Spirits lifted at North Bay Hospice thanks to local musicians
While most people are down to their last few days and weeks while staying at the hospice in North Bay, officials with Nipissing Serenity Hospice told CTV News live music lifts the spirits of many residents.
"For us the hospice is a place for people to come out and live there last days and for many people that means music and music means comfort," said Gil Pharand., the hospice’s executive director.
"When people can they sit around and enjoy it and it really is a great part of the hospice environment."
On Friday, local musician Gary Davison played for hospice residents.
While local bars and weddings are more of the atmosphere he's used to, he said playing at the hospice is special.
"Some of them walking around, with smiles on there faces and for some it's different," he said.
"But, when I look over and someone is asleep and I can see their finger tapping you know you're getting through, music is the universal language and it's everywhere."
Davison said it is also a time to make connections with patients and their families.
"It was about the second time I played here, a lady came to me gave me a big hug with a tear in her eye and said to me that's the first time I've seen my mom smile in a month and I had the same tears."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.