Community Care Hospice volunteer receives award from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario

Members from Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Hospice Services attended the Hospice Palliative Care Ontario’s Annual Conference on June 11 to celebrate a prestigious award given to one of its Hospice Services volunteers.

June Mewhort, an exemplary CCCKL volunteer, was the proud recipient of the June Callwood Award. This award was established in 1994 by the Hospice Association of Ontario, now Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, to acknowledge and thank outstanding hospice volunteers throughout Ontario.

June has been a dedicated volunteer at CCCKL Hospice Services since 2015. She has supported palliative and grief clients and families, but her deep passion for caregiving truly sets her apart, says a media release. As a facilitator of the Caregiver Support Group, June uses her keen listening skills and ability to find joy amid struggle to provide gentle encouragement and validation.  As a life-long learner, she eagerly participates in every opportunity for education and applies newfound knowledge to her volunteer endeavours. June’s caring presence combined with her warmth and humour has a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives she touches.

The media release says this award is a testament to her exceptional dedication and her hospice heart. June is a true inspiration, and Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes is grateful to have her as part of the hospice family.  June’s was joined at the HPCO conference by her daughter as well as CCCKL Hospice staff to celebrate this special honour.

“Her contributions as a hospice volunteer go beyond measure. June’s generosity of spirit and willingness to go the extra mile have touched the hearts of everyone she has encountered. She is an invaluable member of our team, embodying the spirit of compassion and making a genuine difference in the lives of others,” says Sharon Yeo, Manager, Hospice Service, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Hospice Services.

Mewhort said it was, “a great honour to have my name associated with the June Callwood award. I am grateful that the hospice team put my name forward and I am extremely proud and touched to be a part of this award.”

“I started volunteering with Community Care after I retired from teaching. I saw an ad in the paper that Community Care was looking for volunteers and I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to volunteer with hospice because I wanted to do work that was coming from the heart. At hospice, you are surrounded by the most caring people that are coming from their heart space. Many clients of the facilitated grief support groups have told me that they feel truly listened to and that their words matter. That is important to me.”