New hospice in Waterloo gets $2.5-million toward building

A new hospicecoming to Waterloo just got a large donation to help with building thespace.

Bill and GretGiesdonated $2.5 million towardthe construction of the new facility, which will now be namedTheGiesFamily Centre.

The 25,000-square-foothospice will have ten beds alongwith more room to extend programs, education and a palliative clinic.

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"Our existing building is about 5,000 square feet, soit's going to be a whole lot bigger than what we are," JudyNairn, executive director for Hospice ofWaterloo Region toldCBCNews.

Part of the building will house Hospice of Waterloo Region's Kitchener operations as well.

"This gift is what we call a cornerstone gift, which sets our campaign standard that says the community is behind this and the community is going to come together and make sure that this happens," said Nairn.

The Hospice of Waterloo Region's fundraising campaign also got$2-million in funding from the OntarioMinistry of Health.

Nairnsaid the ministry funding will go toward the construction costs of the residential portion of the new building.

The new hospice buildingwill be built on University Avenue in Waterloo. C

Construction will begin this summer and the centre is schedule to openby late 2019.