Niagara Falls city council wants to see a hospice centre in the municipality.

Politicians unanimously approved a motion brought forward by Coun. Victor Pietrangelo during Tuesday evening’s council meeting asking for a staff report on how the city can facilitate such a project, as well as potential locations.

Hospice palliative care aims to relieve suffering, provide comfort and improve the quality of life for people living with a terminal illness, along with their caregivers, family and friends.

“Being able to die with dignity is something that everyone should have the right to do,” said Pietrangelo. “If you’ve talked to anyone that’s had a loved one pass at a hospice, it’s like being at home — you’re surrounded by your family, your loved ones. There’s a lot of dignity involved in passing at a hospice.”

He said Niagara Falls “is in a good position” to host a hospice site.

“We’re the second largest municipality in the region. We’re also the fastest growing municipality and we have an increasingly aging population. I’d really like staff to kind of give us some direction in terms of what we can do as a municipality to help facilitate not only getting a hospice in Niagara Falls, but even some possible locations. I’m sure that we would want a nice, serene setting for a place like that.”

Pietrangelo said St. Catharines, Niagara’s most populous municipality, has a hospice centre, as does Grimsby, Niagara’s fifth largest. Welland, Niagara’s third most populous municipality, and Fort Erie, Niagara’s fourth largest, are also slated to host new centres.

“I really don’t want to miss the boat,” said Pietrangelo about Niagara Falls. “I think it’s a service that our residents would really, really appreciate.” 

Mayor Jim Diodati said “it’s really quite silly” that Niagara Falls doesn’t have a hospice centre, considering, as Pietrangelo indicated, its population and projected growth.

“I think there’s a lot of people that feel the same way, Coun. Pietrangelo — they would love the idea and would throw their support behind it.”

Ray Spiteri is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach him via email: raymond.spiteri@niagaradailies.com