Opportunity

Keaton’s House Paul Paletta Children’s Hospice responds to a long-standing and urgent need for pediatric palliative care in South Central Ontario. Despite serving a population of over 2.3 million, the region has no dedicated hospice for children and youth with serious illnesses. Kemp Care Network, with its 30-year legacy in hospice leadership, is bridging this critical gap with a new, purpose-built facility in Hamilton. The hospice will provide a full spectrum of care from respite and symptom management to end-of-life and bereavement services, delivered in a setting designed to offer comfort, connection, and dignity to families facing unimaginable circumstances.

Response

Keaton’s House is a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art pediatric hospice designed to feel like a second home—warm, welcoming, and filled with joy. Located on a pastoral, tree-lined property adjacent to Wentworth Lodge, it offers both privacy and accessibility, just 10 minutes from McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, including healthcare experts, families, and community leaders, the design integrates a housing care wing with outpatient services, classrooms, complementary therapies, and bereavement supports. Interior and exterior spaces are tailored to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children and their families, including private rooms, communal kitchens, sensory therapy spaces, gardens, and inclusive play areas.