The president of the Delta Hospice Society, which lost its palliative care facility due to B.C. government policies, says it will face a new fight at a March 26 annual meeting as pro-euthanasia members could take over the board, the direction and resources the society has built up..“Now is the time to fight for our values and beliefs and we intend to leave everything on the battlefield. If the pro-life board of directors loses control of the Delta Hospice Society, the death squad will use our $4 million worth of assets to promote death as they get into cahoots with the B.C. socialist government,” DHS president Angelina Ireland told the Western Standard..“God-willing we can blow up this battle royale to an international audience. We are the only ones fighting this cause on the front lines; and if we lose our shining light will be snuffed out. So, we don’t intend on losing!”.DHS was committed to upholding life to its natural conclusion. Although it allowed patients at its 10-bed hospice in Ladner, B.C. to be transferred to a nearby hospital for MAiD who requested it, DHS would not participate in the procedure onsite..As a result, the Fraser Health Authority cancelled its $1.5 million per year contract with DHS. Although DHS facilities were built with private funds, they were built on Fraser Health’s land, so the latter took over operation and use of the buildings..DHS maintains a thrift store to help raise revenues and advance its cause. The society recently created a ‘Do Not Euthanize’ advanced directive and made it available to DHS’s nearly 14,000 members. The legal document would protect its holders against attempts to terminate their lives through medical intervention..A Delta Cares Helpline was launched on March 7 for those struggling with difficult end-of-life circumstances or bereavement. Callers can ask questions about palliative care, receive educational resources, enrol in facilitated peer support groups, or be referred to a professional counsellor for a free 60-minute counselling session..In an interview with Western Standard, Ireland said a victory for her side would allow an explicit anti-euthanasia stance to be put in the organization’s bylaws. This would allow the new initiatives to continue and lay the groundwork for a new facility the government can’t take..“We will be able … to start a capital project to build another hospice, all privately funded, that will be a sanctuary for the dying and authentic palliative care. And we will be able to provide a space for people that is safe. There’ll be no euthanasia performed there, there’ll be no talk of it. And they can truly live out the remaining days in peace, protection and comfort,” Ireland said..Membership of the DHS swelled as both pro- and anti-MAiD advocates joined the organization to influence its direction. On March 10, a group called Take Back Delta Hospice sent an e-mail entitled, “Vote against Angelina Ireland!” to tell people their best chance in two years to influence the hospice was about to arrive..“It is your time to block bylaw changes and vote for new directors. Please reach out to your network of Take Back Delta Hospice supporters to ensure they also plan to attend,” read the e-mail..The AGM will be held online March 26 at 11 a.m. Pacific time, and anyone who had membership as of October 22 last year will be eligible to vote. Ireland says the values behind Take Back Delta Hospice have already won the facility they fought over, and another win from that side would be disheartening..“It’s important because not only will they be able to use our assets and push us out and push this idea of authentic palliative care out, but it will really make an example of you can’t fight the Borg,” Ireland said, using a metaphor from Star Trek: The Next Generation..“If the government decides, and they get some activists around that, you have no chance of ever holding on to your values.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard contributor living in Saskatchewan.
The president of the Delta Hospice Society, which lost its palliative care facility due to B.C. government policies, says it will face a new fight at a March 26 annual meeting as pro-euthanasia members could take over the board, the direction and resources the society has built up..“Now is the time to fight for our values and beliefs and we intend to leave everything on the battlefield. If the pro-life board of directors loses control of the Delta Hospice Society, the death squad will use our $4 million worth of assets to promote death as they get into cahoots with the B.C. socialist government,” DHS president Angelina Ireland told the Western Standard..“God-willing we can blow up this battle royale to an international audience. We are the only ones fighting this cause on the front lines; and if we lose our shining light will be snuffed out. So, we don’t intend on losing!”.DHS was committed to upholding life to its natural conclusion. Although it allowed patients at its 10-bed hospice in Ladner, B.C. to be transferred to a nearby hospital for MAiD who requested it, DHS would not participate in the procedure onsite..As a result, the Fraser Health Authority cancelled its $1.5 million per year contract with DHS. Although DHS facilities were built with private funds, they were built on Fraser Health’s land, so the latter took over operation and use of the buildings..DHS maintains a thrift store to help raise revenues and advance its cause. The society recently created a ‘Do Not Euthanize’ advanced directive and made it available to DHS’s nearly 14,000 members. The legal document would protect its holders against attempts to terminate their lives through medical intervention..A Delta Cares Helpline was launched on March 7 for those struggling with difficult end-of-life circumstances or bereavement. Callers can ask questions about palliative care, receive educational resources, enrol in facilitated peer support groups, or be referred to a professional counsellor for a free 60-minute counselling session..In an interview with Western Standard, Ireland said a victory for her side would allow an explicit anti-euthanasia stance to be put in the organization’s bylaws. This would allow the new initiatives to continue and lay the groundwork for a new facility the government can’t take..“We will be able … to start a capital project to build another hospice, all privately funded, that will be a sanctuary for the dying and authentic palliative care. And we will be able to provide a space for people that is safe. There’ll be no euthanasia performed there, there’ll be no talk of it. And they can truly live out the remaining days in peace, protection and comfort,” Ireland said..Membership of the DHS swelled as both pro- and anti-MAiD advocates joined the organization to influence its direction. On March 10, a group called Take Back Delta Hospice sent an e-mail entitled, “Vote against Angelina Ireland!” to tell people their best chance in two years to influence the hospice was about to arrive..“It is your time to block bylaw changes and vote for new directors. Please reach out to your network of Take Back Delta Hospice supporters to ensure they also plan to attend,” read the e-mail..The AGM will be held online March 26 at 11 a.m. Pacific time, and anyone who had membership as of October 22 last year will be eligible to vote. Ireland says the values behind Take Back Delta Hospice have already won the facility they fought over, and another win from that side would be disheartening..“It’s important because not only will they be able to use our assets and push us out and push this idea of authentic palliative care out, but it will really make an example of you can’t fight the Borg,” Ireland said, using a metaphor from Star Trek: The Next Generation..“If the government decides, and they get some activists around that, you have no chance of ever holding on to your values.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard contributor living in Saskatchewan.
