatening illnesses. John Nicola was also Chair of the Board for Canuck Place, and his exceptional leadership provided strategic support during a challenging time for the organization.
Nicola Wealth has partnered in care for children and families at Canuck Place through a diverse number of initiatives, including; employee giving through Nicola Wealth Gives Back, sponsorship of events like the Canuck Place Adventure Race, Gift of Time Gala and as a match donor for the annual Light a Life holiday campaign. Additionally, Nicola Wealth supported a match for a Canuck Place sibling, Emily Epp, who, at 17, swam the English Channel to raise funds for care. Because of Nicola Wealth’s support, they have increased community partners and introduced new friends to Canuck Place, expanding the opportunity for more children and families in B.C. and the Yukon to receive care. Nicola Wealth employees also actively engage on event committees, contributing their time and expertise to the success of Canuck Place events.
What are some of the key programs or services that Canuck Place provides to families, and how do they address the unique needs of each child and their family?
Dealing with a life-altering diagnosis can be an overwhelming and isolating experience. Canuck Place offers a wide range of services, including medical respite care, pain and symptom management, recreation and music therapy, education and art, grief and bereavement counselling, and end-of-life support.
Canuck Place provides care through our two hospice locations in Vancouver and Abbotsford, as well as community-based and in-hospital care consultations, which include the 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, in-hospital, in-home, and virtual care. Since 2017-18 Canuck Place has seen a 131% increase in pediatric palliative care consults with families and healthcare providers in the community (1,734 to 4,014 consults).
The needs of Canuck Place children and families are evolving, and through our collaborative research with families, we know we need to provide more choices for families. Specifically, a choice to have care in their own home to make the most of the time they have left with their child.
In response to patient and families’ needs, Canuck Place started piloting an in-home Enhanced Community Care Program in 2018. The Enhanced Community Care Program is offered province-wide and is an essential part of Canuck Place’s outpatient community support. Canuck Place nurse practitioners provide in-home care to their most vulnerable patients who are close to end of life.
The Canuck Place Enhanced Community Care team supports the child and family in dealing with the unpredictable nature of many life-limiting pediatric conditions, helping them adjust to functional decline, increasing dependence, distressing physical symptoms and end-of-life care.
“The opportunity I have to visit people in their homes across the province is a gift,” says Canuck Place Nurse Practitioner, Camara van Breemen. “I love knocking on the door, being welcomed in, holding their child and talking not only about the things that aren’t going well, but about the gifts they have.”
In-home care looks different from day-to-day, family-to-family, based on the unique needs of the child and the trajectory of their illness. Canuck Place nurse practitioners are available 24-7 for families, providing in-home care visits for pain and symptom management, phone calls, memory making mementos, and end-of-life support.
Can you discuss the support, resources, or services that are offered to grieving families who have lost a child, and how they help them navigate this difficult journey?
Canuck Place supports families in finding the courage to face the unknown. On average, parents and siblings are on the Canuck Place counselling program for three years following the death of their child. The illness and death of a child is a life-altering experience. The complex and ever-changing emotional, spiritual and psychosocial needs can seem insurmountable and overwhelming to children, and the family members who love them. Canuck Place counsellors understand this, and are trained to help families cope with the most challenging situations.
The Canuck Place counselling programs include music and play therapy, one-on-one and family counselling, sibling counselling, bereavement and spiritual care counselling, and social work. We also provide opportunities for community connection through sibling and parent support groups, bereavement retreats, and annual events connecting families. Canuck Place takes a client-centred approach, respecting the child and family’s wishes and building on innate strengths in order to help them adjust to each stage of the illness and beyond. We empower them to make difficult decisions, and offer self-care tools, advocacy, compassion and support.
Our bereavement program helps families rebuild their lives following the devastating loss of their beloved child. We help them find the courage to face one of life’s most unimaginable events, and we walk with them through that most profound path of bereavement and loss, honouring each in their unique journey. Through our counselling programs, we offer our hands and hearts to the families we serve; helping them find hope in the midst of despair, and letting them know they are not alone. Families come to us with deeper needs—meaning, purpose, love, sense of being understood, belonging, connection, and hope. We support families to strengthen the bonds and attachments with families to be together in hard times.
“Canuck Place’s counselling team hold the paradox of holding and being with the pain the families are in, yet also being alive to their own lives. The joy, love and connection comes from a deeper place when we can be stewards of the pain that our families go through. Canuck Place counsellors help families shift their focus to what they can do. Bring it into the present moment. To appreciate and connect with what is happening right now. Families feel overwhelmed by anxiety and we support them to take some focus away from that to the present moment and help them understand they can manage what is happening.” – Deborah Davison, Canuck Place Counsellor
In B.C. and the Yukon, Canuck Place is the only provincial specialized bereavement care provider for families experiencing childhood deaths. In 2022-23 Canuck Place provided 3,264 counselling sessions.
Can you share any upcoming projects, events, or initiatives that will further enhance Canuck Place's impact on the community?
a) Light a Life at Canuck Place
At Canuck Place, all lives are precious, no matter how long they shine. This holiday season, light a life at Canuck Place and help short lives shines bright. From now until December 31 your donation will be triple matched thanks to a group of generous partners: Nicola Wealth, Helen Edwards, and the Douglas C Gordon Family.
b) Serious Illness Conversation Guide – Pediatrics©
There may be nothing more disconcerting for the parents of a terminally ill child to feel they are being left out of important decisions about their child’s care and their own wellbeing at a very difficult time in their lives. Pediatric clinicians will often simply tell families what’s happening to their child and what the care plan will be without providing an opportunity for open, two-way communication. With your support, Canuck Place developed SICG-Peds© to train clinicians in the art of communication. Since 2018, over 700 clinicians have been trained globally.. Camara van Breemen, a nurse practitioner and enhanced community care lead at Canuck Place, notes it’s absolutely essential for clinicians working with serious pediatric illness to have competencies in communication. “Complex communication is a skill and a competency that takes time, energy and investment by the clinician to master. We need to know how to communicate support and help parents and children make decisions about what is good care and what isn’t good care,” said Camara. As part of the Family Engagement Model, the organization included family members as teachers with four Family Faculty Trained to deliver SICG-Peds©. “We wanted participation by parents who had had a seriously ill child and experienced the death of a child,” said Camara. “These are mothers who have had many challenging conversations in healthcare. Having them come on as faculty giving clinicians direct feedback was very powerful.” Sarah Ho is one of the four Canuck Place parents. Her son Mitchell died in 2008. He was 11. Being part of the training team gives her the opportunity to contribute a personal perspective to the workshops.
“When someone takes the time to ask what’s important to my family, and wants to know a bit more about my son who is nearing the end of his life, all of a sudden that empowers me as a parent to have my voice heard and to speak out about what’s important to me. It allows us to move forward in less of a stressful crisis management mode and develop a better care plan,” said Sarah.
c) Canuck Place global knowledge translation for the benefit of seriously ill children everywhere
Canuck Place shares knowledge of what we have learned from kids and families in B.C. and the Yukon with clinicians in countries where 80% of young people will die from a serious illness or cancer. This past year, Canuck Place registered nurse, Melanie Hameluck, nurse practitioner Camara van Breemen, and Canuck Place physician, Dr. Natasha Datoo travelled to Nepal and India in partnership with Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration. Canuck Place clinicians provided hands-on mentorship lectures, and some smaller teaching sessions to nurses and doctors on the subjects of comfort care with oncology patients, symptom management, play therapy during procedures, approach to care and pain relief, assessing/treating pain, comfort holds, non-pharmacological pain relief, and having difficult conversations with children and families with the Canuck Place Serious Illness Guide - Pediatrics© (SICG-Peds©).
d) Canuck Place Research Initiative Pediatric Palliative Care Innovation
Pediatric palliative care differs from adult care, with different conditions, care, and trajectory. That’s why the Canuck Place Research Initiative focuses on longitudinal studies of children with life-threatening illnesses, epidemiology of children with these conditions, and outcomes of care. It also looks at how pain and symptoms are assessed and managed, and how non-verbal children with neurological impairment experience care.
The Canuck Place Research Initiative is part of a national, interdisciplinary network of clinicians and researchers. Pediatric palliative care has become an innovative field through the leadership of Canuck Place medical director, Dr. Hal Siden, the principal investigator of the Siden Lab; B.C. Children’s Health Research program, and Canuck Place. We’re grateful to donors, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and PedPalASCNet for supporting this research since 2004. This past year the Research Initiative published over 10 research findings, and engaged in over 25 research projects with the aim to improve the quality of care for children, youth, and their families living with life-threatening conditions. As a global leader in pediatric palliative care, the Canuck Place Research Initiative is positioned to provide leadership in the knowledge dissemination and education of clinicians and researchers to benefit the children and families tragically confronted with fragility, uncertainty, grief and loss when managing a serious childhood illness.
- 48 pediatric palliative care presentations by CPCH clinical staff to provincial, national and global audiences fulfilling CPCH mandate to share knowledge for the benefit of seriously ill children everywhere.
- 10 Research Publications
- 25 Research Projects improving the quality of care for children and families
- 44 Clinical Trainees, including: Medical Residents, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowships, student nurses and Research Initiative Trainees
When you volunteer your time or contribute to Canuck Place, you play an integral role in supporting the journey of a child and their family, reminding us all of our collective responsibility to guide one another through life's challenges. Canuck Place is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for infants, children, and youth by minimizing suffering and promoting well-being. Together with you, we prioritize the connection and partnership we share with children and their families as a potent source of healing amidst pain and uncertainty.
Our team is unwaveringly focused on our mission: to provide interdisciplinary care that celebrates the uniqueness of each child and cherishes their lives, whether they are measured in hours, days, weeks, or years. We extend our deepest gratitude to you for being an essential part of our mission and for helping us reach every family caring for a child with a life-threatening illness in B.C. and the Yukon, ensuring that no one has to navigate this challenging journey alone.
How can individuals and other organizations in the community get involved and support Canuck Place's mission?
There are so many ways to support children and families in need across B.C. and the Yukon. Financial gifts are always welcome at canuckplace.org
There are many ways to support Canuck Place and give short lives the gift of great days.
Corporate Philanthropy: Businesses large and small make it possible for Canuck Place to deliver complex care. Because of corporate generosity, we give more than 871 children and families across B.C. and the Yukon the chance to make lasting memories. Corporate support has direct impact—just ask Nicola Wealth!
Volunteering: As a Canuck Place volunteer, you help families create lasting memories. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Without this dedicated group, we couldn’t provide the exceptional care and comfort families count on. From baking cookies to helping a child with a craft project, you can ensure short lives are lived to the fullest. Lean more about our volunteer program.
Donate Stocks: When you donate stocks, you can support Canuck Place in a tax-savvy way—and your donation goes further than if you sold the shares and donated cash. That’s a bigger impact to help support children with a life-limiting illness, and a bigger impact on the families who love them.
Leave a legacy by leaving a gift in your will: One of the easiest ways to give is to leave Canuck Place a legacy. To get started, make your intentions clear in your Will.
Become a monthly donor: Monthly donations are essential for Canuck Place. These regular contributions are the only gifts we can plan for. If we can plan, we can expand our clinical programs to communities and families throughout B.C. and the Yukon as well as manage a child’s pain, provide respite, or offer hope. Regular, predictable funding is foundational for meeting the growing need.
When you support Canuck Place, you ensure pediatric palliative care is made possible for over 871 children and families. Approximately 4% of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice annual operating budget comes from the Canucks for Kids Fund, the charitable arm of the Vancouver Canucks, the remainder is raised by Canuck Place through the generosity of individuals, corporate donors, the Province of British Columbia and hosting Canuck Place events.
