Blog
February 2, 2024
There is a new Sensory Room at Hilltop House for residents who need a calm and relaxing space. The Support Society supplied aromatherapy diffusers, lava and jellyfish lamps, a northern lights projector, fiber-optic sensory lights, stress relief toys, etc. to outfit this much-needed resource for the residents. Donations from resident's family members were used to finance this project and we are thankful for their continuing support.
October 20, 2023
This year, the society offered our major sponsors an opportunity to have their logos/names advertised on our bus. With a donation of $1,500 the logos would remain on the bus for three years and with a donation of $3,000 they would stay for the life of the bus. We have raised $16,500 so far with this promotion and the first of the logos are now in place. Thanks go to these supporters for helping provide many additional activities for the residents with their donations. Also thanks to Matt from Turner Manufacturing Company for his assistance with creating and installing the logos for us.
September 9, 2023
The Support Society participated in the Brackendale Fall Fair 2023 with a booth selling items made at Hilltop House. The weather was wonderful and there was a really good turnout from the community. The Society members sold bags, gave away balloons and candies and provided information on Hilltop House and our role supporting the residents there.
For the Fair, the Men's Shed from downtown had assisted the residents in making marble runs, pencil cases and planter boxes using the Shed the Society had built at Hilltop. The resident's Sewing Club produced tote bags which were a big seller. (We also provided the sewing machine and supplies for the formation of the Club). Toques and head bands were also on sale. All the funds raised went back to the residents for their next projects as the Support Society continually strives to support new activities for the residents who call Hilltop House home.
September 1, 2023
The Support Society has purchased an OBIE overhead projector which turns any table top into a colorful inter-active video game. The sensors detect and respond to motion over the surface and are accompanied by sound. There are over 60 games which have been designed to address all levels of mental and physical capabilities and are all very user-friendly. The OBIE is intended to improve social skills, dexterity and overall mental health. 100 Women Who Care, Woodfibre LNG and the Squamish Hospital Auxiliary all made donations to make this purchase possible. The reaction from the residents has been extremely positive and we are planning to purchase a second OBIE before year-end.
Today, Roy Ramage delivered a truck full of presents for the Friday Night Dinner crew. Items for the kitchen included a new stove and hood fan, microwave, air fryer, pots and pans, cutlery, cups, glasses, knives, tablecloths, dish towels, etc, etc. The generous donations from all of the Ramage family were in fond memory of their parents, Allen and Yvonne Ramage who had both been residents at Hilltop House. Prior to the Covid pandemic, Yvonne had been a much-loved Friday Night Dinner volunteer and was also a volunteer with the Legion Happy Hour at Hilltop. As a resident, she never missed attending a dinner. The Support Society, staff and especially the residents, thank the family for their contribution to this favourite activity. It's the continuing support from the community that makes it possible for the volunteers to provide home-cooked dinners once a week.
May 4, 2023
Over the weekend of April 1st and April 2nd, members of the Support Society held an open house in the lobby of Hilltop House from 10.00am - 4.00pm each day. This was an opportunity to meet with friends and family of the residents and provide information on the Society's role volunteering with the residents: raising funds, operating the bus and participating with activities. We were also selling our re-usable bags and raffle tickets. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made a donation. All the funds raised will be used for the residents.
This was also the last weekend Hilltop visitors had to wear masks which means the residents now get to see our smiling faces 😁😁.
April 3, 2023
The Christmas party included refreshments provided by the Society and funded by the Sea to Sky Gondola, music from Ian, a raffle and, of course, the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus who visited ever resident at Hilltop House during the afternoon. After two years of restrictions, it was wonderful to be able to celebrate Christmas with the residents in a group setting again.
Christmas week was busy for Society volunteers and Activities staff wrapping hundreds of presents and filling 86 bags ready for Santa to deliver to each of the residents at the Christmas Party on December 23rd. Thanks to London Drugs and the generosity of the Squamish community, there were plenty of gifts for everyone.
December 24, 2022
On August 17th, the Support Society held their 30 year anniversary picnic on the patio at Hilltop House. Along with residents and staff, previous members and sponsors were invited. It was a warm day but there was a pleasant breeze and plenty of shade. The refreshments were courtesy of the Sea to Sky Gondola and Nesters and included large platters of food and a slice of cake for all the approximately 80 people who attended.
August 17, 2022
The entertainment was provided by the Iswalh Dance Group from Lil'wat. The eight dancers and drummers came from Mt. Currie which was particularly appreciated by the residents who were raised in Mt. Currie. They were accompanied by Kathleen, one of our residents, on her drum.
Among the previous members watching the entertainment was Ruth Fenton. Her father, George Carson, was the the first resident at Hilltop House. Ruth and her husband were among a group of resident's family members who advocated for transportation to allow the residents at Hilltop House easier access to the community. To facilitate the fund-raising for a vehicle, the Support Society was established as a registered charity in 1992. With support from local businesses, organizations and individuals, the first van was soon in operation. One of the initial drivers, Loretta Conway, is still a Society member today. Ruth's husband, Doug, was the first president. They were followed by son-in-law Roy Crowston and daughter Judy, maintaining the family involvement for a number of years.
After the van was purchased, the first members continued fund-raising through rummage sales, BBQs, craft fairs, etc. to purchase equipment and participate in numerous activities with the residents. Their mission to enhance the lives of the residents is still the one we strive to follow today. Our thanks go to these original members for leading the way.
The dance group was funded through a 2022 grant given to the Support Society from the Squamish Arts Council to be used for Indigenous Arts. We are extremely thankful for the opportunity to provide their performance at Hilltop House.
Also, there is now an outside space available for everyone to get together and the patio is being utilized for resident's birthday parties and for the residents to gather and listen to live music. The Society is only able to do this because of the the generosity of our donors.
As the warmer weather approaches, the Society has been purchasing furniture for the various courtyards and the new patio. This allows the residents and their visitors to enjoy the outdoor spaces in the shade on the hot, sunny days.
July 19, 2022
Members of the Squamish Quilter's Guild kindly made nine fidget aprons for residents at Hilltop House. Every apron is totally unique with different textures and objects. The aprons will provide many residents with comfort and enrichment to their lives.
April 20, 2022
Many thanks go to the Guild for their donation to our Hilltop community.
The menu has included a variety of items: moose stew, orange-glazed chicken, seafood casserole, sweet and sour meatballs, cottage pie, home-made ice-cream, cheesecake, fruit flan, etc. Wine and beer are also served. The Rotary Club and Nesters help sponsor this event and donations are often supplied by family members of the residents.
Starting in September, we were able to resume with Friday Night Dinners for the residents. Instead of once every two weeks, as previously, the format was changed to every Friday but with a reduced number of residents participating each time. The society has two teams of cooks and servers who alternate weeks to provide the dinner. We have maintained the weekly event up to our Christmas evening on December 17th and will start again in the new year.
December 18, 2021
The lawns have now been removed and this week pouring the new concrete was completed. The patio provides the residents with a large outside area where they can all get together for activities and meet with family and friends. The Support Society will now work on the landscaping and raise funds to provide patio furniture and shade from the sun.
The main project for the Support Society in 2021 was creating a concrete patio in the north courtyard at Hilltop House. As the majority of residents are in wheelchairs, the lawns were unusable and the pathways were not easy for everyone to negotiate. Therefore, the courtyard was not extensively used.
September 9, 2021
In the last year, the bus trips have been especially beneficial for the residents as it gave them an opportunity to leave Hilltop House during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to their driver Tanis, the residents have also become ice cream connoisseurs as they stop at various locations for an ice cream before heading home.
Initially, social distancing restricted the number of residents on each bus ride and the bus was going out only once a week. The bus now takes three trips a week fully loaded with ten passengers, six wheelchairs and four walking residents. They are not able to get off the bus but the scenic tours go as far north as the Tantalus Lookout and south to Porteau Cove.
July 20, 2021
The Tuesday morning gardening group held the first of their weekly gardening sessions at Hilltop House today. COVID protocols were followed and we were busy planting fresh spring flowers; all kindly provided by local businesses. Beneath their masks, Anne, Fran and Emma are all smiling and hoping the weather is just as pleasant in the coming weeks. Society members are grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at Hilltop House again, even if it is only outside. Following social distancing rules, it was really good just being able to say hello to the residents and give them a wave.
May 4, 2021
Through a grant from United Way, the society has been able to purchase additional equipment, including an exercise bike, iPads, and interactive stuffed animals for the residents. These items are greatly appreciated by the residents as the pandemic resulted in exercise classes in the community being cancelled and contact with relatives and friends curtailed. The equipment will continue to benefit the residents post-pandemic and thanks go to the Hilltop House physiotherapist for initiating this request for funds.
February 1, 2021
Many in the community have contributed in helping the residents enjoy the Christmas season while they are living under restrictions to maintain Hilltop House COVID-free. Along with their regular duties, the staff have concentrated on decorating the outside areas of the building helped with generous donations from local businesses. The Support Society assisted with arranging a donation of two decorated Christmas trees from the Squamish Downtown Business Improvement Association and Best Coast Lights installing outside lights free-of-charge.
A donation was also raised by the Squamish Farmer's Market Association during their last outside market of the year. Also, many customers at London Drugs helped Santa ensure there are ample gifts for every single resident. Volunteers with the Support Society, following quarantine protocols, baked cookies to be distributed to residents and staff at Hilltop House.
Thanks go to the Squamish community for their support and to all the staff who have worked extremely hard to keep the residents safe while always striving to maintain their quality of life.
December 21, 2020
The Support Society is selling re-usable bags for $3.00 each and, thanks to our sponsors, all proceeds will be used for the benefit of the Hilltop House residents. The bags were ordered prior to the pandemic and many of our planned activities for selling the bags and holding a raffle to raise funds this year, have not occurred.
However, the bags are available for sale at :
Garibaldi Graphics in downtown Squamish
The Beehive in Brackendale
Auxiliary Store at the Squamish Hospital
The Adventure Centre
If you are a designated visitor, they are also for sale at the reception desk in Hilltop House.
The Support Society is hoping to soon see bright yellow bags in use all around Squamish.
October 25, 2020
For most of the residents this was their first trip out of Hilltop House for five months so even the rain didn’t dampen their spirits.
Today, the new bus took residents out on their first socially-distanced, scenic drive. Activities staff member Trish was the driver and she managed to get two tours of Squamish and Paradise Valley in between lunch and dinner time.
August 30, 2020
We are creating this website in the middle of a corona-virus pandemic and a lock-down at Hilltop House. The Society members have not been in the building since our monthly meeting on March 12th. Along with family members and other visitors, our only sight of the residents have been through the lobby window or on a screen via Skype. We look forward to the time this blog is used as intended, giving updates on up-coming events and reporting on fund-raising projects. One highlight was the arrival of the new bus. Plans are underway for Activities staff to give residents an opportunity to leave Hilltop House and go on scenic drives so please look out for the bus in coming weeks and give the residents a wave.
June 6, 2020