What families can expect at Campbell House – from comfort-focused care to meaningful final moments.
Where compassion lives: Inside hospice care in South Georgian Bay – Collingwood News
Sunlight filters into a quiet room at Campbell House as a birdfeeder sways just outside the window. In the kitchen, a volunteer warms muffins for a tired family. Down the hall, a nurse adjusts a pillow before resting a hand gently on a shoulder.
This is a typical morning inside the 10-bed residential hospice operated by Hospice Georgian Triangle, where care is focused on comfort, dignity and presence, according to Trish Rawn, Chief Executive Officer of Hospice Georgian Triangle.
“People are often surprised by how calm it feels here,” Rawn said. “We manage complex symptoms, but the most-used word families say is ‘peaceful.’ That’s not an accident. That’s by design.”
Each day begins with listening. Clinical staff meet to review every resident’s goals, whether that means better pain control, more rest, or uninterrupted time with loved ones. Care plans are adjusted accordingly, ensuring each person’s wishes guide their final days.
“Our team focuses on the medical care—managing symptoms, medications, and comfort—so families can remain present and engaged, simply being who they are: a wife, a son, a daughter, a grandchild, a friend,” says Angela Stephenson, Clinical Care Lead. “We create space for what truly matters: sharing time, love, and meaningful moments together.”
By morning, the hospice kitchen fills with the smell of coffee and toast as volunteers, known as Kitchen Angels, check in with families and tend to small but meaningful needs.
“Every cup of tea poured, every quilt folded is a small gestures that add up to dignity,” Rawn said. “Clinical excellence is non-negotiable. The little things are what make it feel like home.”
Nurses meet regularly with residents and their families to review care plans, balancing medical needs with personal preferences. For many, that includes simple comforts like fresh air, favourite routines or time with pets.
“Our team focuses on the medical care so families can remain present and engaged, simply being who they are,” Rawn said. “We create space for what truly matters — sharing time, love and meaningful moments together.”
By midday, conversations shift. Counsellors meet with families to discuss practical concerns or to provide a space to pause and process grief. Physicians check in, adjust medications, and address symptoms as needed.
“Symptoms are reviewed, medications are tailored, and anxiety is met with reassurance and a steady plan,” Dr. Alyssa Boyd, Hospice Georgian Triangle Medical Director and Head of the Pain and Symptom Management Clinic.
Afternoons are often quieter. Volunteers bring snacks, friends visit, and staff take time to sit with residents who do not want to be alone.
For some families, the impact is profound.
“You gave me back my mum,” Rawn said, recalling a recent comment from a daughter. “Not forever, but for these last days, you gave her back to us.”
As evening approaches, the pace slows further. Meals are unhurried, and visiting remains flexible. Overnight staff continue to monitor symptoms and support families, maintaining the same level of care throughout the night.
“We’re here at two in the afternoon and two in the morning,” Rawn said. “The promise is the same — you are not alone.”
Campbell House serves residents from Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview and the Town of the Blue Mountains. Care is provided at no cost to patients and families, with funding supported in part by the community.
“Hospice isn’t about giving up,” Rawn said. “It’s about living as fully and comfortably as possible, right to the end.”
The average stay is about 10 days, with admissions available for those with life-limiting illnesses requiring around-the-clock, comfort-focused care. Referrals can be made through physicians, Ontario Health at Home, or directly by families.
For many, the hospice experience begins with uncertainty. Staff encourage families to ask questions, accept help and make space for meaningful moments, whether that is time in the Campbell House garden, a shared meal, or simply sitting together.
“Hospice isn’t about endings,” says Rawn. “It’s about how we live to the end — on our own terms, surrounded by care and compassion.” And when loss comes, no one has to navigate it alone. Our Community Care Team is here to support individuals and families through grief and bereavement, both now and in the days ahead.
About Hospice Georgian Triangle
Hospice Georgian Triangle, founded in 1987, has evolved to provide compassionate care at home and at Campbell House for individuals and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses in the communities of the Town of Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and Clearview Township.
Their care programs, which include end-of-life care and grief and bereavement counselling, come at no cost to the users and focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both the patient and family, enhancing quality of life. Hospice Georgian Triangle relies on government funding and the generosity of donors to provide all its services and programs.
For more information on Hospice Georgian Triangle’s services and programs, visit Hospice Georgian Triangle or call 705-444-2555. To donate, visit the Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation.
