Nelson & District Hospice Society serves Nelson, Kaslo & the East Shore
East Shore A
ferry boarded at Balfour takes you on a scenic 35 minute voyage
to the shores of Kootenay Bay. There you will find the
other communities of Riondel, Crawford Bay and Gray Creek. We
are a remote rural area where the nearest hospital or police
station is in Creston - 80 kilometers away or in Nelson. We
have a medical clinic in Riondel with a visiting doctor 2 days
a weekend. However
remote though, we who live here have a fierce and devoted loyalty
to the land and the people and will do anything to stay, whether
that is creating our own livelihood or building the organizations
we need to meet our needs. Elk hang out in the local swamp,
cougars cross the paths of the local golf course, bear and deer
are plentiful and the quiet at night is almost loud. It
is literally heaven on earth.
A Brief History One
evening a small group of concerned people gathered in a living
room, sipped tea, and talked about the need for hospice services. There
had been a recent death in the community and others were experiencing
grief over losses in their own lives. "Kitchen table meetings" are
a way that many organizations and societies have originated on the
East Shore. Nelson & District Hospice Society initiated services here in 1995 and we now operate as part of the organization. In
2003 we were able to hold a 10-week volunteer training course
here. During Christmas we have our annual "Tree
of Remembrance" at our local Credit Union and each May we organize the "Hike for Hospice". In addition, workshops are offered to the community
on end of life issues and awareness.
' ...I feel very fortunate to have been able
to take the Hospice volunteer training program. After ten
classes with an array of wonderful teachers, I have more and better
skills to help others deal with the complicated practical, social
and spiritual issues surrounding death..." S.H.
