Statement from Mayor Foster on Clarington's first hospice opening

In honour of the Marigold Hospice Care grand opening, Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster has issued the following statement.

“This is a great day for Clarington. After years of hard work, our very first residential hospice is open, giving folks a warm and caring place when it matters most. It’s such a relief to know our community has this home to support and comfort those needing end-of-life care and their families.

Congratulations to the unstoppable Marigold Hospice Care Board and staff who made this moment possible. Your legacy has forever improved local health care for our community.

Thanks also to the many enthusiastic community supporters who took this project to heart. Clarington’s been proud to contribute – donating the land, offsetting fees, and providing $1.25 million to get construction started.

As we gather to celebrate this remarkable milestone, I am honoured to mark the occasion by presenting the Clarington Mayor’s Challenge Coin to Melodie Zarzeczny, the Board Chair and a driving force behind Marigold Hospice Care. This recognition reflects not only the significance of today but also Melodie’s outstanding leadership throughout the ten years it took to reach this achievement.

Left to right: Regional Councillor Wards 1 and 2 Granville Anderson, Councillor Ward 2 Lloyd Rang, Marigold Hospice Care Board Chair Melodie Zarzeczny, and Mayor Adrian Foster at the official opening of Marigold Hospice Care.

This is a symbol of our profound gratitude to Melodie for her extraordinary efforts to establish intentional, specialized end-of-life care in Clarington. Her fierce dedication to hospice has closed a significant gap in our health care system.”

Mayor’s Challenge Coin recipients are residents from all walks of life – volunteers, fundraisers, organizers, educators, and advocates – each making a positive impact on Clarington.