We are pleased to share the reopening of the Aitken Community Hospice in the Comox Valley, an important milestone for compassionate, community-based end-of-life care.

Following a period of reduced capacity, hospice beds are being restored, ensuring individuals and families can once again access dignified, home-like care close to home. This reopening reflects the strength and persistence of local leadership, community advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration.

As recently featured on CBC Radio’s On the Island, the story highlights the collective effort of the Comox Valley Hospice Society, its volunteers, staff, community partners, provincial support organizations, and government partners working together toward a shared goal. It is also a reminder of the role elected officials, including MLA Brendan Day, can play in listening to communities and supporting solutions that reflect local needs.

This moment underscores why sustained investment in hospice and palliative care matters. Community-based hospice are not standalone services, they are part of a broader care ecosystem that supports families, reduces pressure on hospitals, and ensures people can receive care in a setting grounded in compassion and dignity.

The reopening of Aitken Community Hospice is more than the return of beds. It is a powerful example of what is possible when communities, hospice societies, provincial partners such as BCHPCA, and government work together, and why continued funding and expansion of hospice palliative care across British Columbia is essential.

Listen to the CBC Radio segment to learn more about this important milestone and the impact of community-based hospice care.

CBC Listen