Rosedale Hospice Celebrates 30 Years

Oct 19, 2026

On a fall day in September, we met in a community centre near our beloved Rosedale Hospice to celebrate something very special: 30 years.

30 years of compassionate care.

30 years of creating lasting memories.

30 years of giving dignity to the end-of-life.

Rosedale Connections Reuniting

Among those who gathered in celebration were patient families, donors, volunteers, and staff – all of whom had been a part of the Rosedale Hospice story in the past 3 decades. The feeling in the room was one that our community is familiar with: gratitude, connection, and warmth. In some ways, it felt like a Rosedale Reunion – friends and colleagues seeing each other after a long time, warm embraces that held deeper meaning and history than could be explained in one afternoon, and genuine joy to be together.

In addition to the conversations of connection in the room, the afternoon included a heartfelt program filled with stories and love for Rosedale:

Murray – whose late wife, Myrna, inspired the purchase of the building for Rosedale – spoke of how the building that houses Rosedale Hospice came to be:
“They were putting this new facility – fully furnished – up for sale, and Hospice Calgary wanted to put on a fundraiser […]. They asked Myrna to be on this committee to help raise the money. It touched Myrna very much […] so we ended up buying this home and Myrna gifted it to Rosedale Hospice. […] I always feel a little strange when people thank me, because in fact, it was Myrna.”

Dedrha, a volunteer at Rosedale Hospice since the beginning, shared her experience with deep emotion:
“On this 30th year milestone, not once – that I have noticed as a volunteer – has the mission of care and compassion changed from when Rosedale’s doors opened.”

John Wort Hannam, performing his original song

John, whose father was at Rosedale Hospice, performed a song he wrote for his dad before he died:
“May you die young at heart at a ripe old age,
When you dearly depart one of these days,
The book of life has an ending, when you turn that page,
May you die young at heart at a ripe old age.”

Catherine, the nurse clinician at Rosedale, reflected on her experience working at Rosedale for over twenty years:
“Silence in healthcare can feel uncomfortable. We are taught to communicate, to ask questions, to provide reassurance, to act. Contemplative practice asks us to pause, to take notice of ourselves and who is in front of us. It is in this space when the magic happens. It is space for tears and grief to pour; it is time for someone to gather the courage to voice their fear of dying; it is an opportunity for many of our patients to feel seen and heard, perhaps for the first time in their life.”

Attendees viewing The Heart of Rosedale Hospice display

During the event, special items and descriptions were arranged as a display called The Heart of Rosedale Hospice. The display illustrates what makes Rosedale Hospice so special – thoughtful details, meaningful rituals, and moments of connection that bring comfort to patients and families.

The celebration was a wonderful afternoon honouring the community that makes Rosedale Hospice so special. Thank you to White Flowers for donating the beautiful bouquets, Atta Elevators for sponsoring the food, PALS for bringing their furry friends, and to all the speakers who helped make the program so meaningful. Finally, thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone – your support means the world and helps ensure compassionate care continues for those who need it most.