J&W Murphy Foundation Donates $1 Million to Halifax Mi'kmaw Centre for End-of-Life Care
The J&W Murphy Foundation has contributed $1 million to the new Wije'winen Centre in Halifax, funding a palliative care space and death doula training. This donation addresses cultural gaps in end-of-life care for Mi'kmaw individuals, though the project still requires $4 million to complete construction.
The J&W Murphy Foundation has donated $1 million to the new Mi'kmaw Wije'winen Centre in Halifax, formerly known as the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre. The contribution is designated to fund a palliative and end-of-life care space, as well as a training area for death doulas.
This gift represents the largest single donation the centre project has received to date. Lisa Murphy spoke on behalf of the foundation regarding the contribution. The J&W Murphy Foundation is operated by the family of Bill Murphy, co-founder of Mersey Seafoods.
The donation aims to address a significant gap in the provincial health-care system by allowing Mi'kmaw individuals to die with cultural ceremony, language, and family support. The initiative was sparked after community members died alone during the pandemic. Pam Glode Desrocher serves as the executive director leading the project, while Pauline Meader acts as the health director at the centre.
The new facility is located along Gottingen Street in central Halifax and spans 75,000 square feet. It is expected to open in July, although construction completion is targeted for the end of that month. Currently, the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre Society operates out of a temporary space on Brunswick Street.
Despite this major contribution, the project still needs to raise approximately $4 million to complete construction. The total cost of the project was announced in 2022 as being between $60 million and $65 million. To date, the federal government has contributed $32.8 million, and the province has provided over $10 million.
