11/04/2026
We were honoured to have MLA Sam Johnson join us as we celebrated the third anniversary of Percy’s Place Hospice.
In a deeply personal and heartfelt speech, Sam shared his family’s experience at Percy’s Place and spoke about the importance of compassionate end-of-life care in our community.
We are grateful for his kind words, his continued support, and his willingness to share a story that reflects the meaningful difference Percy’s Place makes in the lives of patients and their families.
We invite you to read his heartfelt remarks below.
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Good evening, everyone.
"You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of our life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully,
but also to live until you die."
— Dame Cicely Saunders (Founder of the modern hospice movement)
It is a privilege to be here today to celebrate the third anniversary of Percy’s Place Hospice in Miramichi, and to recognize an organization that represents some of the very best qualities of our community: compassion, generosity, dignity, and love.
As the Miramichi Region’s government MLA , I have the
opportunity to see the many ways people in Miramichi come together to support one another. However, sometimes, it is our own personal experiences that remind us most profoundly of the importance of that support. Which makes me even more determined in my unconditional, unequivocally support of Percy’s Place as our region’s busiest, superior hospice- despite being unfunded.
Recently, my father, Delbert Johnson, was at Percy’s Place. During that time, our family witnessed firsthand the extraordinary care that this hospice provides.
My father received compassionate, loving, and professional care at a time when he was at his most vulnerable. Our family was surrounded by kindness, understanding, and respect. The staff and those who support this wonderful facility helped make an incredibly difficult time a little easier for all of us.
For that, our family will always be grateful.
When someone reaches the end of their life’s journey, there is very little that can make the experience easy. But there is a tremendous difference between facing that time alone and facing it surrounded by compassion, comfort, and people who genuinely care.
That is what Percy’s Place provides. It is more than a hospice. It is a place of comfort, dignity, and humanity, where people are treated not simply as patients, but as individuals and as members of families who love them.
In just three years, Percy’s Place has helped hundreds of people from Miramichi and the surrounding region navigate one of life’s most difficult and vulnerable passages. That is an extraordinary contribution to our community requires compensation. Again, what makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Percy’s Place, through the board of directors, provides its services free of charge and relies on the generosity of donors and community support.
This is a powerful example of what can happen when
Miramichiers recognize a need and come together to meet it. It is a reminder that the strength of our community is measured not
only by what we build, but by how we care for one another when it matters most.
To the staff, volunteers, donors, the board of directors, and everyone who has helped make Percy’s Place possible: thank you, merci, we’laloq. Your work matters more than words can adequately express. You are providing comfort to those nearing the end of life, and giving families something they will carry with them long after their loved one has passed: the knowledge that their family member was cared for with kindness, dignity, and love.
On behalf of my riding of Miramichi Bay Neguac Alnwick, and speaking personally as a grateful son, I congratulate Percy’s Place Hospice on its third anniversary.
May the next three years bring continued support, continued generosity, and the opportunity to help hundreds more families when they need it most.
Thank you, and congratulations to everyone who makes Percy’s Place such a special part of our community.
I will leave you to ponder this thought:
"Percy's Place is a hopeful reminder that we will not have to walk through the darkest valley alone because when our time comes there will be a beacon of comfort, dignity, and love."
