Handbags for Hospice raises an incredible $275,152 at 10th annual event

By: Liz Dadson September 20, 2026 733

Handbags for Hospice raises an incredible $275,152 at 10th annual event

The 10th annual Handbags for Hospice gala saw another record-breaking success, raising $275,152 in support of compassionate end-of-life care at Huron Shores Hospice in Tiverton.

The sold-out event saw about 170 people pack the Kincardine Pavilion, Thursday night, enjoying hors d’oeuvres served by volunteers, and checking out the many designer handbags in the silent auction.

MC Phillip Craig welcomed everyone and then Cathy Herbert, executive director of the hospice, thanked the many sponsors, volunteers and those in attendance for their incredible support of this event.

“Since 2018, when we opened our first suite at Tiverton Park Manor, we have had 225 individuals and their families use the hospice,” she said. “We deeply appreciate all of you for coming tonight and supporting compassionate, high-quality, end-of-life care, close to home. That’s at the heart of why we’re here tonight, to keep Huron Shores Hospice going for years to come. The three-bed hospice is a vital service in this area. It belongs to the community and its story has been written by all of us.

She paid tribute to the many sponsors, including Duncan and Lesley Hawthorne, the host sponsors of the event, Mike and Carol Rencheck, and Bruce Power, who together have donated more than $800,000 over the past decade.

Duncan Hawthorne said he and Lesley had a difficult year as her father's health declined and he spent his final weeks in a hospice in the United Kingdom.

"Everything we've been saying that hospice care can offer, has been vindicated," he said. "It was certainly eye-opening. The staff was incredible.

"The family got to spend those last weeks with their loved one, and there was respect for the family and the loved one right to the last day.

"That's why we're here tonight, paying it forward, so the hospice will be there for you when you need it.

"That hospice where Lesley's dad was, is 40 years old and has 20 beds. I'll be watching to see how close you can get to that!"

James Scongack of Bruce Power echoed those sentiments and said it's hard to believe that 10 years have gone by since that first Handbags for Hospice event.

"Back then, there was a vision of what the community needed," he said, "and we definitely needed this. It took a lot of money to put this hospice in place; it was a steep climb. But there's nothing more powerful than the heart of a volunteer, and we made it happen.

"It's important for Bruce Power and its suppliers to support this. In a community, we all do what we can, and we want this to be here for another 10, 20, 30, 40 years!"

The guest speakers for the evening, were Kelly Thomson and Megan Fry whose mother, Bonnie Stark, was a resident at Huron Shores Hospice in the spring of 2025.

"When Mom's cancer returned, she said the hospice was where she wanted to be," said Thomson. "The experience there was remarkable. We were allowed to be her daughters, not her caregivers. We didn't have to worry about her or dad. The staff and volunteers welcomed us, they fed us. We had our last Easter meal together there. It wasn't just where Mom received great care, we were all cared for."

"We wanted to have a sleepover there with Mom, and they helped us do that," said Fry. "They listened, they noticed, and they cared. At the end, all Mom could have were purple freezies, and there they were, in the freezer. That meant everything to Mom. Knowing she was cared for, comforted us.

"Mom loved people and she wanted to know all about them. At the hospice, they took the time to sit with her and chat and listen.

"On her final night, we watched her favourite movie, 'Overboard'."

"The volunteers were incredible," said Thomson. "They helped us navigate all of this. When Mom first went into the hospice, she said, "Am I dying? This feels like a spa'."

"People die there, but they also live there," said Fry. "They laugh, visit, watch movies, enjoy a sleepover, say 'I love you' and 'goodbye'.

"The hospice gave us time together, and we got our Mom back. She was so comfortable there and she could be herself.

"We have so many great memories of Mom. We are forever grateful to everyone at the hospice. Thank you for supporting this amazing place."

The crowd gave them a standing ovation.

The evening was then turned over to the auctioneer. The gala featured live and silent auctions of numerous designer handbags, luxury experiences and get-aways, as well as a wine wall, and the Golden Ticket elimination draw.

Huron Shores Hospice opened its doors in 2018 with a one-bed suite at Tiverton Park Manor. In 2019, community programs for grief support, end-of-life planning, Death Cafes and End-of-Life Doula services, were added. In 2021, the second suite was opened, and in May, 2026, the third hospice suite was officially opened, significantly increasing the number of families the hospice can serve.