About the Almoner Committee

The Almoner Committee is accountable to the Sovereign Order of St. John (SOSJ) Vancouver Commandery and is tasked with supporting the organization in its quest to be of service to the Lord’s sick and poor.

The improvement of end-of-life care is the Almoner Committee’s primary focus; it is responsible for examining opportunities, bringing forward recommendations, and reporting to the Board. Its activities include the examination of end-of-life care trends and best practices, the exploration of training opportunities to enhance end-of-life service delivery, and the provision of support to organizations engaged in the development of end-of-life facilities.

Recent Projects

May’s Place, Vancouver Eastside
SOSJ is in partnership with Bloom Group to build a new hospice in the downtown eastside serving Vancouver’s most marginalized citizens. The St John Hospice at May’s Place will be a 10,000 square-foot facility occupying the fourth floor of a new building. The first three floors will provide comprehensive medical, social welfare, and addiction services … Continue reading “May’s Place, Vancouver Eastside”
Because We Care Outpatient Clinic/Hospice, North Shore
SOSJ is in partnership with North Shore Palliative Care Program providing a $175,000 pledge that will be distributed over two years. The ‘Because We Care Outpatient Clinic’ is attached to the North Shore Hospice and offers pain management and treatment of other symptoms for patients with life threatening illnesses. Its goal is to avoid patient … Continue reading “Because We Care Outpatient Clinic/Hospice, North Shore”
Irene Thomas Hospice, Delta
The Irene Thomas Hospice is a 10-suite residence in Ladner, BC. The hospice is purpose-built to provide a home-like environment with as much privacy and comfort as possible. It offers 24-hour nursing care and support for individuals in the last weeks and months of life when care cannot be managed at home. An upgrade program is … Continue reading “Irene Thomas Hospice, Delta”
Purdy Pavilion, UBC (Phase 2)
The Purdy Pavilion is a 199-bed long-term-care facility co-located with UBC Hospital. The goal of the project is to renovate four private rooms to create a home-like environment where family members are welcomed and able to participate in providing end-of-life care for their loved ones. Additionally, SOSJ has provided six bursaries for clinical leaders to attend the nationally recognized Victoria Hospice training program in January 2017. Project completion is scheduled for summer 2017.
Victoria Hospice, Victoria
The goal of the project is to support the development of a new innovative stand-alone 18-bed hospice in collaboration with the SOSJ Victoria Commandery. Victoria Hospice is known as a centre of excellence for palliative care in Canada and renowned for its training and education programs.
Environmental Scan
The objective of conducting an environmental scan is to identify current hospice and palliative care services throughout communities in British Columbia. This will assist SOSJ with strategic planning and prioritizing future projects and initiatives.
Sunshine Coast, Sechelt
The Silverstone Care Centre is a new 128-bed residential care facility currently under construction by the Trellis Group. The plans include a dedicated 4-bed hospice unit. SOSJ has been involved in preliminary discussions with the local hospice society and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Due to potential legal issues related to the partnership between the Trellis Group and the not-for-profit organizations, this project is currently delayed.
Sea to Sky, Squamish
The goal of the project is to establish a 4-bed hospice unit co-located with the Squamish Hospital and Hilltop House Residential Care Facility. SOSJ is currently working with Squamish Hospice Society and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to finalize the details of the renovations and the financial commitment required.
2017 BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) Grants
BCHPCA will submit requests for grants to SOSJ Almoner Committee by March 2017. The committee will vet and make recommendations to the board in April 2017.