St. Joseph's Villa and Foundation

07/23/2025

Thank you to every single person who joined us for the House of Providence Picnic earlier this month! ☀️ It was a day to remember and one that beautifully reflected the heart of our mission here at St. Joseph’s Villa and Margaret’s Place Hospice.

Together with our residents, family members, staff, volunteers, and community partners, we created more than just a great event — we created lasting, meaningful memories. Whether you were making a splash at the dunk tank, being serenaded by Elvis, soaking up the sun with your loved ones, or enjoying the first taste of summer (and BBQ!), it was a beautiful celebration of everything that makes our Campus of Care so special.

We are thrilled to share some of these beautiful memories that were captured below. Thank you to our photographers that day, including Paul Wright! Please like, share, and tag us in your own photos from the Picnic so we can spread the joy around. We encourage you (and your friends and family!) to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with events and opportunities to get involved across our Campus.

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, gift-in-kind partners, and community supporters who helped make the Picnic such a success! Thanks to their continuing generosity we were able to keep this event free and accessible for everyone, building community and creating joy on our Campus. Please consider making a donation today and help us continue to create meaningful, inclusive experiences for all: www.sjvfoundation.ca/donate

Let’s continue celebrating our Campus of Care and our every single person that makes it such an incredible place to live and work. It’s these moments of shared joy that help build a stronger, more compassionate community right here in the heart of Dundas. Thank you for helping make this a truly unforgettable day! 🌞 See you again at next year's Picnic!

07/22/2025

The Knights of Columbus Club of Dundas have been long-time champions of our Campus of Care. Their annual Mums Fundraiser is a tradition that supports the work of Margaret’s Place Hospice. These vibrant, oversized mums are a beautiful way to support local and add a brilliant burst of fall colour to your home or garden.

For just $25, you can purchase a stunning 14” fall mum planter - vibrant, oversized, and full of seasonal colour. It’s a perfect way to support local, brighten your porch or garden, and give back to a place that means so much to our community. 💙

Pre-orders are required - to secure your mums:
📧 E-mail [email protected]
📞 or Call: 905-546-6219
💵 Cash or cheque accepted

🌼 Pick-Up Details:
🗓 Saturday, September 27
🕗 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 St. Augustine’s Parish, Dundas Parking lot - 58 Sydenham St.
✔️ Simply check in with volunteers when you arrive!

Please consider supporting this meaningful initiative - and help spread the word! Every planter sold helps support the programs and services that make a difference in the lives of our residents and their loved ones.

07/16/2025

💙 It’s Wishlist Wednesday at Margaret’s Place Hospice! 💙

Thank you to our community for continuing to support this simple but meaningful way to bring comfort and care to the families we serve. Each item on our list helps provide the small, thoughtful touches that make Margaret’s Place feel a little more like home - from a fresh cup of coffee, to a quick snack between visits, to a warm bowl of soup on a long day.

🛒 If you’re out shopping, consider picking up one or two of this week’s most-needed items:

This week’s Wishlist:
🍪 Individually Packaged Snacks (granola bars, single-serve chips, etc.)
☕️ Keurig K-Cup Pods
🥣 Chicken or Vegetable Soup Broth (Tetra Paks preferred)

Donations can be dropped off at the Margaret’s Place Hospice Reception Desk – 170 Ogilvie St., Dundas. If you include your purchase receipt, we’re happy to issue a charitable tax receipt.

💬 Have questions? Contact Sherri Johnston at [email protected].

Thank you for being part of the compassion and care that surrounds our hospice every day. Your generosity makes a real difference - one thoughtful gesture at a time. 💙

07/02/2025

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
Our Canadian Karaoke & Trivia Party hit all the right notes! 🎤🍁 It was so great to see both residents and staff getting up to sing their hearts out and show off their Canadian spirit. Huge thanks to our incredible Therapeutic Recreation team for bringing the fun from start to finish. It was definitely an eh-list event! 🇨🇦😄

07/01/2025

We are thrilled to be hosting our annual House of Providence Picnic tomorrow, Wed. July 2nd, from 12:00-4:00pm! The picnic brings together residents, family members, staff, volunteers, and community supporters to celebrate what makes our Campus of Care so special – compassion, care, and connection!

Since 1879, we’ve been proud to provide compassionate care to our local community and this event pays tribute to that legacy.

From live entertainment and a BBQ lunch to games, activities for ALL ages, and plenty of shared laughter - this day is all about creating meaningful memories together.

Community friends and supporters are welcome to join us throughout the day, but please note that on-site parking is extremely limited. Please consider walking over, taking public transit, or getting dropped off if you are joining in on the festivities!

Stay tuned for highlights and photos in the days to come!

07/01/2025

Compassionate care is something you feel - in a warm smile, a gentle hand, a quiet moment of connection.

This Seniors Month, we proudly joined our fellow St. Joseph’s Health System members to honour the wisdom, resilience, and experiences of older adults across the continuum of care.

Our residents shared their advice for living - and caring - with compassion:
💬 Learn what compassion really means
💬 Help those who are in need – don’t think about it!
💬 Surround yourself with people you care about

From acute care and hospital services, to home care, long-term care, and hospice - being part of SJHS means we can support people at every stage of life, no matter what care they need.

We invite you to watch this special video that highlights what compassionate care truly looks like across the SJHS system of care:

June is Seniors Month — a time to celebrate the lives, contributions, and well-being of older adults in our communities. At St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS)...

06/25/2025

🚗✨ Rev your engines - our Annual Car Show is BACK tonight from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Upper Parking Lots at St. Joseph’s Villa!

Come check out classic cars, cool rides, and connect with community members who love all things on wheels. Free to attend - bring a friend and enjoy the show! 🏁

06/22/2025

We’re honoured to share that Margaret’s Place Hospice has received the 2025 Hospice Innovation Award, presented at the Hospice Palliative Care Ontario Conference!

This provincial award celebrates community-based hospices in Ontario that are leading the way with thoughtful, creative, and forward-thinking approaches to care. We’re proud to be recognized for our Hospice Heartbeats program - a unique and deeply meaningful legacy initiative that embodies both the innovation and compassion at the core of hospice work.

Developed by Music Therapist Kyla Lance and led by Hospice Manager Jennifer Morritt, Hospice Heartbeats offers families something truly unique: the recorded heartbeat of their loved one, captured using a specialized music therapy stethoscope. These recordings are transformed into lasting keepsakes - whether a song, a piece of framed artwork, or even a tattoo - offering loved ones a tangible, enduring connection.

This deeply personal initiative creates meaningful opportunities for emotional connection, reflection, and remembrance. It gives families a creative and lasting way to honour their loved one’s life and to carry that connection forward through grief.
Hospice Heartbeats represents our commitment to care that is not only compassionate, but also innovative, adaptable, and responsive to the emotional and spiritual needs of each individual and their family. The impact of this program has already been profound, opening space for intimate moments, lasting memories, and comfort in the most difficult times.

Included in the award is a $10,000 contribution, which will allow us to continue growing and expanding the Hospice Heartbeats program - reaching more families and exploring new ways to offer comfort and memories through meaningful and creative legacy work.

We are grateful for this recognition and for the opportunity to continue exploring new ways to bring connection, comfort and dignity to those at end of life.
Thank you to Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and the Mount Pleasant Group for honouring this work and for championing innovation in hospice care.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.hpco.ca/mpg_innovation_award/

06/20/2025

“Learn what compassion is about. Help wherever and whenever.”
- Jacinta, 87, resident at St. Joseph’s Villa

At 87, Jacinta knows that compassion is more than a feeling - it’s something you do. Her advice reminds us that it’s not enough to mean well; real compassion calls us to show up, lend a hand, and support others in ways big and small.

Whether it's helping a neighbour, offering a kind word, or simply being present for someone who needs it - these everyday actions build the foundation of a caring community.

We see this spirit alive every day at St. Joseph’s Villa and Margaret’s Place Hospice - in the quiet dedication of staff, the thoughtful gestures between residents, and the volunteers who give their time with open hearts.

Through the voices of our residents, we’re reminded that - not just in what we say, but in how we choose to care, connect, and serve one another.

Follow along all month as we continue to share stories, photos, and reflections in honour of Seniors Month.

06/19/2025

🌈 Earlier this month, staff, residents, and volunteers gathered on our Campus of Care to mark the start of Pride Month.

While our Pride flag flies year-round as a symbol of visibility, dignity, and welcome, this gathering was a meaningful moment to come together in reflection and celebration. Our DEI information booth encouraged thoughtful conversations, and resident Maureen, a proud member of our DEI Committee, helped mark the occasion by cutting the cake.

Pride Month is a time to honour the diversity, resilience, and contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities across our teams, our residents and clients, and the communities we serve.

This event was one of many ways we live our values of dignity, respect, service, justice, responsibility, and enquiry and continue building on our commitment to ensure everyone feels safe, seen, and supported across our campus.

✨ "You are exactly who you should be. There is nothing more beautiful and powerful than someone who chooses to be themself."

06/17/2025

Love being outdoors? Looking for a meaningful way to give back? Margaret’s Place Hospice is launching a new Horticultural Therapy Program and we’re looking for Garden Volunteers to help it bloom!

Under the guidance of a Master Gardener and Horticultural Therapy Practitioner, volunteers will help care for and enhance the gardens at Margaret’s Place Hospice - outdoor spaces that offer peace, beauty, and connection to all who visit. Through seasonal planting, weeding, and watering, you’ll support a therapeutic environment that nurtures both the natural landscape and the emotional well-being of our community.

✨ Why volunteer?
💚 Flexible, short-term commitment
💚 Great experience for your resume or service hours
💚 Learn gardening and transferable life skills
💚 Meet new people
💚 Boost your mental well-being
💚 Feel a sense of purpose
💚 Support a program that promotes comfort and connection for our community

No experience needed - just a willingness to get your hands dirty and make a difference.

Interested? Reach out to Brianna Kennelly at Margaret’s Place Hospice to learn more or get involved! 🌼