The BC Hospice & Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) was pleased to participate in SafeCare BC’s Hearts and Hands Conference, joining healthcare assistants, care professionals, community organizations and sector partners for two events held in October 2026 in Langley and Victoria.

Recognized by SafeCare BC as British Columbia’s largest event for healthcare assistants, Hearts and Hands brings people together with a shared goal: to celebrate, educate and inspire those who play an essential role in providing care and support across the continuing care sector. The 2026 conferences took place in Langley on October 21 and Victoria on October 23.

BCHPCA was represented at both conference locations. In Langley, Daniel Ordonez Mantilla represented the Association and welcomed Langley Hospice Society to join BCHPCA at the booth. This invitation reflects BCHPCA’s ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting its member hospice societies by creating opportunities to increase their visibility, raise awareness of their programs and services, and strengthen connections with professionals and organizations across the continuing care sector. In Victoria, BCHPCA Executive Director Pablita Thomas represented the Association, continuing these conversations and connections with attendees.

Connecting and Sharing the Value of Community Hospice Care

The conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect with healthcare assistants and other professionals, introduce BCHPCA’s work, and highlight the important contributions of community-based hospice and palliative care organizations across British Columbia.

Through conversations with attendees, BCHPCA was able to share information about the Association’s role in supporting hospice societies, strengthening community-based care, and advancing improvements in hospice palliative care, grief and bereavement support across the province.

These connections are particularly important as we continue working toward greater awareness, collaboration and recognition of the role that hospice societies play in supporting individuals, families and communities throughout serious illness, end of life and bereavement.

A Special Thank You to Langley Hospice Society

As part of BCHPCA's commitment to supporting and promoting its member hospice societies, we were delighted to invite Langley Hospice Society to join us at our booth during the Langley conference. Providing opportunities for our members to showcase their work, raise awareness of their programs and services, and connect with professionals across the continuing care sector is an important part of our role as a provincial association.

We extend our sincere thanks to Langley Hospice Society for accepting our invitation and being part of this opportunity. A special thank you to Donna and Halina, two wonderful Langley Hospice volunteers, and Sarah Miller, Community Outreach & Program Support, for their time, enthusiasm, kindness and support throughout the day. Their presence helped make the experience even more meaningful, and we greatly appreciated the opportunity to share the space and highlight the important work happening in our communities.

We also encourage our members, partners and the wider community to learn more about the valuable services offered by Hospice Societies. Through its programs, organizations provides compassionate support to individuals living with a terminal illness, their families and friends, as well as grief and bereavement services for adults, children, teens and families.

Discover more about Langley Hospice Society and the important work they do in their community.

Strengthening Connections Across the Sector

BCHPCA is grateful to SafeCare BC for organizing an event that celebrates the people behind continuing care and creates opportunities for meaningful learning and connection. Participating in both the Langley and Victoria conferences reinforced the importance of working together across the health and community care sectors.

We look forward to continuing these conversations, building relationships with organizations and care professionals across British Columbia, and supporting the shared goal of ensuring that individuals and families have access to compassionate, person-centred care when they need it most.

To learn more about SafeCare BC’s Hearts and Hands Conference, visit the official Hearts and Hands webpage, where you can also watch the Hearts and Hands video and explore more about the event.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared their experiences and helped make these opportunities for connection possible!