Building a Hospice, A Legacy of Compassion: Dr. Patterson's Journey with Evergreen Hospice
- lpitcher82
- Jun 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 25
Palliative care is often misunderstood. It’s not a signal that death is near, but a commitment to ensuring that comfort and compassion guide every stage of care. Our philosophy is simple: any treatment that brings a patient more comfort is a treatment worth providing. - Dr. Andrew Patterson
Dr. Andrew Patterson, one of our esteemed Evergreen Palliative Care physicians, has dedicated his life to supporting patients and families through life’s most challenging moments. The former Chief of Palliative Care and the Lead Palliative Physician at Markham Stouffville Hospital, Dr. Patterson has played a foundational role in shaping palliative care in our local community. Dr. Andrew Patterson was a founding member of Evergreen Community Hospice nearly 40 years and still remains invested as long standing board member and Evergreen Doctor.
In a recent conversation, Dr. Patterson reflected warmly on his journey, from studying medicine in Montreal to building a family practice in Stouffville, and ultimately, to his deep and enduring commitment to palliative care. His story is one of compassion, leadership, and an unwavering belief in the power of human connection.
Hospice Markham-Stouffville, as it was called back then, first started in the late 1980s, with several nurses and concerned community members around a kitchen table. They wanted to do better for their neighbours and friends who were facing the end of life with inadequate support in place.
Dr. Patterson’s involvement began with a conversation. A nurse approached Dr. Patterson and told him she was planning to start a hospice She asked him if he would join as the medical member of the board. Without hesitation, he said yes. The idea was not foreign to him, back in university, he had been introduced to palliative care by a mentor and friend, Dr. Balfour Mount, who is now recognized as the “father of palliative care” in North America. That early influence stayed with him.
Thanks to this small dedicated team of nurses, invested community members and Dr. Patterson, by 1987, Evergreen Hospice was born. This team shared a collective vision to create a space where people could receive comfort-focused care in their final days. At first, they aimed simply to open an office, raise awareness in the community, and build support through fundraising; to now with the long-term dream of a full-hospice residence coming to fruition.
For Dr. Patterson, palliative care has always been grounded in a simple truth: comfort is care. “Palliative care is a system of treatment,” he explained. “It’s not about ‘no care’ but it’s about the right care. There is always something we can do.” Whether it’s easing pain, helping a patient sleep, adjusting their diet, or offering hydration when it brings relief; any treatment that restores comfort is worth pursuing.
Dr. Patterson remembered a patient from years ago. She had been in her 50s, nearing the end of life, and suffering greatly. Through a palliative care approach, the team was able to relieve some of that suffering. Her husband hesitated, worried that this might prolong her suffering. But Dr. Patterson gently reassured him, “she is already suffering but this is to bring her comfort.” When you provide excellent care, the change is remarkable. Just days later, the woman who had been barely responsive was sitting up, chatting, and full of life. She went on to enjoy several more precious months with her family, baking Christmas cookies with her daughters and even gifting Dr. Patterson a mug that she chose from the Christmas market. Smiling, Dr. Patterson remarked that he still has the mug. Stories like this remind him why the philosophy of palliative care matters so deeply and why he continues to walk this path to this day.
When asked to choose one word to describe Evergreen, Dr. Patterson chuckled and admitted, “I was kind of dreading this question, because Evergreen is so many things.” To him, it is an essential part of the community; a place that is innovative, compassionate, and always evolving. “We’re constantly looking for new programs, new ways to support people in crisis, everyone's needs are so unique”, he shared.
Evergreen’s reach is vast. The hospice supports young children and adults of all ages facing a life-limiting illness and their families and caregivers, as well as those who are grieving. Care is adapted to meet the unique needs of each person. “We try to make sure no one is left behind”, he said. Through it all, he holds deep admiration for those who make this work possible. “I’m in awe of the people at Evergreen”, he smiled. “I don’t think of myself as very creative, but they are. They’ve created a place full of hope and positivity, even while serving patients during the hardest moments of life”.
For Dr. Patterson, the mission remains clear. “A functioning hospice residence is integral to any community,” he said. “People need to know that when the time comes, for themselves or their caregivers, they will be cared for with dignity and compassion in a home-like space.”
Building a local hospice residence is more than a project, it is the next chapter in Evergreen’s story. “Evergreen is already part of the fabric of this community. When people think about palliative care in Markham, Stouffville and Thornhill, they think about Evergreen Hospice. Thousands have experienced our programs. For there to be a hospice residence that isn’t Evergreen, that would feel out of place.” He hopes the community will continue to rally behind the vision: a hospice residence with enough space to meet the needs of families right here in Markham. A place where patients and their caregivers can receive compassionate care, without the burden of distance or separation. It was a message Dr. Patterson wanted to share with every donor and supporter of Evergreen Hospice. “As Markham grows as a city, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to grow as a truly compassionate community”, he said. “And we can’t truly call ourselves that unless we have the ability to care for our caregivers at the end of their life, here at home”.
Until that day comes, he hopes that those who walk through Evergreen’s doors whether for the Living Room program, individual or couples support, or grief and bereavement care, leave feeling strengthened, supported, and surrounded by compassion. “I hope more people will share this vision”, he said, “because the heart of this community deserves it” and because the organization has held the hospice space for almost four decades, even when stigma and dying with dignity wasn’t at the forefront.
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