During the end-of-life journey, what matters most often isn’t a final grand gesture—it’s comfort, dignity, and being surrounded by the people you love. ARCH Hospice exists to provide just that.
Compassionate end-of-life care involves emotional, spiritual, and physical comfort to navigate one of life’s most important moments: the end-of-life journey. ARCH Hospice provides a loving home-away-from-home. As a local charity that is well-loved in the community, ARCH provides quality, compassionate care through end-of-life to Algoma District families at no cost.
Each Hospice resident has their own unique story and ARCH offers them a place of peace, comfort, and joy. They also help create quality moments, offering families the opportunity to have a distinctive, memorable, and meaningful experience.
Though the need for palliative care is growing in Canada, it’s still widely misunderstood. Palliative care focuses on comfort and quality of life for those during their end-of-life journey. At ARCH, they strive to help residents and families address physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and practical needs, as well as their associated expectations, hopes, and fears.
If you're unfamiliar with what palliative care offers, you’re not alone.
Some of the services provided at ARCH, other than compassionate palliative care, include grief support groups, one-on-one counselling, peer-to-peer sessions, child and youth support, wish fulfillment, community education, and much more.
ARCH has a dedicated team of over 140 volunteers, who selflessly donate their time to make Hospice the special place that it is. However, they are only partially government-funded and must fundraise a minimum of $850,000 annually to operate.
As a registered charity, ARCH relies on donations to continue providing care for local families. When you give to them, your donation goes directly towards resident and family care, supplies, and support. Your gift stays local and helps around 200 area families every year.
Each person’s journey is filled with stories and connections that matter. ARCH’s Wish Fulfillment Program is all about creating special moments. Every day, their staff and volunteers help fulfill resident wishes and make dreams come true.
Usually, it’s the little things that are most cherished, such as seeing their home one last time, enjoying their favourite meal with their loved ones, or anything in between.
Since opening their doors in 2008, ARCH has helped fulfill the wishes of over 2,500 residents and their families. Over the years, ARCH has been lucky to be a part of countless end-of-life journeys. Death is like the period at the end of a sentence—an inevitable conclusion. But before that period, there is a whole story to be lived.
At ARCH, they believe that those nearing the end of their lives should still have the opportunity to experience the beauty of living, no matter how much time remains. Andy’s story, which truly embodies this philosophy, was kindly shared with us by his surviving loved ones.
When Andy came to ARCH in May, 2024, he was welcomed as a new resident at Hospice. Doctors had anticipated he wouldn’t be with us long, but Andy had other plans. What was expected to be a short stay turned into five extra months of life, love, and connection.
Though Andy was in a wheelchair, his spirit was anything but confined. He moved around the hospice with a sense of purpose, making his presence known in the most positive ways. He found joy in tending to the gardens, building new connections, and offering a helping hand wherever it was needed. One of his favourite spots was his own puzzle corner—a place where he would spend most of his time.
Not only did Andy make the most of his time at ARCH, he also touched the lives of others in meaningful ways. He frequently offered words of support, encouragement, and love to those facing loss. His smile and cheerful attitude brightened the hearts of everyone around him.
Andy’s time at ARCH wasn’t just about enduring—it was about living fully, with joy, purpose, and an unwavering will to connect. His story is a testament to the idea that, at ARCH, life isn’t measured by the number of days left but by how we choose to live them.
When you support ARCH, whether it is through volunteering, making donations, attending fundraising events, or spreading awareness about Hospice, you directly help them in their mission to create special moments like Andy’s. Every contribution directly supports resident care and the simple, joyful experiences that bring comfort to our residents and their loved ones during the end-of-life journey.
Visit ARCH Hospice, call 705-942-1556, or email info@archhospice.ca.
Follow them on Facebook, Instagram @archhospice, and LinkedIn.