Spiritual Care
Compassion, Connection and Support When You Need It Most
A hospital stay can bring uncertainty, difficult decisions and a wide range of emotions. Sometimes, having someone to listen, offer comfort or simply sit with you or your loved one can make a meaningful difference.
At Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC), our Spiritual Care Coordinator leads a dedicated team of spiritual care volunteers who provide compassionate, confidential emotional and spiritual support to patients, families and staff at both our Huntsville and Bracebridge hospital sites.
Spiritual care is for everyone, regardless of faith, religion or personal beliefs. You do not need to be religious to benefit from spiritual care. Our team offers a welcoming, non-judgmental space to talk, reflect, find comfort or simply feel less alone.
How Can Spiritual Care Help?
Our Spiritual Care team provides a listening ear, companionship and support during life's most challenging moments, including:
- Feelings of loneliness, fear, uncertainty or isolation
- Grief, loss and bereavement
- Questions about meaning, purpose and hope
- Adjusting to illness, hospitalization or changes in independence
- Transitions to long-term care
- End-of-life care and difficult decisions
- General companionship and support
Spiritual care may include conversation, quiet companionship, reflection or prayer and religious practices, if requested.
You don't have to face difficult moments alone. Sometimes, having someone there to listen is enough.
Meet Our Spiritual Care Team
Behind every spiritual care visit is someone who has chosen to offer their time, compassion and presence to others.
Our Spiritual Care team brings a range of experiences and perspectives, united by a shared commitment to supporting patients, families and staff through meaningful human connection.
Vanessa, Spiritual Care Coordinator
Vanessa is the dedicated leader behind MAHC’s Spiritual Care program, bringing a wealth of experience in spiritual care, education, mindfulness, and bereavement support. With a Master of Theological Studies, certification in Bereavement Education, and specialized training in psycho-spiritual care, Vanessa is passionate about supporting the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
Throughout her career, Vanessa has guided meaningful conversations in a variety of settings, including education, youth leadership, wellness programs, and spiritual retreats. As Spiritual Care Coordinator, she works alongside patients, families, staff, and volunteers to create compassionate spaces where people can find connection, comfort, and hope during life's most challenging moments.
Vanessa believes that every person’s spiritual journey is unique and values meeting people exactly where they are. Her warm, person-centred approach is grounded in listening, presence, and respect for people of all faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds. She is proud to lead a program that supports emotional and spiritual well-being as an essential part of holistic care.
When she's not at the hospital, Vanessa enjoys time with her family on the water, singing with local musicians, staying active, and sharing her famous late-night chocolate chip cookies.
Kristin Thompson, Volunteer
After moving to Muskoka with her husband, a pastor, Kristin Thompson quickly found ways to continue her lifelong commitment to supporting others. With a background in social work and hospice care, including experience at Toronto's Emily's House children's hospice, Kristin joined MAHC's Spiritual Care team when the program was first established and has been helping patients ever since.
Kristin believes that spiritual care begins with compassion, encouragement, and genuine human connection. Whether patients want to share their life stories, talk through challenges, or simply have someone listen, she considers it a privilege to spend time with them during an important moment in their lives.
Passionate about providing person-centred support to people of all faiths and backgrounds, Kristin values creating a safe, confidential space where patients feel heard, respected, and cared for. She is proud to be part of a team that offers comfort, connection, and encouragement when it is needed most.
How to Access Spiritual Care
Spiritual care is available to patients, families and staff at both MAHC hospital sites.
Huntsville Muskoka District Memorial Hospital Site
On-site Wednesdays, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
Main switchboard: 705-789-2311
South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site
On-site Tuesdays, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
Main switchboard: 705-645-4404
To request a visit, speak with your nurse or contact the hospital switchboard and ask for the Spiritual Care Coordinator.
Spiritual care support is also available outside scheduled hours. If you or a loved one requires support, please speak with nursing staff or contact the hospital switchboard to request an on-call spiritual care volunteer.
Support for Your Faith or Religious Traditions
Patients who wish to connect with a representative of their own faith or religious community may also request a visit.
MAHC works with local faith communities to help facilitate spiritual and religious support, including specific religious rites and practices. To protect privacy, a patient or substitute decision maker must communicate their wishes for a visit from their religious community. There are more than 50 different clergy members within the local community.
Patients or their substitute decision-makers can request these visits through nursing staff. All visits are arranged with respect for patient preferences and privacy.
Sign up to our Muskoka Health Matters Newsletter
Stay up to date on the hospital’s programs and services, events, and other announcements by subscribing to our eNewsletters.