Volunteers are a crucial part of care delivered across Providence Care. Behind the dedication and the compassion volunteers bring, is Director of Volunteer Services Janet Hunter. For more than three decades Janet has led the way with her infectious, positive presence. Now, she’s hanging up her lanyard and heading into a well-deserved retirement after 35 incredible years.
“It’s been the people I’ve met along the way – the amazing volunteers. It’s living the mission of Providence Care. The patients are fabulous. It’s just a great, great place to be. Everyone is willing to help. If someone is in need, everybody pulls together,” says Janet.
At the heart of her work are the patients, clients and residents who benefit from her leadership. She’s been a tireless advocate for volunteers, a thoughtful leader, and a friend to many. Janet brings heart into every space she enters. She’s the kind of leader who creates programs that matter – like the Summer Youth Program, the Art Hive, and the Experience Partner Program – initiatives that connect people, spark joy, and leave a lasting impact.
Janet started her journey working with volunteers straight out of college, where she landed a coordinator role at Kingston General Hospital. In 1999, she made the move to Providence Care, working in human resources at Providence Manor, Providence Care’s long-term care home for eight years. But she says something was always missing. In 2007, a vacancy came up in the volunteer department, she was hired and within a few years, she became Director.
“With volunteers, every day is a different adventure. I think that’s why I’ve always enjoyed working with them so much, because you get to meet so many different people. Volunteers chat with us and share their life stories with us. We hear about their kids, their grandchildren, their spouses, their interests. Many volunteers have been around for as long as I have. You can see them light up when they come in for their volunteer shift. It’s really amazing and rewarding watching them grow.”
A big part of the volunteer experience is how they are welcomed and supported. Every volunteer is personally interviewed to understand their interests and match their skills to programs that suit them best.
“We really enjoy guiding them in their path and spend quite a bit of time making their experience beneficial to them too. We want them happy and to feel fulfilled. And we have an open-door policy if they are in a program that doesn’t seem to work for them – they can switch programs, no problem! I think that is why our volunteers are so loyal.”
Volunteer-led programs have also grown under Janet’s leadership, shaped by feedback from patients, clients, residents and volunteers themselves.
“Creating new programs is always a really fun part of the job. We do whatever it takes to make programming meaningful for not only patients, clients and residents but their care partners who are spending a lot of time here as well.”
One of the most popular volunteer-led programs that has blossomed under her leadership is the morning coffee group that runs six days per week at Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre. The concept is simple – patients, care partners and volunteers gather together for morning coffee, where they socialize and get their day started.
“It gives them something to look forward to each morning. That is what we all do ourselves. We get up, have our tea or coffee, read the newspaper, have a conversation with family. The coffee group brings a sense of normalcy to their lives, despite being in hospital.”
It’s that same commitment to restoring a sense of connection and community that fueled Janet’s advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to her leadership and drive to do what is best for those in our care, Providence Care became one of the first hospitals in Ontario to welcome volunteers back safely.
“I had people reaching out from all across Ontario asking how we made this happen. The support of our Senior Leadership Team has always been huge – every single person that works at Providence Care sees and knows the importance of having volunteers here,” explains Janet.
The importance of volunteering has been a family affair for Janet as well. All of her kids have volunteered at the hospital and her husband Bill is a dedicated pet therapy volunteer. And Janet’s mom Beryl? She’s been one of Janet’s biggest cheerleaders not only from the sidelines but from the center of the action as a volunteer for the last 25 years!
Fundraising has played a massive role for the duo, with eager volunteers raising a significant amount of money over the years. Through the Providence Care gift shops, bake sales, Farmers markets, Summer Youth initiatives such as Portuguese donuts and strawberry socials, Beryl has been alongside her daughter volunteering, primarily in the gift shops. All fundraising initiatives support our patient comfort fund, which is used to purchase essential items and equipment for patients, clients and residents in need.
With Janet’s retirement, Beryl is retiring too.
“If I’ve made someone’s day a little brighter, that’s what I set out to do. Volunteering has been a lot of rewarding work and at 88 years old, it is time for a rest,” Beryl says.
From scheduling volunteers, to shopping trips for the gift shops, to organizing, pricing and displaying products, Beryl’s hard work has never gone unnoticed.
The duo reflects on one of the most touching stories that stemmed from their fundraising efforts.
“A patient came down to our office wearing a mask,” explains Janet. “He said I heard this is where the magic happens and I really hope you can help me. We didn’t think twice after hearing his story.”
“He told us that he was so self-conscious because of what cancer had done to his nose,” Beryl goes on to explain. “It really disfigured him, and he really didn’t have a nose left at all. He wore a mask everywhere and he told us he couldn’t stand to see himself in the mirror, we knew we had to help.”
Through the patient comfort fund, Janet approved funds for a prosthetic nose, completely changing the patient’s life.
“I’ll never forget him coming down when he received his new nose. We were all crying happy tears,” smiles Beryl. “I have always remembered that story and that is why I have kept volunteering this long. Because you can see the real difference it makes.”
Stories like these — moments that leave a lasting impact — are what make volunteering so special at Providence Care. Janet also shares one memory that still makes her smile today. She recalls a time she found herself in a bit of hot water with two parents.
“Two young men were in Clinical Engineering and started volunteering with us. Because of the impact that patients had on them here, they actually went home and told their parents they wanted to get into medicine and were dropping out of Engineering. I’m not sure the parents loved me over that one, but they changed career paths because of their time spent volunteering here,” laughs Janet.
Beyond the impactful moments, Janet has always been known to bring the fun to work. She has organized staff golf tournaments as a morale booster, always dressed up for any theme day and has had incredible luck winning a cake during every single annual cake raffle.
“I had someone buy tickets on my behalf while I was out of the country, so they put my name on the raffle ticket. And sure enough, I won,” says Janet.
A massive motorcycling enthusiast, Janet is ready to set sail into retirement on her Harley, alongside her husband Bill. Her plan is to take the summer off, enjoy the weather and her eight grandchildren. In true fashion, Janet says volunteering is absolutely in her future, with an interest in making a difference at local schools – a completely different population than she’s been used to during her career! She adds retirement will also include jetting away to multiple sunny destinations, too.
Janet’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Providence Care. She has built something remarkable – a community of volunteers who are inspired, empowered, and deeply appreciated.
Are you interested in making a difference at Providence Care volunteering? Visit our website and apply today!
