Aging Well At Home: Be Prepared

On June 25th, In Collaboration with the Gateway Community Health Center, the Heart of Hastings Hospice presented the Aging Well At Home: Be Prepared speaker session featuring guest speaker Nadine Valk at the Tweed Agricultural Building. The event featured six other guest speakers as well including our own Kaitlyn Erwin, Kendal Robinson from Gateway, Hans Loewing and Elenor Marano from Community Advocacy Legal Clinic, Monique Allore from Community Care Centre Hastings, and Jillian Bradford-Thompson from Ontario Health at Home.

Speaker-Led Table Talks at the event

The event started off with registration, refreshments and opening remarks from our guest speaker which then lead into a 1 hour presentation, and finally concluded with speaker-led table talks. The guest speakers rotated between all six tables and spent 15 minutes at each during the event which allowed everyone to get to hear what each speaker's organization offered.

Resources provided by The Heart of Hastings Hospice

At the venue there was also plenty of resources including pamphlets, brochures, books, business cards, and more provided by the speakers and other organizations and businesses around Central Hastings, which attendees took full advantage of to keeps themselves well informed about their community resources.

Before leaving the door prizes for attending were given away and everyone received a swag bag. We are hoping to host another event similar to this in the future so please stay tuned.

Join Us for Hike for Hospice 2026: Walking Together with Purpose

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, our community will come together once again for one of the most meaningful events of the year—Hike for Hospice.

Hosted at the beautiful O'Hara's Mill Homestead in Madoc, Hike for Hospice is much more than a walk. It is a

day of remembrance, celebration, connection, and hope. Every step taken helps support the compassionate programs and services provided by The Heart of Hastings Hospice, ensuring that no one in our community faces end-of-life, caregiving, or grief alone.

Each year, families, friends, neighbours, and supporters gather to honour loved ones who have touched their lives. Some walk in memory of someone they have lost. Others walk in support of someone currently facing a life-limiting illness. Many simply come together to ensure hospice care remains available for everyone who needs it.

This year’s event, proudly presented by InspiAir, promises to be a wonderful day for the whole family. Participants can enjoy a scenic hike through the historic grounds of O'Hara's Mill, along with family-friendly activities including face painting, games, and more. Whether you are walking individually, creating a team, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, there is a place for everyone.

Funds raised through Hike for Hospice directly support our residential hospice, grief and bereavement programs, caregiver support initiatives, equipment lending program, and community outreach services. These programs are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community members like you.

At its heart, Hike for Hospice is about people. It is about remembering those we miss, supporting those who need us today, and building a compassionate community for tomorrow.

We invite you to lace up your walking shoes, bring your family and friends, and join us for a day filled with meaning, memories, and community spirit.

Ready to take the next step? Register, donate, create a team, or learn more by visiting our Hike for Hospice page:

 https://www.heartofhastingshospice.ca/hikeforhohh

Together, we can make every step count.

Hike for Hospice 2026 Saturday, September 19, 2026 O'Hara's Mill Homestead, Madoc Presented by InspiAir

Walk. Remember. Celebrate. Support.

Handbags for Hospice 2026 Celebrates 10 Years of Compassion, Community, and Record Breaking Support

Our 2026 Handbags Committee Heidi Griffith, Pauline Pietschmann, Andrea Murphy, Marylouise Belanger, Serena Harrison, Laurie Osborne, Sheila Ylipelkola, Donna Graff

The Heart of Hastings Hospice welcomed over 300 guests to a sold out Stirling Curling Club on May 14 for the 10th Anniversary of their beloved Handbags for Hospice Signature Event, presented by Chrome Supply Warehouse.

What began a decade ago with a bold vision has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated annual events and this milestone celebration was nothing short of extraordinary.

From the moment guests arrived, the room sparkled with excitement, laughter, and connection as attendees gathered for an unforgettable evening of glamour, generosity, and giving in support of compassionate end of life care close to home.

Bringing incredible energy and entertainment to the evening was the incomparable Meryl Eau, the fabulous persona of J.P. Baldwin, whose dazzling stage presence, humour, and charm kept the audience engaged from start to finish. Guests enjoyed an exciting live auction featuring exclusive experience packages, a silent auction filled with designer handbags and luxury prizes, and an abundance of delicious charcuterie, wine, and sweet treats.

Meryl Eau

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of sponsors, donors, volunteers, and attendees, The Heart of Hastings Hospice is thrilled to announce that the evening achieved a preliminary net profit of over $130,000 making this the most successful Handbags for Hospice event in its 10 year history.

“This anniversary celebration was incredibly special,” said Pauline Pietschmann, Fundraising and Awareness Coordinator for The Heart of Hastings Hospice. “To look around the room and see so many people coming together in support of hospice care was deeply moving. Over the last ten years, Handbags for Hospice has become so much more than a fundraiser. It’s a celebration of compassion, community, and the belief that no one should face end of life alone. We are beyond grateful to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and guest who helped make this milestone year such an incredible success.”

Staff & Volunteers

Proceeds from Handbags for Hospice directly support the hospice’s free programs and services, including in home palliative care, the 3 bed hospice residence, short stay respite and day hospice, grief and bereavement support for individuals and families of all ages, caregiver programming, and a medical equipment lending program that serves communities across a 5,700 km² rural region.

Special thanks go to presenting sponsor Chrome Supply Warehouse, as well as the many generous businesses, community partners, volunteers, and supporters who helped make the 10th Anniversary celebration possible.

“As we celebrate ten years of Handbags for Hospice, we are reminded of the extraordinary impact this community continues to make,” added Pietschmann. “Together, we are ensuring compassionate hospice care remains available, accessible, and free for those who need it most. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”