Sue Skeates (Executive Director / Educator)
Sue Skeates has been an RN from 1981 through 2012, working in remote areas of Canada and Internationally. Now retired she is actively involved with Terrace Hospice Society. As former Chair of the Board, she has worked with Diana Wood to bring public education for Advance Care Planning to Terrace and area. Sue has also functioned as the Volunteer Coordinator at THS. In this role, one of her interests included bringing more trained volunteers and more comprehensive grief support to our area. Sue’s current roles include Educator and Fundraising. Since May 2017 she sits on the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) as the Northern Representative Board of Directors. Among other Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams she wants to help our community and area establish a Hospice House/Hospice Hub to the Northwest Region of Northern Health
Sandy Pringle (CAREGIVER OUTREACH)
I am originally from Toronto Ontario, but I moved to Terrace in 1994 to live in this beautiful town. I met and married my husband here and we then moved to the Northwest Territories. We happily came back Terrace in 2008 to be closer to family.
I graduated from Coast Mountain College in 2012 with an Associate Degree in Social Work and will be working on my Bachelor’s Degree at UNBC.I have also enjoyed a twenty-year career in Justice and retired to work with the amazing people at Terrace Hospice Society and the Friend and Family Care givers of the Northwest.
I am currently the Community Outreach Worker Family and Friends Caregiver Support in the Northwest and the Community Liaison for the Terrace Hospice Society. My goal is to bring an adapted a version of the Family Caregivers of BC program to unpaid Caregivers in this under-resourced area. This will be done through specially trained Volunteer Peer Supporters and Group Facilitations.
Over the next couple of years, I hope to bring our excellent programming to the fore as I love working and living in the Northwest and being of service to our community.
Anika Wieprecht (HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE COORDINATOR)
Anika has joined the team in March 2021 as the new Hospice Palliative Care Coordinator for THS. She moved from Germany to Canada four years ago and has had a diverse job history but was always searching for a career that would bring her life purpose and meaning. She has long history of
volunteering and that is what brought her to THS. It was immediately obvious that she was more suited to be our new Coordinator than a Volunteer. In her new role at the Terrace Hospice, Anika will recruit volunteers and pair them with suitable clients; develop and evaluate
new programs; develop new policies as needed; and promote THS in the community. Currently she is in training and will take courses to gain more knowledge around palliative care and she is happy to learn more about how she can help support you in your journey, or if you just need a
friendly ear to hear you, please reach out.
Diana Wood (Office Manager)
Diana was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley and moved to Terrace in 1980 where she raised her two sons. She fell in love with the area and the people almost immediately and knew that this is where she wanted to spend the rest of her life. The first 10 years were spent working in the Hospitality industry at the Northern Motor Inn and later the Thornhill Pub. She then wanted a change of pace and decided to pursue a career in Real Estate. After 20 years of helping people find their dream home it was time for retirement.
Not being one to sit still for long she soon decided to devote some time and energy to Volunteering. One of the first volunteer opportunities that came along was to sit on the Board of Director’s for the Terrace Hospice Society. After learning what Hospice entailed and what an amazing service it offers, she decided it was time to spend time with Hospice clients in an attempt to make their journey a bit easier. She took training in Healing Touch and has enhanced the lives of clients using this gentle approach to care. Then later she had the opportunity to take training through the BC Centre for Palliative Care and became an advocate and workshop leader in Advance Care Planning. She feels very passionate about ACP and hopes to be able to deliver these workshops for many years to come. When asked what is in store for her next, she replied “Just to do the best I can to be of service to others. That is my ultimate calling.”
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Happy Day!!! Our grant application was approved.
What would have been different if we had not received this grant money? From first hearing of our success, the mood changed in our little THS community! Our strategic planning took on larger challenges that we could not have seriously considered previously. We collectively became like the Lion in The Wizard of Oz. We considered different ways of attracting volunteers, of using technology, of reaching out to our larger community. With more people and more ideas, and yes, more money, it is a joy to come to work each day and make a difference within ourselves, that impacts those struggling with similar challenges our volunteers faced with their own personal stories of growth and development as we age.
Thank you to the United Way and to Family Caregivers of BC.
