Above Ann Howard from BC Housing, Trudy Demorest-P/President DVHS, Janet Shaw-President and Colleen Misner from MLA Linda Larson’s office – help cut the ribbon

A new facility at 22 Jonagold Place in Osoyoos was officially opened today  for administration of the Desert Valley Hospice Society and for programs.

The facility will be used as a Supportive Care Centre which the Society will utilize as their administrative office, as education and training space for Hospice Volunteers and as a place from which to deliver current and future programs. It won’t be a 24 hour a day care facility.

Society President Janet Shaw thanked BC Housing as well as local MLA Linda Larson and  the town councils from both Oliver and Osoyoos.

Shaw also singled out the society’s volunteers. “Saying thank you just doesn’t seem like enough,” Shaw said of the hospice volunteers.  “You really are the heart of what we do.”

“This is a well-oiled machine being driven by Janet Shaw,” Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells told a packed house.  “When Janet gets behind a project, you know it’s going to be successful.”  Wells added that the new facility speaks to the success of collaborative efforts of the towns of Oliver and Osoyoos.  “Every time we’ve done something spectacular, it’s been together,” Wells said.  “These two towns working together for the betterment of the area.”

Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes thanked the society for providing the public with education on subjects and programs that are perhaps not easy to promote.  “You have done so much to educate the broader community on how important (end of life care) is,” he said.  “On behalf of the Town of Oliver I absolutely wish you nothing but success.”