Vic signs big personal cheque for Hospice project

The Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says there are many worthy fundraising causes but time has come for a hospice in North Bay

Patty and Vic Fedeli announced today that they are making a personal donation of $150,000 towards the Nipissing Serenity Hospice.

“The way we approach death is really changed, we used to say ‘if I die’, but now, we acknowledge we’re all going to die so it’s ‘when I die I would like to do this’,” Fedeli told the media after the announcement on Friday morning. 

“Between that and watching a very close friend die a horrible death, the way I thought, in the hospital some 20 years ago, and seeing our other friend Eva, how she transitioned, and how she died and how she taught us to die, only a few months ago, we really need a hospice here in North Bay. So if I can lend my voice to the hospice as I have is one thing, but opening our wallets to the hospice is I think what we really need all of the community to do.” 

The Fedeli’s have never been afraid to donate to a cause, as Vic noted his family has donated $1.5 million to the community within the past 30 years.   

The announcement was initially set for the construction site of the future Hospice off John Street in North Bay, but the rain moved the event to the Davedi Club.  

The big Fedeli cheque brings the local fundraising total to $3.27 million.  

Dave Mendicino is part of the corporate fundraising team for the Hospice project. 

He says other government funding could be on its way including 1.5 million dollar request to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and another 1.2 million request to the Ministry of Long-Term Health Care in the province.  

“Once all that’s in place, we will be close to our total build cost of 6.2 million,” noted Mendicino. 

“The corporate fundraising committee remains aggressive to reach our goal. Once we do, and all the funding is in place, we will transition into fundraising for our operating costs.”   

Hospice officials are thrilled with the local generosity.  

“This donation will help us achieve our objective, which is to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life and dying for patients and their loved ones,” said Mathilde Bazinet, Chair of the Board for Nipissing Serenity Hospice.