There have been some bumps along the road, but the first shovels finally went into the ground Thursday at the site of a new hospice in Severn Township.
While it was a ceremonial groundbreaking, it was a milestone nonetheless for Mariposa House Hospice, which will be built at 1140 Brodie Dr.
“I see a lot of people who have helped us get here. It’s emotional for all of us to get to this point,” Si Lowry, co-chair of Mariposa House Hospice, said to the volunteers and politicians in attendance.
Added co-chair Erika Catford: “It takes a village to build a hospice and you’re part of that village. This community has been so generous.”
That generosity was evident as capital campaign lead Sylvia Smith announced the campaign goal of $3.5 million has nearly been reached. Smith thanked Catford and Lowry “for their passion and their vision.”
Project manager Tom Ingersoll noted he got involved with the project in January 2018 with the hope of breaking ground last fall. He said crews will get started in a couple of weeks, with the project expected to take nine or 10 months overall.
When it comes to Mariposa House Hospice, Severn Mayor Mike Burkett said “there are no borders.”
“Whether it’s Oro, Ramara — we’re all partners,” he said.
It was an exciting day for Orillia Coun. Pat Hehn. She was involved in the effort to bring a hospice to the area in 1988. Hospice Orillia eventually found office space but a hospice facility was never realized in the city.
“For me, this is a dream 30 years in the making,” she said. “This is something that we’ve needed for such a long time.”
Officials thanked everyone who has supported the project, which will include a facility with five beds on 2.4 acres of land.
For more information about the hospice, including ways to contribute, click here.
