Moose Cottage serves up sweet treats and memories

Friendly hospital centre celebrates three decades of respite in Red Deer

Story & photo by Jonathan Koch

RED DEER — Brenda Farwell has been part of Moose Cottage since the beginning.

One of her first duties after joining the Volunteer Resources department at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) in 1992 was to help establish a place where patients and families could escape the pressure of illness.

When the Loyal Order and Ladies of the Moose offered to raise funds for a unique and special project at the hospital, the “Moose Cottage” seemed like the perfect fit.

“The committee came up with this idea of a beautiful room of respite for our patients, family, staff and visitors, so that room was established in the old General Hospital,” says Farwell.

Since opening in November 1993, a quarter of a million of guests have enjoyed sweet treats and comfortable conversations at Moose Cottage. Now located on the third floor of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, visitors will often find the room decked out in the trimmings of the season, with a rustic hearth and cozy decor that exudes a warmth that’s matched by the glowing hearts of its dedicated volunteers.

Over the years the Cottage has been a place of respite for patients, visitors and health professionals, hosting numerous private events including weddings, life celebrations and birthday parties. It also served as a wellness centre for health providers during the challenging pandemic period.

Farwell has many fond recollections of volunteers, great music and friendly chats from the past three decades.

One of her sweetest memories is the marriage of an end-of-life palliative care patient and her partner of 35 years at the cottage in front of their family and animal friends, supported by a pet therapy volunteer.

“We had one of our Spiritual Health Practitioners do the wedding in the chapel and had their wedding reception at the cottage,” adds Farwell.

“To see their kids and grandkids here with them celebrating that moment, I had to spend a lot of time in the hallway wiping my tears, it was such an emotional day.”

Fifteen volunteers now donate their time at Moose Cottage. Lorraine Corsiatto, a volunteer for 13 years, cherishes the time she spends here.

“People say, ’it's wonderful that you do this’, and I say ‘yeah, and it's wonderful that we can have this opportunity because it's part of our social life’,” says Corsiatto. “So it gets back to us, too.”

Laurie Kristianson, a volunteer for six years, agrees.

Kristianson adds: “When I first started working here, I always went home and I talked to my mom on the phone and I said, ‘you know, I leave here and I just feel like I had done something good’.”

According to Farwell, the volunteers make Moose Cottage what it is.

“Volunteers are the ones who make our patients, families, visitors and staff feel warm and welcome and give them that opportunity to just chill,” says Farwell. “We have one long-serving volunteer, Islay McKay, who’s been here for 26 years, and we’re so grateful.”

In November, volunteers and clients gathered to celebrate three decades of service in true Moose Cottage fashion — serving cake, coffee and happy conversation to all in attendance.

While the world of healthcare is ever-evolving, Jodi Gulka, logistics coordinator at RDRHC, says the intent and ambience at Moose Cottage has stayed the same.

“It’s moved physical locations, but the service, attention, heart, generosity and compassion behind Moose Cottage have been stable no matter who the volunteers are,” says Gulka.

“It's just a sweet, touching service in a patient- and family-centred space, which is really beautiful.”