About Us
Welcome to Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin. We are honoured to walk beside you on this part of your journey. The Cottage is a place where comfort, dignity, and compassion come together, and exceptional care is provided for body, mind, soul and spirit.
This care is provided at no cost.
Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin supports a compassionate circle of care, here for those approaching end-of-life, for those who love them, and for those who are grieving.
Our Noble Purpose
At our core, we are in it together—rooting our organization in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. We believe no one should face life’s challenges alone. Every action we take is grounded in this commitment: We support exceptional care at end-of-life.
Moments Matter
We remain ever present, intentional, and aware that even small gestures leave lasting impact
In It Together
We find collective strength through unity and compassion.
Duty & Honour
We hold dignity in end-of-life care with integrity and respect. Building upon the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph and their commitment to provide compassionate care for the most vulnerable in our communities, we will continue to serve our community through our Noble Purpose and core values.
Our Legacy
The opening of “The Cottage” in 2025 marked a truly special milestone in our history. Founded in 1993 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the St. Joseph’s Health Care Society has carried on the work started by the Sisters and alongside key individuals from within our community, led the efforts to bring hospice care to the people of Elgin. We are deeply grateful to the Sisters and to the Society for their vision and leadership and we are honoured to carry this legacy forward. Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin has been named in recognition of a transformational donation, gifted to us from the Estate of the late Marianne Barrie.
Raised in Elgin County, Marianne was a trailblazer in her career as a successful lawyer, yet it was her quiet dedication to her family and community that truly defined her. After helping to care for her ill and aging parents (her father was a former Mayor of St. Thomas), Marianne’s dedication and commitment to her family, extended to many charitable organizations within her community. Marianne Barrie died in 2017, but her family legacy lives on in the naming of our Hospice.
Land Acknowledgement
Your Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin is located on the ancestral and present-day homelands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabek, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), and Mississauga Peoples. Elgin is home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, whose enduring presence enriches our shared community.
We honour the sovereign Nations of the Munsee Delaware Nation, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, and Oneida Nation of the Thames, each with their own distinct languages, cultures, and traditions. These Nations remain vibrant and resilient, upholding their deep-rooted responsibilities to the land and their people.
This land was settled through Treaty 2—the McKee Purchase of 1790, and we affirm our commitment to the responsibilities that come with living and working on treaty territory.
Out of deep respect for those who have cared for this land since time immemorial—and those who continue to do so—we commit to walking gently on the earth, honouring water, and all living beings as sacred gifts.
We pledge to listen deeply, learn humbly, and build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous Peoples who continue to steward these lands.