Craig’s connection to Hospice runs deep — shaped by both love and loss.

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His parents were the kind of people who quietly made their community better. They volunteered, supported local charities, and gave generously to the hospital foundation and countless other causes. Craig’s mom especially had a gift for kindness. She was warm, humble, and always the first to lend a hand or comfort someone in need. Her caring spirit was known throughout the community — she made everyone feel seen, valued, and loved.

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When she became ill in 2021, she was identified as a candidate for an Island Health Hospice bed at Yucalta Lodge but was told none were available. What followed was a heartbreaking series of moves — from room to room, then back home, and finally back to the hospital. There, she spent over a week lying on a stretcher in the hallway, directly across from the nursing station, waiting for a bed to open. She had no privacy and no quiet or comfortable space to rest.

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Craig will never forget the helplessness of that time. His mom, uncomfortable and exposed, endured people walking by and looking at her as they passed. At one point, she locked herself in the “Sunshine Room,” lying on a small couch just to find a few moments of peace and to watch her favorite shows. But even there, she couldn’t stay long — it was a family visiting room.

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Right before she passed, she was finally moved into a shared room. Craig and his brother stood by her side, holding her hand as the hospital buzzed around them. Three minutes after his brother arrived, she took her last breath.

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It was during the height of the pandemic — a time when hospitals were overwhelmed and families often had limited access to their loved ones. Under normal circumstances, this kind of experience would hopefully never happen again. But for Craig, it was a powerful reminder of how deeply important it is to ensure people can die with dignity, surrounded by appropriate care and compassion.

For someone who had spent her life giving to others, it was not the peaceful passing she deserved. And for Craig, it became a moment he could never forget — one that inspired a quiet promise to help ensure no other family would endure the same.

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After this experience, Craig became an active supporter of Hospice. He joined the Board of Directors, volunteered, and helped raise funds to make end-of-life care more accessible for families in Campbell River. He’s continued to stay close to the organization — lending his support to the Dave Rennie Memorial Golf Tournament (named after a dear family friend) and donating items like a Traeger Grill package to inspire others to give back.

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For Craig, Hospice represents more than a place — it’s a promise to care for our community with compassion, dignity, and respect. “No one,” he says, “should ever have to say goodbye to someone they love in a hallway.”