This reflective post explores how hospice reshaped my understanding of listening as a music therapist. Listening extends beyond words to breath, silence, emotional tone, and consent. Hospice taught me to slow down, resist fixing, and honour what is spoken and unspoken. Through bedside music, songwriting, and shared presence, listening becomes an active way of restoring dignity, agency, and humanity at end of life. Often, being deeply heard matters more than any song offered.

You can find the full blog post at www.valleyhospice.ca > What We Do > Music Therapy > Stories & Articles.

Message from the Chair  

There’s a nip in the air, and as we make our way through November, the urge to hibernate and find a cozy spot to rest seems to grow.

Still, there are always moments that brighten these dark autumn days.

This month, we celebrated the Valley Hospice’s fifth anniversary — an incredible milestone! At an intimate breakfast recently, we also honoured all those whose dedication over the past 25 years made this possible.

Every step of the journey has taken hard work, heart, and dedication. We’re deeply grateful to the visionaries, advocates, ambassadors, fundraisers, and care providers who brought this dream to life.

Please read our 2025 Winter Newsletter…https://valleyhospice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Winter-Newsletter.pdf