Our History

It all started in 1985…

A group of nurses from the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital identified a need for a palliative care support services and West Niagara Palliative Care Services began.

The First 10 Years

The first ten years saw volunteers in the community supporting palliative clients.

A house trailer was donated by the Grimsby Rotary Club, for a meeting place and as a place for families to stay close to their critically ill family members. The trailer was named Rose Cottage and rose bushes were planted around the trailer.

The organization incorporated in 1994 and became known as West Niagara Palliative Care Services o/a Rose Cottage Visiting Volunteers.

The Next 10 Years

A successful proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Health for funding.

During the next 10 years, policies and procedures were established, a Board of Directors and constitution were put in place and assessment coordinators were hired to assess families/clients referred to the service.

The commitment then as now, is to respond to a request within 24hrs.

Looking Forward

With a permanent home in Beamsville, we continue to enrich our programs to support clients in our region.

As the West Niagara region continues to grow and attract more residents to the area, Rose Cottage Visiting Volunteers will continue to adapt to meet the needs of clients and caregivers who are living with a life-limiting illness.