Hospice Northwest of Thunder Bay Wins the Inaugural Mount Pleasant Group Equity in Action Award

The first ever Mount Pleasant Group Equity in Action Award, which includes a donation of $10,000, has been awarded to Hospice Northwest of Thunder Bay for their work with the Palliative Advocacy Care Team (PACT).

The PACT team’s initiative provides mobile and outreach palliative care services to people who are vulnerably housed and facing serious illnesses in Thunder Bay – a disproportionate number of whom are from the Indigenous community. With a focus on equitable, safer and enhanced quality of care, they endeavor to have no one die alone and that all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to compassionate care and support.

“Everyone deserves compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care – especially those who are often overlooked,” said Abigail Brown, Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach with Mount Pleasant Group. “We’re honoured to support Hospice Northwest and the PACT team for their remarkable work in making palliative care more accessible to people experiencing homelessness and serious illness. Their model affirms the dignity of every person and sets a powerful example for future outreach-focused care initiatives.”

PACT’s work aligns perfectly with the award’s mandate – to shine a light on the vital work being done to promote greater access to hospice palliative care for equity-deserving communities across Ontario. This includes Indigenous, Black and racialized peoples, 2SLGBTQI+ populations, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people living with dementia and people experiencing homelessness.

“We’re really honoured to have the recognition in our own community because we’re Thunder Bay’s best kept secret,” said Donna Jeanpierre, Executive Director of Hospice Northwest. “We have a growing number of people who are unhoused or vulnerably housed, and they’re not always treated with compassion. Homelessness is a life-limiting illness and I’m really proud of the compassionate response our team demonstrates to them. Winning this award and particularly the funding that comes with it will go a long way to support the clients and the compassionate care that supports that response.”

PACT, which is co-led by Hospice Northwest and NorWest Community Health Centres, is a coalition of 10 partner organizations that meet biweekly to coordinate care for clients. Their model is unique in Ontario for its grassroots, collaborative approach. A dedicated outreach worker with lived experience plays a central role in building trust, helping clients attend medical appointments and ensuring their basic needs like food, warm clothing and transportation are met.

The $10,000 received from this award will make a big difference in helping the program run on the ground.

“The money will go a long way,” said Donna. “It will help people get to those appointments. If it’s winter and they need a pair of boots, or breakfast on the way to a medical appointment – it will help with all of that.”

PACT’s impact is measurable: over a six-month period, they recorded 481 client encounters, with 100 per cent of clients reporting improved access to care and feeling safe and understood. Yet, the need continues to grow.

“We’ve come to the point where one outreach worker isn’t enough,” said Donna. “We need a team. That’s our biggest challenge right now.”

Donna and her team are very appreciative for the support of MPG and HCPO.

“We are so grateful for the recognition of the work we’ve been doing. Sometimes it feels like we take one step forward and then back two or three,” she said. “I think this award for everyone on the team is just an encouragement to keep going and that the clients we are serving deserve all our energy and passion.”

Photo: From left to right: Pamela Gerrie, Manager Palliative Carelink, NorWest Community Health Centres; Julie Diner, Outreach Worker; Donna Jeanpierre, Executive Director, Hospice Northwest