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People have a right to die with dignity, free from pain, surrounded by their loved ones in a setting of their choice. Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice provides quality palliative care in a home-like setting for adults with a life-limiting illness, while supporting the individual and their family through the end-of-life journey.
FORWARD ALL MAIL TO:
Innisfree House
2375 Homer Watson Blvd
Kitchener N2P 0E9
519-208-5055
LISAARD HOUSE DOES NOT RECEIVE MAIL
Lisaard House
990 Speedsville Rd
Cambridge
519-650-1121
Andrea is a Registered Nurse with over three decades of experience and holds a Masters of Arts (Leadership) from the University of Guelph. Andrea has worked in the areas of acute care, home & community care and long-term care. She has been instrumental in the development of the Waterloo Wellington Hospice Palliative Care Program and has supported provincial hospice palliative care system design and development with the Ontario Palliative Care Network. Andrea has held leadership positions with the Victorian Order of Nurses and Community Care Access Center in the Waterloo & Wellington Counties. Andrea also is an Associate Professor at Conestoga College in a nursing program. Andrea is currently a Director of the HPCO Board of Directors and the co-chair of the HPCO Annual Conference.
Jo Ann has over 35 years of administration experience. Jo Ann’s family experienced the amazing care and compassion provided by the staff and volunteers during her father-in-law’s final weeks at Lisaard House; prior to joining our team in 2012. Her portfolio includes operations management, payroll, kitchen staff and volunteer program. One of her favourite quotes: “I can do what you cannot do and you can do what I cannot do. Together, we can do great things.” – Mother Theresa
Maria has dedicated the past 12 years to providing and promoting exemplary end of life care as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Resource Nurse at Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice. Serving now as the Director of Care, Maria oversees the Frontline Clinical Staff, Clinical Resource, and Psychosocial programs. Maria works with our community partners and is the lead for the accreditation process through Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.
Gillian is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years experience in practice both in Canada and the USA. She has worked in the hospital and community setting providing Palliative Care. Gillian oversees the Resource Nurses, Staff Education, Clinical Student Placements, Hiring and Orientation.
Heather MacCuaig is a Registered Social Worker and previously worked in the Oncology and Palliative Care Program at Cambridge Memorial Hospital for 20 years. Heather has taught in the Palliative Care Certificate Program at Conestoga College and is currently an Associate Clinical Professor at the Michael DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University.
Gord is a certified Supervisor-Educator within Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC), a certified member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, and an experienced trained spiritual director and Mennonite pastor for over 20 years. Gord is a founding member of the AIDS Committee of York Region where he led an AIDS Support Group in his church and worked as a psychospiritual therapist to palliative care and mental health clients for the Community Care Acess Centre of York Region for nine years. During the past three years, as part of his training to be a certified CASC Supervisor-Educator, Gord has supervised and trained Master students in psychospiritual therapy in settings such as long term care homes, hospitals, churches, correctional centres, etc. He has and continues to facilitate a faith-based mental health peer support group for 6 years and in the past year leads monthly small groups on personal spiritual growth and development. Gord knows personally the path of intense grief from saying goodbye to both of his hemophiliac brothers who died in the 1990’s from HIV/AIDS.
Greg is a registered nurse whose main focus for over 20 years has been the provision of palliative care. He has worked as a Visiting Nurse, and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. Greg has a Master’s degree for which he published narrative research on Alternate Level of Care. In 2015, he and his family moved from Hamilton and he is pleased to serve this community in his role as Bereavement Coordinator.
Debbie has been part of the Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice team for 11 years. Beginning as a Personal Support Worker in 2009 she worked closely with residents and their families through their end of life journey. Debbie has now transitioned into an administrative role as our Operations Coordinator. Debbie manages Payroll, Clinical Schedules, Maintenance and day to day operations of both houses.
Cara came into the Volunteer Coordinator position in October of 2018 after graduating from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies and Gerontology. She has been an active volunteer since childhood and wanted to combine her passion for hospice palliative care with her appreciation for volunteerism. In her role, Cara oversees all the volunteer programs and volunteer training.
Sarah began her journey with Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice as a Volunteer for 7 years. With her background in the banking industry, Sarah volunteered with the finance department processing tax receipts and bank deposits. In her role as Fund Development Coordinator, Sarah processes donations, income tax receipts and banking. Sarah also works with the Development and Operation departments.
This team is made up of experienced palliative nurses who demonstrate clinical expertise, knowledge and professionalism to help coach and mentor our clinical staff. Under the direction of the Clinical Resource Manager, the resource nurse team facilitate resident intake, placement, and works to ensure a smooth transition of residents to the hospice. This team facilitates strong working relationships between our residents, families, inter-professional team members and community partners.
This team is made up of experienced palliative nurses who demonstrate clinical expertise, knowledge and professionalism to help coach and mentor our clinical staff. Under the direction of the Clinical Resource Manager, the resource nurse team facilitate resident intake, placement, and works to ensure a smooth transition of residents to the hospice. This team facilitates strong working relationships between our residents, families, inter-professional team members and community partners.
This team is made up of experienced palliative nurses who demonstrate clinical expertise, knowledge and professionalism to help coach and mentor our clinical staff. Under the direction of the Clinical Resource Manager, the resource nurse team facilitate resident intake, placement, and works to ensure a smooth transition of residents to the hospice. This team facilitates strong working relationships between our residents, families, inter-professional team members and community partners.
Meghan is an accredited music therapist with over 5 years experience supporting those experiencing end-of-life, trauma, and mental health needs in the region. Meghan has a masters in music therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a supervisor for their undergraduate music therapy program. In her role, Meghan provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to residents and their families through music based practices.
Michelle McKinnon has a Master of Social Work degree and also completed a comprehensive Grief and Bereavement Certificate as well as an advanced certificate in Clinical Hypnosis. For over 23 years, she has worked in a variety of settings with a focus on mental health and grief and bereavement. She founded and operates The McKinnon Centre, a private practice, for the past 13 years. She has been the Family Time group therapist at Lisaard and Innisfree for 13 years, since its inception. Her passion for grief and bereavement rose out of significant personal losses both as a child and adult which resulted in a keen interest to assist others.
Marty is an enthusiastic communications professional and storyteller with over 20 years of progressive experience in the telecom, high-tech, and petcare industries. As a corporate communications and PR professional, she has learned that success in any role is founded in building reciprocal relationships. Marty has a personally meaningful history with Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice; her mom spent her final days in the comfort and care of Lisaard House. Marty then spent a year with us as a signature fundraising event volunteer prior to joining our staff. All this experience drives her passion for our mission, to Make Moments Matter for our residents and their families.
Eric is a certified Spiritual Care Specialist with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC), a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. He is also a husband, father, son and brother. Eric received his undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies from the University of Waterloo and his graduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Eric has pastored congregations in rural, suburban and metropolitan communities in Toronto, York and Waterloo Regions. His passion for hospice and palliate care grows out of his pastoral work, experiencing his mother’s final journeys with Huntington’s Disease and over a decade of work in cancer care and acute healthcare.
