Victoria Hospice Director of Bereavement Services Marney Thompson has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, which recognizes people who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home provinces. The award was presented by The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in a special ceremony at Government House July 18, 2024. Thirty-thousand people have been selected from across the country for the Coronation Medal, the first Canadian honour to mark a coronation.
“Marney’s leadership in bereavement counselling, research, and advocacy has made a profound difference in the lives of so many patients, families, and colleagues,” says Victoria Hospice CEO Teri Henderson. “Her vision and expertise are invaluable at Victoria Hospice, and we are thrilled to see Marney recognized with this honour.”
Marney Thompson is an international expert in grief and loss. She joined Victoria Hospice as a practicum student focussed on child and youth care in 1990 and was hired as a community counsellor in 1994. She has worked on the Inpatient Unit, the Palliative Response Team, and is a highly valued and respected member of the Victoria Hospice senior leadership team. A skilled educator and researcher, she has co-authored numerous articles and the award-winning book, Transitions in dying and bereavement: A psychosocial guide for hospice and palliative care. She is an executive member of the Canadian Grief Alliance, a member of the Advisory Committee for the BC Centre for Palliative Care Provincial Roundtable on Bereavement, and clinical co-lead and co-founder of the BC Psychosocial ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) project. She shares her knowledge as a content advisor, facilitator, and writer with Canadian Virtual Hospice.
“Anything I’ve been able to contribute is a reflection of the many countless clients and colleagues I’ve had the privilege to learn from,” Marney says.
Please join us in congratulating Marney on this well-deserved and prestigious award.