I came to the Trail area in 1975, via Vancouver from Montreal, to earn my “fortune”. I have been “fortunate” having now spent my lifetime contributing to this community. I began working as a Community Nurse for Home Care in its 2nd year of inception in Greater Trail, holding a number of positions until retiring in 2010. At present, I do some contract teaching on Navigation, both for Nav-Care, a UBC research project and locally for the Poverty Reduction project.

Like many people, I have drawn on personal experience to inspire me in my work with Hospice. I like to say that my father was able to die at home because he grew his own Homecare Nurse and caring for my mother taught me a great deal about Navigation through life limiting illness.

I began my Hospice work as its’ first Coordinator in 1987, helping develop the program in this community. It is a privilege to now serve as a volunteer, currently the Board Chair. I see Hospice as one way that we support each other, bringing a bit of structure and accountability to caring and compassion. I feel that this is increasingly important and am excited to be part of guiding our Society.

Hi there, I’m Patti Marino. Rossland is where I spent my childhood, and I’ve called Trail my home for over 47 years. My husband and I raised our 2 children in Trail surrounded by grandparents and extended family. 

For most of my career, I served 38 years as an RN at KBRH, in  various departments, in a variety of positions. After I retired in 2013 I continued to volunteer locally. My volunteer efforts span organizations like St. John Ambulance, Pain BC as a facilitator, and the Canadian Cancer Society. My heart truly lies in our community, and health-related initiatives have been my way of giving back.

In January 2022, I joined GTHS as a board member. It is here I discovered a  local non-profit society making a difference in my home community. Greater Trail Hospice provides a range of programs, all designed to assist  our residents thru the challenges we all face through our life journey. I am proud to be a volunteer of GTHS as we continue  supporting those you need our services. 

I moved to Trail in 1990 after working at a variety of accounting jobs. I began working for the City of Trail that same year as an accounting clerk with a major emphasis on payroll. I retired in 2017.

I became a member of the Hospice Committee in the mid 90’s and served as Treasurer for 8 years before resigning. When the Greater Trail Hospice Society was formed in December 2010, I joined the Board and have served as Treasurer since then.

I was drawn to Hospice as a result of a personal loss. My brother was a recipient of Hospice care in Edmonton. I was pleased that he received a high level of compassionate care from dedicated nurses and doctors. That compassionate care also extended to his family, explaining symptoms, what to expect and answering any questions we may have had. My brother had a peaceful two weeks in Hospice before he passed and the family had peace in knowing that he was receiving the best possible care.

Life has provided me with many wonderful and eclectic experiences. I have worked in nursing in the North with Inuit and Dene, in several nursing homes (public and private), in community, and in nursing education. As a Pastor I have ministered in several different denominational communities. As a daughter, I was able to support both of my parents to achieve their personal goals of palliating and dying at home.

Since moving to the Kootenays in 1992 I have also participated in many different roles with the Trail Hospice Society. In every setting and opportunity I have learned from people whose life is coming to a close that life is to be lived as fully as possible. Days and moments matter. Excellence in palliative care is about person-centered care and that is what I believe Hospice does best. As a Board member I look forward to helping Trail Hospice build capacity as we expand our programs and help our community understand that we are here to journey with each person through life-limiting illness and grief.

I joined the board as a member-at-large in April 2024. With a background in chemical engineering, I have been with Teck since 1995, holding various roles in engineering and operations management. Since 2015, I have served as the Manager of Health, Safety, and Risk, overseeing our occupational health and emergency response services.

My interest in the work of the Hospice Society spans many years, as I deeply recognize the essential support that hospice provides to individuals and their families during life-limiting illnesses and end-of-life care. I believe that life is a journey, and compassionate support is crucial at every stage.

I live in Rossland with my amazing wife, Kelly. We have raised two wonderful daughters who are now exploring the world independently. I have a profound appreciation for our West Kootenay community and am driven to give back. In my role on the board, I hope we can continue to grow and support all community members by expanding our programs and ensuring that everyone receives the care and compassion they need.

I’m Chris McLean, and I was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. I moved to the Kootenay’s in 2000 for work and truly found a new home. As a young kid I remember dreaming of living in the mountains of BC, so that last 20 plus years has been a dream come true. I currently work at Teck, Trail Operations as the manager of the Fertilizer Operations. When I am not working, I am out playing in the mountains with my family, friends, and pets.

My wife and I recently experienced the loss of her father to a late-stage cancer. The hospice care provided to my father-in-law in Calgary was critical in ensuring a quality end of life at a very difficult time for the entire family. At the same time, I recognize living in a smaller community the variety and depth of services can be limited as compared to larger city environments. Recognizing that service gap was one of the main contributing drivers for me joining the board. I am looking forward to helping build more capacity for care and support with the wonderful, dedicated volunteer board of the Greater Trail Hospice Society.

2021 was a pivotal year for me. At age 65, I chose to get married, retire, sell my home and move 1100 kms from my family and friends. I’d been a widow for 12 years and had always worked. I had served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a jet mechanic, worked in our family butcher shop in Wynndel, was a medical assistant and finally spent the last 30 years in the insurance industry. I found that I did not know how to “retire.” I responded to a Hospice advertisement and I have found my missing piece (peace). 

I took Hospice training and from that decided to join the Board to be a part of this extremely important group. It has been a privilege to be with many people as they have passed on, as well as being with people who are grieving. I try to be a listening ear and a support, and to meet each person exactly where they are, and in the way they need me. 

The Hospice team in Trail is an amazing group of caring and selfless people that give freely of their time and energy.  I encourage everyone to see if there is a spot that you can fit into within Hospice. You control how much time you donate, knowing that even 1 hour a week can make a huge difference in someone’s life. I am proud to be part of this team.

Hello there, I am Corrie Baker.   I moved to Trail in 2021 from North Vancouver.  I had spent a lot of time in the Trail area during my forty years of selling control valves and process control equipment to Teck and Celgar. I was drawn to the area because I love being outside and there is a lot of outside to enjoy here. 

I love to travel, garden, golf, boat, knit, cook, entertain, and float on my air mattress in the lake reading my book.  

I retired in 2023 and discovered the Greater Trail Hospice Society. Wow! They are amazing and it is my privilege to be a part of this team of volunteers. Thank you.