Editor,
I attended the recent meeting of council at which they dealt with applications for community enhancement grants and grants in aid [Grants to focus solely on "essential needs," The Chief, March 26]. I appeared on behalf of Squamish Hospice Society.
Hospice has not felt the need to apply for such funding in the past but, as Councillor Corinne Lonsdale states, with reduced funding from the provincial government and its agencies, we have been pushed perilously close to the brink.
Councillor Bryan Raiser noted that there are some core services that need to be supported.
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority apparently does not see keeping people in their homes at end-of-life rather than in busy and expensive hospital beds or supporting the bereaved, as core, safety net services.
They withdrew all the financial support they were giving us. It was a small amount but very significant to our program. And, of course, there are no gaming commission funds available to us.
I am certain the task of dealing with funding requests was a difficult one for our municipal council.
However, though my presentation was late on the list and late in a long day for them, all members of council remained attentive and very respectful of the presenters. I thank them.
Gloria Healy
Squamish
