Gala to raise funds for local hospice

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 4, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The third annual Frosted Flare Art Benefit and Gala this Saturday will help the Guided Journeys Foundation toward its goal of developing the first stand-alone residential hospice and palliative care centre in southern Alberta.

Co-founder and past president Kinga Zentner says the organization, established in 2022, continues to raise funds to purchase land to bring their idea to fruition now that they have a building design.

“We have been fundraising hard since 2022 with various activities and presentations to raise awareness and to have funds raised to have this built,” says Zentner. “The building has been designed by Alvin Reinhardt Fritz Architecture here in Lethbridge.”

Zentner founded Guided Journeys in collaboration with a group of individuals that share her vision for compassionate care for those at the end of life and their families. Currently the closest standalone care centre is in Okotoks.

Guided Journeys has been looking at a few potential areas to purchase land from but they have yet to make a decision on which piece of land to purchase. Zentner says they want to do it just in the outskirts of Lethbridge to be able to have an acreage atmosphere.

The hospice will feature areas where they can relax, make some food and even a playground for children so all members of the family have a place to unwind while caring for their loved one at the end of their journey.

Zentner says the community has been very supportive during their three years of fundraising, but they still need more financial support to make the project a reality.

“We want to make sure that people know we are still here, we are working really hard to find land and we have full charity status with Canada Revenue Agency,” says Zentner.

The gala begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Coast Hotel.