Local developer Paul Paletta’s future children’s hospice recently received three funding boosts as well as Hamilton City Council agreeing to a below market lease agreement for Keaton’s House.
Paletta’s children’s hospice, a 10-bed facility, recently acquired $2.5 million from the province, a funding commitment of just over $2.2 million a year from the Ontario Ministry of Health and $5 million personally from Paletta, Keaton’s House capital campaign lead donor, to build and operate it.
The project will be part of the Kemp Care Network (formerly Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice) and will be situated on a portion of vacant public land behind Wentworth Lodge at 41 South St. W. in Dundas, one of the city’s two municipally-run long-term care homes.
McCallumSather Architects and Landwise are in the design stage of the 25,000 to 30,000-square-foot facility.
“Last week was double watershed, in that we received provincial funding and approval as well as ratification by Hamilton City Council on the major components of the lease,” said Doug Mattina, senior director, corporate strategy and pediatric hospice with the Kemp Care Network.
An RFP is planned to go out late summer or early fall that will include the major components of construction.
“We have one of the world’s best children’s hospitals, yet there is no children’s hospice to match the kind of care children and families need when facing serious illness. There is no greater time of need for children and their families than when they are sick and facing the news that their life will be cut short. I hope to inspire everyone to give what they can,” Paletta is quoted on the Kemp Care Network’s website in referring to Hamilton health care facilities.
The expansion, that has a $25-million fundraising goal, is made possible through a partnership between Kemp Care Network and McMaster Children’s Hospital and will deliver specialized pediatric palliative care.
According to Mattina, the network is half-way to reaching its fundraising target.
Keaton’s House — Paul Paletta Children’s Hospice will offer families comprehensive palliative care for children and youth living with progressive life-limiting illnesses.
The hospice is expected to open in 2026 and besides the 10 bedrooms for children and their families to stay, the hospice will also have space for day wellness programs such as massage, movement, recreation and music. In addition, it will provide respite care and grief support for family.
The new hospice is named after Kemp Care Network chief executive officer Danielle Zucchet’s son, Keaton, who died at age seven in 2010 from stage four Rhabdomyosarcoma after three years of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
“Our calling has been to proudly provide timely comfort, dignity and care excellence to the Hamilton community and beyond during the most challenging but inevitable of days, saying goodbye and grieving loss. A new chapter of extending that pride and care to seriously ill children and their loved ones is due in our region, and now is the time for change — through partnership, innovation and synergy,” said Zucchet.