Our Interim Board
Dr. Sarah Gower
Dr. Alan Simpson
Jeff Ostic
Dr. Sarah Gower is an Elora family physician who practices low-risk obstetrics, inpatient, and palliative care. She grew up south of Owen Sound and has dreamed of a hospice for Rural Wellington since moving to the area in 2009. Her husband, three children and two cats are all equally excited to see this dream become reality.
Alan Simpson, a retired general practitioner, served Centre Wellington from 1973 to 2021 after emigrating from Ireland with his wife Anne in 1972. He served on several boards and committees, was Groves Memorial Community Hospital's Chief of Staff (two terms), Chairman of Medical Staff, and Joint Chairman of the Palliative Care Committee, a facility physician for Portage Ontario and Heritage River Retirement Centre, and was a locum doctor for many Guelph, KW, Palmerston, and Drayton practices.
When not advocating for a rural hospice, he enjoys his five grandchildren and a large orchard of heritage fruit trees and beehives.
Jeff Ostic is a lifelong Centre Wellington resident and former partner at The Ostic Group. Although familiar with the hospice movement, he and his wife Deb became passionate proponents after experiencing the hospice care his father Ivan received during the final weeks of his life in 2018. His family will be forever grateful, and he feels it is a privilege to be involved in the Aboyne Rural Hospice initiative. Jeff and Deb reside in Fergus.
Our Team
We have an interim Board of Directors and a dedicated core group of community members planning the hospice’s fundraising, design, construction, and eventual opening.
Our group is collaborating with Guelph and Wellington health care professionals and hospitals, as well as Wellington County, Centre Wellington Township, Hospice Wellington, the Upper Grand Family Health Team, and the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team.
Aboyne Rural Hospice is committed to cooperation, collaboration, and effective use of health system resources in the planning of palliative care services and residential hospice beds for rural Wellington County.
Our Location
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our proposed facility and the services we will offer, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
Write us
"Bringing a hospice into our options for local palliative care is going to be a wonderful addition to our community. I think of hospice as a dedicated home away from home for a loved one's final weeks, where we can take care of all the daily worries and care for families as well as the patient.”
Dr. Sarah Gower, Elora family physician, Co-Chair Aboyne Rural Hospice Interim Board of Directors. September 8, 2023.
2024 - Aboyne Rural Hospice Charitable No. 72798 2548 RR0001