The Inn of Waterloo, a landmark in the community for decades, closed for good over the weekend. The owner said a devastating fire in 2021, combined with pandemic pressures, were the main reasons for shutting down.
KITCHENER HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre has been able to support patients during the pandemic and a fire impacting wig supplies. When COVID-19 was first identified in Waterloo Region more than a year ago, Shannon Berkhuizen was dealing with another disease. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at the beginning of the pandemic, she said. Berkhuizen and her family turned to HopeSpring for support during her diagnosis. It has allowed us to reach out to the community and we have that connection that we wouldn t have had otherwise, she said. The board of directors and staff realized they needed to provide extra effort was needed during the pandemic to support the cancer journeys of 1,500 clients.
The HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre is in the midst of finding a new home for their supplies because of the same fire that displaced a men s shelter at The Inn of Waterloo.
Organizers with the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre are now looking for a new home after being uprooted by the fire that also displaced a men's shelter at the Inn of Waterloo Tuesday night.