Dancing for a cause close to home

When Jillian Mckenzie takes to the stage on Oct. 2 for Dancing with the Stars for Hospice, a fundraiser in support of hospice palliative care services in Cape Breton, it won’t be the first time the lifelong dancer and Nova Scotia Health communications advisor has danced along with the stars.  

“My mom told me that when I was a little girl and Dancing with the Stars would come on the television, I’d run upstairs to put on a costume so I could dance along with them,” she says. 

Now, Jillian is combining her passion for dance with raising funds for a cause that directly supports hospice palliative care services in Cape Breton — helping individuals and families when they need it most.

“When I was asked to get involved, it was a hundred times yes,” says Jillian. “I have a family member who is currently receiving palliative care services, and I know how important that is in my own life and how much that helps my family.”

Palliative care enhances the quality of life of people with a life-limiting illness. At any given time, 250 patients are receiving palliative care services in Cape Breton either at home, in long-term care, through Hospice Cape Breton or at Nova Scotia Health sites in Eastern Zone.  

“I think if you talk to anybody who has had an experience with hospice or palliative care, you know how important this service is for the people who need it,” she says. 

The annual fundraiser hosted by the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton County pairs professional dancers like Jillian — who owns a brand-new local dance studio in Sydney, Studio Élevé — with local individuals. 

Jillian and her teammates, Carol Murphy and Marlene Elman, are competing as a trio for Dancing with the Stars for Hospice. 

“I’ve been paired with fantastic partners, and we’ve already spent many hours practising and putting our dance together. These ladies are ready for a challenge. We’re having a lot of fun and are excited to support such an important cause,” she says. “I know they also have experiences through hospice and palliative care and hearing their stories too is inspiring and motivation for us on the dance floor.”

Jillian’s involvement also ties back to making a difference in patient experience, something she knows through her work as a communications advisor on Nova Scotia Health’s Care Coordination Centre (C3) team.

C3 provides a real-time view of patient flow across the province, helping connect patients with the care they need, when they need it. By quickly bringing together the right information and the right people at the right time, C3 streamlines the co-ordination of patient moves, reducing delays and helping patients receive care sooner. 

“In my daily work I see how C3 works from the technology side and that goes into getting patients the care they need at the right time and in the right place. We hear from healthcare teams how important that is to the patient experience,” she says. 

“Having a patient lens was a big driver for me getting involved with Dancing with the Stars for Hospice and having the chance to help through dance feels like my two worlds coming together.”  

Looking ahead to the event on Oct. 2, Jillian is most excited to see all the routines, knowing how hard everyone has worked. And for the chance to come together with community members who are passionate about supporting patients and families. 

“I feel very privileged to be in the room and to feel the energy that comes from so many people dedicated to an important cause.” 

Learn more about Dancing with the Stars for Hospice or make a donation. Each $1 donation is one vote for your favourite dance pair (or trio!) for the People’s Choice Award. Watch the livestream of the event starting at 7:45 p.m. (AST) on Oct. 2.

Pictured (left to right): Carol Murphy, Jillian Mckenzie and Marlene Elman practice their dance routine ahead of Dancing with the Stars for Hospice.