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We are a caring community in which everyone has access to high-quality, seamless palliative care, where end-of-life choices are respected, and supports are readily available. We provide compassionate palliative care and supports in our hospice and community for individuals and their families through the end-of-life journey.
Registered Charity #87274 9536 RR0001
Supported by Home and Community Care Support Services Waterloo Wellington
Since 2008, Maria has been providing and promoting exemplary end-of-life care as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Resource Nurse at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice. Serving now as the Director of Clinical Services, Maria oversees the Frontline Clinical Staff, Clinical Resource, and Psychosocial programs. Maria works closely with our community partners, and is the lead for the accreditation process through Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.
Gillian is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years practical experience both in Canada and the USA. She has supported palliative care in hospital and community settings before joining our team in 2019.
Our Clinical Leads oversee the admission process for all new residents and their families, working closely with our team and with community partners to create a collaborative approach to our care.
As a Clinical Lead, Gillian also supports the orientation and development of staff working at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice, fostering empowerment through her expertise and knowledge to achieve excellence in the delivery of care.
Susan is a Registered Nurse with more than 35 years of experience. Before joining us in 2015, she worked in palliative care in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario for most of her career.
Our Clinical Leads oversee the admission process for all new residents and their families, working closely with our team and with community partners to create a collaborative approach to our care.
As a Clinical Lead, Susan also supports the orientation and development of staff working at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice, fostering empowerment through her expertise and knowledge to achieve excellence in the delivery of care.
With a passion for palliative care, Christina has over 15 years of experience working in both acute care and community settings. Since joining our team in 2013, she has supported the roles of bedside Registered Nurse and Clinical Resource Nurse before stepping into her current role. As Education Lead, she will foster a learning environment for our staff, ensuring knowledge is current in the field of hospice palliative care based on the guidelines established by the Registered Nurses’ Association’s Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Since 2005, Jackie has been providing and promoting exemplary end-of-life care as a Personal Support Worker at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice. In her role as PSW Lead, she shares her clinical expertise and knowledge to help foster empowerment to PSWs as they integrate a palliative approach to support people as they live and die. Her supervision of PSWs supports this approach to care.
Since 2009, Debbie has been providing and promoting exemplary end-of-life care as a Personal Support Worker and Operations Coordinator at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice. In her role as PSW Lead, she shares her operational and clinical expertise and knowledge to help foster empowerment to PSWs as they integrate a palliative approach to support people as they live and die. Her supervision of PSWs supports this approach to care.
Our hospice Houses are staffed by an incredibly passionate team of Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), and Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Along with our Physicians, Clinical Resource Nurses, Clinical Manager, Department Resource and other members of our interdisciplinary Care Team, we strive to provide the highest level of hospice care.
Our Clinical Team has specialized education and training in hospice palliative care, and we collectively have decades of experience caring for people with a life-limiting illness. We work with residents and their families to develop individualized plans of care based on each individual’s unique needs and priorities. We are committed to person-centred care, respecting every individual’s right to dignity and self-determination. Our dedicated team works alongside both the resident and their loved ones, supporting them all through the end-of-life experience.
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 our community in his role as Bereavement Coordinator.
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.
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.
Stephanie graduated with a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy) at Martin Luther University College, which is affiliated with Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. Stephanie is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO, completed the 2nd Advanced Unit in Psychospiritual Therapy Education (Formerly Pastoral Counselling Education) with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) and is an Associate Member of the CASC. She has gained extensive psychotherapy and spiritual care experience through her practicum years in local hospitals, a counselling agency, a correctional institution, and individual counselling.
Spiritual care attends to a person’s spiritual and/or religious needs when the individual tries to cope with illness, stress, anxiety, depression, loss, grief, etc. A Spiritual Care Provider’s role is to provide support and guidance on their journey.
Stephanie enjoys working with clients from different cultures, religions, and social backgrounds.
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 Access Centre of York Region for nine 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, hospitals, churches, and correctional centers since 2017. He has facilitated a faith-based mental health peer support group since 2014 and, more recently, 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 1990s from HIV/AIDS.
Having completed her masters in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, and with extensive experience in musical performance, coaching, and in offering yoga for mental health, Margaret approaches palliative care through a holistic lens, honouring the sacred mystery of life, death, and beyond.
Approachable, friendly, and passionate about helping others, Melissa has a 15+ year career in nursing, specializing in rehabilitation, dementia, and palliative care. She also has over five years experience in medical administration and management working with Specialty Care Clinics in Waterloo Region. As part of our team, she provides support where needed and is a key member of our Resource team.
Sarah began her journey with Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice as a Volunteer in 2011. With her background in the banking industry, Sarah joined our Administration team in the finance department processing tax receipts and bank deposits. In early 2021, Sarah undertook the Fund Development Coordinator role where she is responsible for fundraising activities, building and maintaining donor relationships, and educating our community on the importance of Hospice care.
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 & 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 team.
Various volunteer coordination experiences in a community food bank, a homeless shelter, long-term care, hospice, an international children’s development organization, and other not-for-profit organizations have given Gord a unique view into the world of volunteering, which he is excited to bring to Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice. When he is not at work, he can be found enjoying his role as grandfather to two amazing grandchildren.
