Hospice Orillia has been named this year’s Community Builders Award winner for Health Care, a recognition that reflects the heart and soul they pour into supporting individuals and families during some of life’s most tender moments.
“I’m really surprised, actually,” said Amanda Tevelde, Communications, Fundraising and Community Relations Specialist at Hospice Orillia. “As a community hospice organization, we don’t often see this type of recognition. So to receive this award, it was unexpected and such a huge honour.”
Since 1989, Hospice Orillia has walked alongside people in our community as they navigate serious illness, end-of-life journeys and grief.
What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to meeting people exactly where they are, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
“What we do isn’t about asking people to come to us, it’s about going to them, wherever they are,” Tevelde explained. “That’s something really special, and I’m proud we can offer that kind of care.”
Whether it’s a home, apartment, long-term care residence or retirement setting, Hospice Orillia brings comfort to the doorstep.
Their logo, featuring a door with a cross, is a symbol of the many thresholds they cross each day to care for others.
Their services are offered free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors and community support.
From peer support groups and one-on-one counselling to more specialized programs like child loss, overdose-related loss and pregnancy and infant loss support, their bereavement offerings are both diverse and deeply personal.
“I’m most proud to be part of a team that adapts as our community changes,” said Tevelde. “Whether it's offering overdose-related grief support or helping someone record their life story through our legacy program; we listen, we respond and we meet people exactly where they are.”
Trooper, their gentle facility dog, and the equine therapy program for grieving youth add even more heart to the healing process.
For those nearing the end of life, Hospice Orillia’s Visiting Hospice Services provide meaningful care right at home.
This includes supportive counselling, volunteer companionship, complementary therapies and the Footprints Legacy Project, a special way to capture and preserve a person’s life story in a professionally bound book for loved ones to cherish.
In recent years, the team has continued to grow and evolve to meet changing needs.
Programs like Youth Equine Support, web and phone-based counselling and virtual memorial events ensure that care is always within reach, no matter the circumstance.
These thoughtful offerings have become essential ways to ensure connection, especially for those who might otherwise feel isolated in their grief.
They understand that grief is not one-size-fits-all and they honour each person’s story with care and confidentiality.
The team, made up of compassionate staff and volunteers, approaches their work not just as a job but as a calling.
“It shows us that what we’re doing isn’t just seen by those we support directly, it’s being felt across the community,” Tevelde said. “It really adds fuel to our daily work and reminds us that people do appreciate what we’re doing.”
Hospice Orillia also extends its care outward, staying actively engaged in community events and local partnerships.
Whether through sharing resources, attending service club meetings or simply showing up when someone needs a hand, they continue to be a quiet but powerful presence in the Orillia area.
“Our goal is to help the community understand that it’s okay to talk about death and dying,” Tevelde added. “The more we talk about it, the more we can prepare, support one another and make sure no one walks the journey alone.”
In a world that often rushes past sorrow, Hospice Orillia stands still, with open arms, an open heart and a simple message: You are not alone.
The Health Care Award is presented to an individual or group that has had an important impact on the health care of the community.
Congratulations to the team at Hospice Orillia!
This award is proudly sponsored by Happy At Home Support Services Inc.
