Our meeting today was away from the familiar confines of the Holiday Inn. Jim's count was 43 members and guests, many of whom were spouses of our Rotarians.

On entering the Children's Hospital "campus", one is immediately struck by the sheer size of this new facility, the bright colors and the differing architecture of each of the separate buildings.

We were welcomed by our hostess, Sheelagh (name badges only had first names), who described the building as a "healing place" for kids and family and a place to provide a feeling of support and solace. It is a "state of the art" facility in North America and recognized that our children deserve the "best" with a "raised standard of care".

Sheelagh's presentation included a DVD made by staff of "Global TV" featuring lots of children describing the facilities. The DVD showed interviews describing chemo treatments, transfusions and other procedures. A lot of the focus was on "Kids Cancer", bone marrow transplants, Hodgkins lymphoma and the sad statistic that 20% of kids don't survive despite the advanced care. All to the musical background of "All You Need Is Love".

After the DVD, there was a photo-op of the whole group which was akin to herding cats, but we got it done. We then were joined by two other hostess and were divided into 3 groups to tour the hospital.

Our hostess described the special designs based on extensive interviews with parents and children. Special attention was given to air conditioning for fresh air to eliminate the usual hospital smell. Special treatment was also given to windows. The four panel windows throughout the building were especially selected because children "draw windows that way". All children's rooms are on the west side of the building which has the best view of the mountains. Other offices and treatment facilities are on the east side.

The "in-patient" building is in an "X" pattern with support staff, recreation areas and other facilities located at the intersection on each floor. There are numerous "play rooms" designed to be "homelike" but still therapeutic in nature. Art work decorated the hallways, much of which was prepared by the patients including self-portraits.

There is a room for "sacred space" for multi religious and reflective purposes.

In each hospital room, there is an additional bed for parents to stay and sleep over. The philosophy of the hospital is "family centered care" with provisions for families to be closely involved with the healing process.

Our hospital accommodates children from southern Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. An extensive library with online resources is available to families staffed by resource specialists to help deal with illnesses.

Our hostess described three main facilities, the hospital for active care, the Ronald McDonald House to provide accommodation for parents and the Rotary-Flames House, a paediatric hospice.

The Rotary-Flames House is a separate building, just newly built and ready to be occupied in October. We were greeted by the Medical Director, Dr Marlie Robertson. The home is one of three in Canada and one of six in North America.

It is an "end of life" facility designed to be "like a home". There is 24/7 care with "planned respite" for parents to get away for short breaks.

There are 11 beds, including two suites. Only seven beds will be occupied until more funding is available from the government. The suites have two bedrooms, one for the child in a fully medically equipped room extremely well disguised to look like a child's home bedroom. The other bedroom has a king-sized bed for parents and other children. The suite is completed with a small kitchen and sitting area, although meals can be brought up from the main kitchen.

There are numerous recreation rooms, very well audio/visually equipped. There is a sun room and a light house, all designed for children in palliative care.It is truly impressive, a remarkable facility and easily the highlight of the field trip.

It is called Rotary-Flames House and our club along, with two other Rotary clubs in the city through the Rotary-Flames Foundation, have provided funding for the special equipment and facilities in the building.

Our club's commitment is to operate three casinos, starting 2010, and contribute the proceeds (approximately $250,000) to the Rotary Flames Foundation. What a bargain for all that is being done! There will be an official opening in the near future. Don't miss it, if you can!

This was a great and memorable field trip. Meetings may be less emotionally charged in comparison after this one! Thanks to Ted Valentine for the arrangements!