Where Compassionate Care Supports Grieving and Healing.
Dying, caregiving, and grieving are some of life’s greatest challenges. We believe everyone facing these experiences — regardless of age, means, or culture — deserves compassionate support.
We are here for you
Nanaimo Community Hospice Society offers compassionate care, education, advocacy, and bereavement support for children, youth, adults, and families living with advanced illness, end of life, and grief. Our programs include palliative care support, adult grief services, child and youth counselling, wellness programs, peer support, and community outreach services designed to provide comfort, connection, and care.
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Professional Grief Counseling
Our team of experienced professional counsellors see clients who are going through a grief journey or palliative journey. They also see clients who are anticipating the death of a loved one with a palliative diagnosis. This service is offered to both Children and Adults.
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Group Grief Support
We offer grief support, peer connection, and wellness-focused programs that help people navigate loss, caregiving, grieving, and difficult transitions in life.
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Wellness Programs
Our wellness-focused programs offer gentle support for those navigating grief, caregiving, stress, and life transitions. Our programs include Yoga, Reiki, Sound Bath, Self-Compassion and Grief Meditations, and Self-Care Clinic. These supportive offerings can help reduce stress, encourage relaxation, and create moments of peace during challenging times.
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Child and Youth Program
Our Child and Youth Program provides compassionate grief and bereavement support for children, youth, and families experiencing loss, serious illness, or major life changes. The program offers counselling, peer support, and safe spaces where young people can express emotions and feel supported throughout their grief journey.
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Advanced Care Planning
Description goes hereAdvance Care Planning is the process of thinking, talking and planning for your future care in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. It is an essential part of life planning for everyone. We can help you with this. You will find our learning session helpful to navigate the necessary steps to make an effective plan.
About Us
Celebrating 45 Years of Compassionate Care
This year, 2026 is Nanaimo Hospice’s 44th Anniversary!
Olivia Thomasson was the Founder of Mid-Island Hospice Society (later changed to Nanaimo Community Hospice Society in 2003).
Nanaimo Community Hospice launched a Community Outreach Vehicle in 2019.
Nanaimo Hospice has direct contact with more than 1,750 children, youth, adults, and family members dealing with end of life issues.
We presently have 150 client-based volunteers and 80 volunteers working at our Thrift Shoppe.
That the first Hospice was opened in London in the late 50’s, early 60’s.
A place, a community and a philosophy. Dying, caregiving and grieving are three of life’s greatest challenges. Nanaimo Hospice believes that everyone struggling with these challenges – regardless of age, means or culture – deserves support. With compassion and dignity, our volunteers and professional staff offer free programs, resources, and education to our community where and when needed.
Nanaimo Hospice began in 1979, when Olivia Thomasson developed an interest in starting a hospice service in Nanaimo following her husband’s death from cancer. She was soon joined by Lynn Green, an RN, who worked with the dying and also saw a strong need for hospice services. Their goal was to promote a model of care that emphasized emotional/social caring for patients and families. Their dream was to build a hospice facility, with beds, where staff could promote and facilitate quality of life, family were welcome, and the patient could live out their last weeks or months in dignity or peace, surrounded by people who cared for them.
Our Vision
To be a leading resource for issues of death and dying.
Our Mission
To offer skilled, compassionate support, education and advocacy for those living with advanced illness, dying and bereavement.
What our community say about us
“The team at Nanaimo Hospice are warm, professional, and compassionate. The peaceful environment made a difficult time more comforting.”
— Client
“Finding My Way helped me process my grief and connect with others. The program truly changed my life.”
— Participant
“The volunteers at Nanaimo Hospice were there for me during one of the hardest times in my life. Their kindness meant everything.”
— Client
“Our children felt supported, comforted, and cared for through the grief counselling program. We are deeply grateful to Hospice for helping our family.”
— Parent
To Learn more about us
Letters to our community
Our Governance
Financial Accountability
Our Corporate Partners
Ways to Be Part of Hospice Care
Hospice care is made possible through the kindness, generosity, and involvement of our community.
There are many meaningful ways to support our hospice care and help us continue providing compassionate care, grief support, counselling, and wellness programs for children, youth, adults, and families.
You can make a difference by:
• Volunteering your time
• Becoming a monthly donor
• Leaving a legacy gift or donating in memory of a loved one
• Sponsoring or attending a Nanaimo Hospice event
• Donating gently used items to our Hospice Shoppe (Junk in Our Trunk can help)
• Purchasing a membership online
• Giving through our TipTap donation stations
(Our TipTap devices are available at our reception and Hospice Shoppe,
where every tap donates $5 to support our programs and services.)
Every act of support helps bring comfort, care, and hope to those who need it most.
Thank you for helping us care for our community.
Social Media
Click the icons below and follow us on social media to receive up-to-date information.
Land Acknowledgement
“Nanaimo Community Hospice Society serves the community of Nanaimo on central Vancouver Island, which is located on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Snuneymuxww First Nations; Stz’uminus First Nations; Snaw-Naw-As First Nations and Mid Island Metis Nation. We acknowledge our traditional hosts and honour their welcome and graciousness.”
Follow our journey.
