It has been said the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

For local residents, the late Judge William J. Henderson made the greatest use of his life.

A founder of Amherstview who became a Supreme Court of Ontario Justice before his death in 2006 at age 89, the late judge’s foundation helped residents at Helen Henderson Care Centre with a donation of $25,000.

The gift is another example of the judge’s continued impact on Amherstview through the purchase of new hospital beds and an upgraded tub room at the local retirement/long-term care home. The grant officially launched the home’s first fundraising campaign.

“On behalf of our charitable foundation, I cannot express the gratitude and impact this gift from the William J. Henderson Foundation will have on our residents,” says Brett Gibson of Gibson Family Health Care, owner/operator of Helen Henderson Care Centre located in the heart of Amherstview since 1984.

“We want our residents to have the best quality of care. To do that, we need to have the best equipment. This donation will help us purchase specialized medical equipment to enhance our residents’ quality-of-life as well as accommodate their unique medical needs.”

The campaign will be conducted through the Gibson Family Health Care Charitable Foundation; formerly known as the Helen Henderson Care Centre Residents Charitable Foundation.

Working to reach a campaign goal of $50,000, the home plans to spend $30,000 to build a new tub room in the retirement lodge and $20,000 to purchase 11 new beds in the nursing home. The upgrades will help more than 170 residents.

“We continuously strive to enhance the quality of life of our residents through our quality improvement initiatives,” explains Angela Gibson, Assistant Administrator.

“Our mission is to provide excellent care and support for all residents and their family members by using a team approach to enhance their quality of life.”

According to Sue Reynolds, Director of Care, the new beds will be used in the nursing home to help prevent falls and decrease the need for restraints.

“The beds are a wonderful gift to maximize the safety of the residents in our home and enhance fall prevention strategies in-place by our Restorative Team,” she confirms.

In the retirement lodge, residents will receive a new tub and refurbished tub room for comfort and security. The new tub has state-of-the-art safety features including easier access and comfort.

The community is encouraged to support the home’s first fundraising campaign which will improve the quality-of-life for people who require assisted living. A tax receipt will be issued for every gift.

Only $18,000 short of reaching their goal, the home hopes the community will support this campaign to ehance the lives of residents.

To learn more about this initiative or to make a donation, contact Catherine Reynolds at 613-384-4585 ext. 251 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.