A community walk at Paterson Park is being organized for tomorrow by a group of residents opposed to the current Delta Hospice board.
The Walk for Choice at Delta Hospice is in response to the DHS board planning to hold an extraordinary general meeting on June 15th to amend the society’s constitution to make it a faith-based hospice.
Opposed to allowing the legal procedures medical assistance in dying (MAiD) at the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner, the board has drawn the ire of many Delta residents who tried to sign up for membership, only to see the board rejecting the applications.
“The Delta Hospice is close to my heart, and the heart of this community. This Hospice was built on the incredible generosity and amazing spirit of Deltans over the past two decades. It would be a travesty to see this facility be destroyed at the hands of any special interest group. We are planning this walk to continue to pressure government - we need our elected officials to help us save Delta Hospice,” said Chris Pettypiece, spokesperson for the group, in a news release.
Pettypiece was a member of the board but removed by the new board after the AGM.
In an article in The B.C. Catholic this week, board president Angelina Ireland explained they had to place a cap of 1,500 members for their small, private society after the board of volunteers was inundated with applications, adding the sudden rise in membership requests was a concerted campaign to put pressure on them.
Ireland has maintained that MAiD is not in keeping with the philosophy of palliative care and that people do have the option of having the procedure next door at Delta Hospital.
Opponents of the board also accuse it of hijacking the society and stacking the membership with a minority who want to impose their religious viewpoint.
Those organizing Saturday’s walk say they want to ensure the hospice remains community asset accessible to all and reflective of patients’ rights.
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced earlier this year the DHS will lose its provincial funding, but the minister is staying away from the heated membership controversy.
Asked to keep their anger at home, those participating in Saturday's walk are reminded to arrive at 10:30 a.m. and the walk is scheduled for 11 a.m.
