Holy Family Hospital celebrated its 75th anniversary on September 15, 2022, with food, dancing, ceremony, and reflection. This was a particularly special date as it is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows and the date each year that the Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul, the Founding Congregation of Holy Family Hospital, renew their religious vows.
The day began with a Mass celebrated and offered for the intentions of the Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul and Holy Family’s Auxiliary, who also reach their 65th anniversary in 2022. Francis Maza, VP Mission, shared words of appreciation and congratulations with staff, volunteers, Auxiliary members, and residents before the Mass.
Shameless Buns Food Truck and Earnest Ice Cream Cart were on hand to nourish staff and site guests during the event. Holy Family’s kitchen staff prepared a special lunch and dinner for residents and patients.
Melissa Donaldson, Holy Family’s music therapist, dedicated the day’s installment of the all site radio program to celebrating the 75th.
It included a prayer and song led by Holy Family resident, Sybil Alexander, in her traditional Nisga’a, and a Q&A period where Emelia, also a resident of Holy Family, peppered Cecilia Moore, Spiritual Health Practitioner, with questions about Holy Family’s history and the history of the Sisters, which Cecilia answered easily.
The radio program also featured Fiona Dalton, CEO and President of PHC who offered her congratulations, as did Jaye Currie, Indigenous Wellness Liaison, and Francis Maza, VP Mission.
Senior Leadership Team members Shaf Hussain, Norman Peters, and Dr. Janet Kow were also present and heartily welcomed by staff, volunteers, and residents.
After lunch, staff, volunteers, and SLT representatives gathered at Holy Family Hospital’s Rehab Main Front Entrance in front of the “new” Holy Family Hospital sign for a photo shoot forming a human “75″ for the 75th Anniversary. Brian Smith, photographer with Media Services, coached the crowd into shape with acting site leader, Dmitri Fiodorov and site admin, Cristopher Sy’s on the ground prodding.
In the afternoon, special entertainment was brought in for residents and a spectacular 75th anniversary cake was cut by Fiona Dalton and distributed by staff volunteers to colleagues, residents, and guests.
The event was truly a site effort, supported by PHC’s site-wide team members from Communications, Media Services, and Volunteer Resources.
Congratulations Holy Family Hospital!
