The duo who bring cheer to Lions Gate Hospital

If you have visited Lions Gate Hospital, you may have witnessed an ever-changing array of cheery seasonal and holiday displays in the window of the hospital gift store.

The gift store, also called Dogwood Shop, is decorated by long time volunteers, Kathy Butterfield and Trudy Purdy. This dynamic duo has given a combined 99 years of volunteer service to the hospital.

Kathy Butterfield has been a volunteer at Lions Gate for an astounding 59 years. She had planned to become a nurse, but after the arrival of four babies she decided to contribute to the community by volunteering at the LGH Auxiliary

Since joining in 1960, Kathy has worked in a number of areas, but has spent the most time in the gift shop. Making use of her artistic talents, she spent many years painting festive windows throughout the hospital and now sets her eye for design on the gift shop windows.

“After 59 years, I’m still having fun, and truly enjoy my volunteer experiences,” she says

Trudy Purdy hit her 40-year service milestone in 2018. She worked as a medical office assistant for many years, volunteering at LGH in her spare time.

Trudy has worked at reception/information desk, the nursery group and was chair of the Christmas Decorating Committee for many years – which involved creating holiday magic around the hospital and the less glamourous job of packing it all up again.

Trudy now spends her time at the Dogwood shop, where she and Kathy bring a smile to LGH visitors with their fun and festive window displays.

“You come home with a good feeling that you have done something useful, knowing that you are helping people,” she sayd.

Around 500 people volunteer for VCH on the North Shore and contributed nearly 39,000 hours last year, according to Vancouver Coastal Hospital.