The people who choose careers as funeral directors or cemetery staff usually do so because they want to help others who are dealing with one of life’s most difficult moments. They do it because they are compassionate and because they care.

When Mount Pleasant Group was looking for a focus for our charitable giving, we took inspiration from our staff. We knew we wanted to concentrate our efforts on a single partner to achieve the maximum impact, but equally, we wanted one who shared our values of compassion and care. Hospice and Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) was the perfect fit.

The need for quality end-of-life care in Ontario is overwhelming, not only to provide dignity and support at a critical time, but to relieve the burden on our overstretched healthcare system when it’s needed most. It is an urgency that our staff understand all too well. In fact, when the partnership began in 2017, many of our staff were already dedicating their time volunteering at nearby hospices. They already understood the need and recognised kindred spirits in the hospice staff and administrators.

Because we both work with end of life, Mount Pleasant Group has more to offer HPCO than just donations and volunteer hours. We can also share our expertise and experience. And we can benefit from HPCO’s knowledge and experience as well.

Over the years of our partnership, Mount Pleasant Group has provided our facilities for meetings, training, and events hosted by our hospice partners, while supporting fundraising efforts and donating to them directly. Our teams came together to participate in annual events such as bake sales, the Hike for Hospice, and the Healing Cycle Ride to raise money for local hospices. Last year we were honoured to help further the HPCO’s Centre of Excellence, an accreditation system dedicated to better patient health and experiences, as well as reduced costs for the system and improved resilience among caregivers. Our communities have become increasingly reliant upon the support of private organisations to ensure the care and dignity of those of us facing the ends of our lives. COVID-19’s impact on an already overburdened system has only made this more critical as hospices and palliative care facilities face an unprecedented crisis.

There is no shortage of worthy causes to support. For Mount Pleasant Group, the right fit was one where there were natural and organic connections between the work we do every day and the organisations we wanted to support. The result has been a very strong partnership that has grown year over year; one that staff are excited to become involved in, support and give their time to. And one that we hope is making a real difference in our communities.