About Us
Our Plan
The first Maritime Children’s Hospice will be located in the Halifax area, with outreach to communities, improving the delivery of pediatric and perinatal palliative care for children with serious illness across the Maritimes. This proposed 10 bed facility will offer a homelike environment and high-quality, specialized care, while also serving as a hub for training healthcare providers in pediatric and perinatal palliative care. Additionally, we will support community healthcare providers through virtual outreach, fostering their ability to deliver quality pediatric palliative care while committing to continuous improvement and innovation as a learning organization.
Our Proposed Services
We will provide exceptional palliative care for children and their families, prioritizing comfort, dignity, and quality of life. We aim to attract and retain healthcare professionals while spreading awareness of the importance of pediatric palliative care in Maritime communities through education and support.
Symptom Admissions
Short term symptom evaluation, treatment initiation, and response assessment to streamline care.
Music, Recreation, and Pet Therapy Programs
Specialized therapists help create a warm, home-like environment where children and their families can find comfort, connection, and moments of joy.
Grief and
Bereavement Programs
Focused grief support for adults and children with specialists to help families navigate loss and create lasting memories for healing.
End-of-Life Admission
Two dedicated end-of-life suites providing families with specialized support for their medical and emotional needs during this tender and difficult time.
Home Transition
Assistance
Smooth transitions for children with new treatments or medications, providing monitoring and helping families adjust to updated technology and care plans.
Sibling Support
Tailored support for siblings, addressing their unique needs.
Respite Care
Flexible options offering families 28-30 days of respite care annually, plus emergency support for unexpected situations.
Outpatient Clinic
and Telehealth
In-person and virtual assessments inform treatment plans and symptom management, with telehealth support extending our reach across the Maritimes.
Our Team
Rebecca Earle
Co-Founder/Director
Megan Wright
Board Vice Chair
Shauna Wilcox
Co-Founder/Director
Marley MacDonald
Board Chair
A Message from our Founders
We are Registered Nurses and mothers who have dedicated our entire careers to caring, supporting and advocating for children and their families. The Maritimes has one of the best children’s hospitals in Canada, yet no standalone hospice to match the kind of care that children and families need and deserve when they are facing a life-limiting condition. We have made it our mission to change that. The Maritime Children’s Hospice will be funded by government partnership with IWK Health and through the generosity of community donors who support our mission - all at no cost to families. We hope you will help us tend the soil for the Maritime Children’s Hospice. Together we can build a home with love, hope and the resources needed to support these special lives and the communities that care for them.
Rebecca Earle, RN, MSc(A), CpedN(C) &; Shauna Wilcox, RN, MN, CHPCN (C)
Thank you to our founding Society members:
Sarah King, Registered Nurse, NS
Kyla Ouellette, Mother, NB
Dr. Lauren Hanes, Pediatrician, NS
Jan Archibald, Community Physiotherapist, NS
Debbie Balsor, Registered Nurse, NS
Allana Mullally, Mother, PE
Marjorie McGibbon, Registered Nurse, NB
Stephanie Schaffner, Mother, NS
Barry Schaffner, Grandfather, PE
Ashley Halloran, Mother, NS
Annie Macartney, Physiotherapist, PE
Carla Garrett, Parent, NS