Jeneece Place
Jeneece Place, a home-away-from-home for children and their families who have to travel to Victoria for care at Victoria General Hospital, the Queen Alexandra Centre or for specialist appointments and lab tests, was founded on a dream by a phenomenal young lady – Jeneece Edroff.
For many years of her young life, Jeneece has stayed in similar accommodations in Vancouver when she had surgeries scheduled at BC Children’s Hospital. She knows the great need on Vancouver Island as she has experienced firsthand what it is like to be away from her home, her friends and her dogs Variety & Sir Penny, while undergoing surgeries and treatments.
Jeneece’s vision
Jeneece Place will be a home-away-from-home that will help families stay close to one another. Although still in the early planning stages, Jeneece’s dream is that the facility will offer a warm, caring and supportive environment. The many uses for Jeneece Place are still being planned through community consultation; however initial plans include:
- Accommodation and support for families of children and youth traveling from across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to Victoria for medical treatment and testing;
- Respite care, which will provide parents with children with special needs the opportunity for much needed rest; and
- The option to use a palliative care room for children and youth.
Jeneece also envisions that Jeneece Place will be located near Victoria General Hospital and include:
- Family bedrooms, each with a different theme and including beds, a seating area, and a private bathroom
- A large, communal kitchen where families can prepare meals together and connect with other families with similar experiences
- An entertainment area and games room
- Laundry facilities
- An elevator and be fully wheelchair-accessible
- An inside play area
- An outdoor playground
- A special spa room for relaxation
Momentum is building with a goal to open in 2010
Jeneece is spearheading efforts on this project and rallying the community alongside the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children to help make her dream a reality. This project has already attracted significant support from TELUS through the upcoming 2010 TELUS World Skins Game, which will be held at the Bear Mountain Resort on Vancouver Island from June 21 to 22, 2010, as well as other corporate fundraising initiatives.
Momentum is clearly building and our goal is to open the facility in 2010.
