History
Opened in 1979, the Palliative Care Unit at Hôpital Notre-Dame was the very first unit of its kind in the world to provide services in French. People come from all across Québec to receive high-quality, tailored care there. In 1981, to support its essential mission, Andrée Gauvin founded the PalliAmi Foundation. Funds raised allow us to offer people at the end of life and their loved ones a peaceful haven, away from the bustle of everyday life.
Since then, many services have been added so families can receive ever more personalized support. Our team has also grown, but one thing remains constant: our commitment to providing moments of quality and quiet for people at the end of life, surrounded by those they love. This is our core mission and the basis of our reputation.
In November 2017, we chose to join the extended family of the CIUSSS du Centre‑Sud‑de‑l’Île‑de‑Montréal, which designated Hôpital Notre‑Dame a community hospital. It is our new home — and yours as well.
Since its founding, the PalliAmi Foundation has continually innovated to respond to changing social and environmental realities and to remain at the side of vulnerable people; we accompany them with gentleness and respect, and provide support and comfort to their loved ones.
The PalliAmi Foundation is an independent charitable organization that receives no government funding. The generosity of our donors is our only source of funding to support the quality of care, services, physical environment, and the accompaniment provided to the Palliative Care Unit at Hôpital Notre‑Dame of the CIUSSS du Centre‑Sud‑de‑l’Île‑de‑Montréal.
Thank you for believing in our mission; together we provide moments of humanity to those who need them most.
Vision
To create moments imbued with humanity for those who are leaving us, while offering support and comfort to those who remain.
Mission
To provide services and accompaniment to people receiving palliative and end‑of‑life care, and to their loved ones, to ease this final stage of life.
Values
- Compassion: Compassion guides every action we take: we listen with empathy and act with care to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones. We safeguard their comfort and dignity at every stage by offering respectful, human-centred support that reflects our mission to ease the end of life.
- Dignity: Dignity is at the heart of our commitment: we recognise each person’s intrinsic worth and protect their integrity, even in the face of illness or the end of life. By respecting each person’s choices, preferences and autonomy, we enable them and their family to preserve a sense of control and meaning until the last moment, consistent with our vision of accompaniment grounded in humanity.
- Innovation: Driven by our accompaniment mission and proud to be the first francophone organisation of its kind in North America, innovation at PalliAmi means exploring and developing new ways to be present for people nearing the end of life and their loved ones. We pilot approaches, tools and training that enrich relational quality, relieve emotional suffering and facilitate practical support, so that every accompaniment is more attentive, adaptable and deeply human.