Hospice Society of West Hants Annual General Meeting (AGM) - 2025
- Sep 30, 2025
- 6 min read
Words from our President
On behalf of the Board, I am grateful to Ron Anderson and Robbin Wood for their service to the HSWH Board, and I wish them the very best of health and happiness.
The extraordinary efforts of Kathryn Murphy, Executive Director, are truly remarkable. Kathryn has devoted many years of thought and dedication to death education and hospice care. I am honoured to serve on the Board and to witness Katie’s ideas, together with those of community members, come to life.
As a Society, we intend to move forward in creating and offering death education and hospice care services informed by the voices of our community. Input is always welcome through personal communication with any Board member or the Executive Director. In addition, an online community consultation will follow this formal AGM, and we would be honoured by your participation so that we may gather your ideas and wishes.
We extend our gratitude to Dr. Kathy Toogood for providing technical assistance with Zoom, which made this online AGM and community consultation possible.
Respectfully and with gratitude,
Catherine Morley, PhD, RD, FDC
Executive Director's Report
Hospice Society of West Hants (HSWH)
Reporting Period: August 2024 – August 2025
Executive Summary
The Hospice Society of West Hants (HSWH) has made significant strides in its foundational year, transitioning from a community-driven initiative to a registered not-for-profit society. Established in November 2023 following discussions at local Death Cafés in Ellershouse, NS, HSWH achieved official registration with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies on October 10, 2024, and formed its first Board of Directors shortly thereafter.
Our mission to enhance death literacy and end-of-life support through education, resource sharing, and community connections has guided our activities.
Over the past year, we launched key educational programs, hosted recurring events, and secured grant funding to support operations. Despite being in our early stages, we engaged hundreds of community members through seminars, workshops, and cafés focused on end-of-life preparation.
Looking ahead, we continue to pursue our vision of building a 7- to 10-bed hospice facility in West Hants while expanding programming. We extend our gratitude to volunteers, donors, and partners, including the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA), for their invaluable support.
Organizational Overview and Mission
HSWH is dedicated to improving death literacy and end-of-life support for residents in and around West Hants, Nova Scotia. We achieve this by:
Providing education on end-of-life matters.
Sharing resources and connecting individuals to available services.
Facilitating community engagement to normalize discussions around death and dying.
Our long-term vision includes constructing a dedicated hospice facility to offer compassionate, localized care. As a newly formed organization, we are building partnerships with local service providers, donors, and volunteers to sustain and grow our impact.
Events & Initiatives
HSWH's programming emphasizes education and support, with events offered at no cost thanks to grant funding and donor contributions. Below is a summary of activities from August 2024 to August 2025.
These events attracted diverse participants, including those preparing for end-of-life and caregivers. Attendance varied, with Dying 2 Know seeing consistent interest due to its structured format. All programs align with our goal of resource sharing and education.
Event/ Program | Description | Dates/ Frequency | Location | Key Outcomes |
Dying 2 Know | Monthly in-person seminars featuring 3 end-of-life practitioners/ clinicians per session. Topics include service introductions, Q&A, and preparation strategies. Includes light lunch. | May 27, 2025 June 24, 2025 July 29, 2025 August 26, 2025 (monthly, continuing through December 2025) | Cedar Centre for Active Health & Living, 69 Cedar St, Windsor, NS | Engaged participants in 4 sessions within the period; up to 25 professionals were involved across the series. Promoted death literacy; registration required via programs@westh antshospice.ca. |
Hope in Action: Navigating Health with Confidence | 8-week program for individuals with terminal illnesses and their caregivers. Focuses on practical tools and strategies for navigating end-of-life. | Started June 11, 2025 (Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 PM) | Cedar Centre for Active Health & Living, 69 Cedar St, Windsor, NS | Empowered participants through structured support; one cohort completed within the period. |
Death Cafés | Informal gatherings to discuss death and dying in a supportive environment. Multiple locations for accessibility. | Recurring: e.g., May 5 (Windsor), May 15 (Hantsport and Bedford), and others (multiple dates) | Various: Windsor, Hantsport, Bedford, Ellershouse, NS | Fostered open conversations; recurring monthly or as scheduled. |
Dungeons & Dragons Fundraiser | Community gaming event with free-will offerings to support HSWH operations. | Specific date not detailed in records; held in Ellershouse. | Ellershouse Community Hall, Windsor, NS | Raised funds for hall rental and HSWH; encouraged community involvement and ride-sharing from Windsor. |
Key Achievements
Registration and Governance: Achieved not-for-profit status on October 10, 2024, and established a Board of Directors to guide strategic decisions. Charitable tax receipt eligibility is anticipated by fall 2025.
Funding Success: Secured funding through Phase 2 of the NSHPCA's Healing Pathways Community Funding grant, enabling the launch of our flagship Dying 2 Know program and other initiatives.
Community Outreach: Explored opportunities for a future hospice facility in West Hants, laying groundwork for development. Hosted our first official information session in fall 2023 (prior to the reporting period but foundational), which informed our programming.
Program Launch: Introduced recurring educational series, reaching community members seeking practical tools for end-of-life planning.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
Volunteers and Donors: Recruited volunteers for fundraising and event support. Community donations enabled free programming.
Partnerships: Collaborated with NSHPCA for funding and expertise. Explored alliances with local providers for the proposed hospice facility.
Outreach Efforts: Participated in broader initiatives, such as referencing national palliative care reports (e.g., from cancer.ca) to inform programming. Engaged community members via website and email for registrations and updates.
Financial Overview
As a newly registered organization, detailed financial statements are in development. Key highlights:
Primary funding from NSHPCA's Healing Pathways grant supported program launches.
Additional revenue from free-will offerings at events, such as the Dungeons & Dragons fundraiser.
Expenses focused on event venues, materials, and administrative setup.
No tax receipts issued yet; full charitable status pending.
We remain committed to transparency and will publish formal reports once charitable registration is complete.
Future Plans
Expand Dying 2 Know and Hope in Action: Navigating Health with Confidence programs with additional cohorts.
Introduce grief supports in West Hants: weekend groups and walking groups, with potential for movement sessions with music or chair yoga.
Advance hospice facility planning in West Hants.
Increase volunteer recruitment and community partnerships to broaden reach.
Achieve charitable status by fall 2025 to enable tax-receipted donations.
Host more Death Cafés and explore new events to further death literacy in West Hants.
Acknowledgements
On behalf of HSWH, I extend sincere thanks to our Board of Directors, volunteers, and participants for their dedication. Special appreciation goes to the NSHPCA for their grant support, without which our programs would not have been possible. We also recognize the community members who attended our events and shared their stories, inspiring us to continue this vital work. Together, we are building a more compassionate West Hants.
Prepared by: Kathryn Murphy, Executive Director
Date: August 13, 2025
Financial Report
Hospice Society of West Hants (HSWH)
2025 Approved Budget
Receipts | Budget | Actual 2024 |
NSHPCA Grant | $50000 | NIL |
Total | $50000 |
Expenditures | Budget | Actual 2024 |
Project Materials | $2200 | |
Personnel Costs | $22000 | |
Marketing & Outreach | $6800 | |
Event Expenses | $10570 | |
Training & Capacity Building | $800 | |
Travel & Accommodation Costs | $6949.56 | |
General Admin & Operating Costs | $7093.60 | |
Total | ($56413.16) |
Fundraising Goals
HSWH is committed to raising awareness of our ongoing programming through social media and community event participation. At these events, we will be selling tickets to raffle off beautiful locally made products and accept donations. We hope to raise approximately $4,000 in ticket sales before the end of this year.
Events Scheduled
Hants County Exhibition: Sept 13, 20
Sackville Farmers Market: Oct 11
Grant Readiness Planning
Prepare a grant calendar to align deadlines with society needs.
Prepare a grant toolkit (mission, vision, impact data, testimonials, budgets).
Track outcomes to demonstrate measurable impact.
Board of Directors
Hospice Society of West Hants (HSWH)
2025
President: Catherine Morley
Vice-President: Vacant
Secretary: Janis Muzzy
Treasurer: James Kochanoff
Director at Large: Karen Cooper
Director at Large: Avai Kochanoff
Director at Large: Vacant
Director at Large: Vacant
Director at Large: Vacant
Director at Large: Vacant
Thank You
The Hospice Society of West Hants extends our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated Board of Directors, our tireless volunteers, and the wider community. Your ongoing commitment, generosity, and belief in our mission make it possible for us to continue providing education and support to individuals and families at some of life’s most tender moments.
Every hour volunteered, every gift contributed, and every word of encouragement strengthens the work we do together. It is through this shared dedication that we are able to build a stronger, more caring community.
On behalf of all those we serve, thank you for walking alongside us on this journey.
— Hospice Society of West Hants
