Burnaby Hospice Society

What Burnaby Hospice Society does

Burnaby Hospice Society is a not-for-profit charitable organization established in 1986 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (CRA Charitable Registration Number 129481388RR0001). It delivers hospice palliative care and bereavement support to residents of Burnaby at no cost, with no referral required for most services. The organization operates three core service lines — Palliative Services (emotional and practical support for individuals with life-threatening illnesses delivered in homes, St. Michael's Care Centre, and Burnaby Hospital's Palliative Complex Care Unit), Bereavement Support (grief counselling, youth counselling, expressive arts therapy, and multiple support groups), and Education & Planning (advance care planning, lending library, guidebook, and volunteer training).

Service delivery is built on a hybrid model of ~12 paid staff and 200+ trained volunteers, with all volunteers required to complete a 35-hour hospice training program. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (President Eric Wong) and led by Executive Director Brian Vidler. Therapeutic modalities include music therapy, art therapy, pet therapy, therapeutic touch, tea service, vigil support, and legacy work. Distribution is concentrated in Burnaby with no documented geographic expansion, relying on direct community engagement, healthcare-partner referrals, and a viral TikTok-driven awareness event for top-of-funnel reach.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: a thrift store established in 2006 that contributes approximately 65% of annual operating revenue, individual donations and corporate sponsorships (including the annual Hike for Hospice, which raised over $50,000 in 2025), and grants from government agencies and foundations such as the City of Burnaby and the Sovereign Order of St. John. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed institutional investment, and operates exclusively within the Canadian non-profit charitable sector.

Name

Burnaby Hospice Society

Legal name

Burnaby Hospice Society

Website

https://burnabyhospice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Burnaby Hospice Society is a Burnaby, BC-based non-profit (founded 1986) that delivers free hospice palliative care, bereavement counselling, and end-of-life education to local residents, funded primarily through a thrift store, donations, and community grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Death Care Services (8122)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), Hospice & Palliative Respite Care (HSABAGAG), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• Hospice palliative care
• Bereavement support services
• Grief counselling
• End-of-life care
• Charitable thrift store

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnaby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Thrift Store Revenue: The Burnaby Hospice Society thrift store, established in 2006, provides 65% of annual operating revenue through retail sales of donated goods including clothing, books, household items, electronics, and more.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, planned gifts, and event-based fundraising including the annual Hike for Hospice which raised over $50,000 in 2025.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Support from government agencies and foundations including the City of Burnaby and Sovereign Order of St. John for specific programs like the digital library.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Burnaby Hospice Society provides free hospice palliative care and bereavement support services to Burnaby residents facing end-of-life, grief, or loss. Core offerings include palliative volunteer services (companionship, vigil support, music/art/pet therapy, therapeutic touch), grief counselling and support groups (spousal loss, parental loss, youth grief, walking groups), education and planning resources (advance care planning, lending library), and a retail thrift store that funds the majority of operations.

Product overview

Burnaby Hospice Society is a not-for-profit charitable organization established in 1986 that provides compassionate care to individuals and families at the end of life and those grieving. The organization offers a unified suite of hospice palliative care services including Palliative Services (providing emotional support and practical assistance to those with life-threatening illnesses), Bereavement Support (grief counselling, youth counselling, expressive arts therapy, and various support groups), Education & Planning (advance care planning, community education, lending library, guidebook, and volunteer training), and operates a Thrift Store that generates 65% of annual operating revenue. The service portfolio includes therapeutic offerings such as Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Pet Therapy, Therapeutic Touch, and Legacy Work. The organization runs regular support groups including Grief Coffee Hour, Grief 106, Grief Walking Group, Spousal Loss Support Group, and Parental Loss Support Group, as well as annual events like Hike for Hospice and Winter Memorial. All services are provided at no cost to Burnaby residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Palliative Services Provides emotional support, practical assistance, and compassionate presence to individuals with life-threatening illnesses and their families across various settings including St. Michael's Care Centre, Burnaby Hospital Palliative Complex Care Unit, and community/home visits. Free of charge to Burnaby residents.
• Bereavement Support Offers free grief counselling, youth grief counselling, expressive arts therapy, one-to-one volunteer support, support groups, walking groups, remembrance services, lending library, and bereavement packages to help individuals navigate grief after the loss of a loved one.
• Education & Planning Provides end-of-life education programs covering advance care planning, community education, a lending library with books and audiobooks on grief, a guidebook for coping with loss, volunteer training, and bereavement packages.
• Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store Retail thrift store established in 2006 that provides 65% of annual operating revenue. Accepts donations of clothes, shoes, bags, linens, books, media, kitchenwares, electronics, toys, jewelry, and sporting goods. Proceeds support free hospice programs and services.
• Hike for Hospice Annual community walk event held in Central Park to raise funds for compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement programs. The 2025 event raised over $50,000.
• Grief Coffee Hour Weekly group facilitated by trained bereavement volunteers providing a warm, welcoming space for those who understand loss to connect, share, or simply listen.
• Grief 106 Support Group Six-week adult grief support group offering a compassionate space for adults navigating loss, facilitated by clinical counsellor and co-facilitated by trained volunteers. Sessions run weekly for two hours each.
• Grief Walking Group Weekly walking group led by trained bereavement volunteers providing informal grief support, comfort, and companionship with a 45-minute evening walk followed by refreshments at a local coffee shop.
• Spousal Loss Support Group Weekly group for adults grieving the loss of a spouse, facilitated by clinical counsellor, offering a safe space to share experiences and learn ways to navigate grief.
• Parental Loss of Adult Children Support Group Support group for parents who have lost an adult child aged 18 or older, facilitated by clinical counsellor for 6 weeks, providing space to share and receive support.
• Season's Grievings Workshop Interactive workshop designed for those entering their first holiday season without a loved one, exploring feelings, traditions, and self-care during the season.
• Winter Memorial Annual non-denominational remembrance ceremony to honour loved ones with heartfelt readings, gentle live music, candle-lighting ceremony, and light refreshments.
• Youth Grief Counselling Dedicated grief counselling space for youth ages 13-18, providing a safe environment to explore feelings and talk about their person who died.
• Grief Counselling Short-term, grief-specific counselling provided by trained professionals offering a safe, non-judgmental space to talk about, understand, and process grief.
• Volunteer Training Course 35-hour hospice volunteer training course for prospective volunteers. Costs $125 per participant. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and complete additional requirements including criminal record check and interviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ lives impacted annually through end-of-life care support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered presenting sponsor, minor, core and major.

• Ocean View Funeral Homepresenting sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2026Presenting sponsor of Hike for Hospice 2026 event, supporting the annual community walk to raise funds for compassionate end-of-life care.
• JJ BeanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local business contributor to Grade 7 Leadership Team's Hot Chocolate Fundraiser for Burnaby Hospice Society.
• Save-On-Foods (Madison Centre)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local grocery store that contributed to the Gilmore Elementary School's hot chocolate fundraiser benefitting Burnaby Hospice Society.
• WavesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local business contributor to community fundraiser for Burnaby Hospice Society.
• Coffee+VanillaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local business contributor to community fundraiser for Burnaby Hospice Society.
• Starbucks (Carleton and Kensington)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Coffee chain locations that contributed supplies to the hot chocolate fundraiser event.
• Ambit CaféminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local café contributor to community fundraiser.
• Fior Di LatteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Local business contributor to community fundraiser.
• Safeway (Kensington and Willingdon)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2024Grocery store locations that contributed to the fundraiser supplies.
• City of BurnabycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner acknowledged for its ongoing support of Burnaby Hospice Society's mission to provide compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement services in the community.
• St. Michael's HospicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospice facility where Burnaby Hospice Society volunteers provide palliative care support, including emotional assistance and companion services to patients and their families.
• Burnaby Hospital Palliative Complex Care UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership where trained volunteers provide palliative care support and services to patients in the Palliative Complex Care Unit.
• Burnaby Home Health TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Home Health team to provide community/home visit services for palliative patients, coordinating care between hospice volunteers and healthcare professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Victoria Hospice: Larger BC hospice society on Vancouver Island providing residential and community palliative care alongside grief and bereavement programs. Directly comparable mission and multi-modality service portfolio.
• Surrey Hospice Society: Direct peer hospice society serving Surrey, BC with similar free palliative and bereavement services, thrift-store or charity-funded model, and volunteer-driven delivery. Same BC hospice society category as Burnaby Hospice Society.
• Vancouver Hospice Society: Direct peer hospice society operating in adjacent Metro Vancouver catchment with comparable free palliative, bereavement, and volunteer-based service model. Closest geographic counterpart and structurally identical nonprofit hospice offering.
• North Shore Hospice Society: Direct BC peer hospice society serving North/West Vancouver with comparable free community palliative support, bereavement counselling, and trained volunteer corps. Closely analogous community-scale hospice model.

Emerging players

• The Dougy Center: Specialized US peer (Portland, OR) focused on youth/child grief support groups and family bereavement programs. Directly comparable to Burnaby's youth grief counselling (ages 13-18) and expressive arts therapy offerings.
• Bo's Place: Houston-based nonprofit providing free grief support programs for children, families, and adults — closely analogous to Burnaby's bereavement support suite including multiple support groups (spousal loss, parental loss).

Broad incumbents

• Fraser Health Hospice / Palliative Care Program: Broader incumbent regional health authority palliative program encompassing Burnaby, Surrey, and the broader Fraser Valley. Not direct competition (public-system) but operates in the same space and influences referral flow into Burnaby Hospice Society.
• Hospice Toronto: Larger, longer-established urban hospice in Toronto offering in-home palliative support, grief counselling, and volunteer programs at metropolitan scale. Functionally similar service model at much larger geography, useful as a scaling benchmark.

Others

• Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association: National umbrella association for hospice palliative care across Canada; not a direct competitor but a relevant ecosystem convener, policy advocate, and capacity-building partner for society-level hospices like Burnaby.
• Volunteer Vancouver: Regional volunteer-engagement infrastructure organization in Metro Vancouver. Relevant as a feeder channel for the 200+ volunteer pipeline that underpins Burnaby Hospice Society's service delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theburnabyhospicesociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Burnaby Hospice Society