NEWMARKET, ON, August 11, 2026 – Registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and personal support workers (PSWs) providing care to patients of Marigold Hospice Care have voted to join the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) and its 68,000 members as they fight for improved working conditions and better care for their patients.
As part of ONA, the 33 hospice workers will use their collective voice to fight to improve communications and processes within their workplace, alleviate the heavy workloads that deeply impact the care they are able to provide to their patients, and join with ONA’s 68,000 members to fight attacks on the publicly funded and delivered health-care system.
“Marigold Hospice Care is the fifth hospice care facility that has voted to join ONA in the recent past,” notes ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN. “It is significant that hospice workers are joining with nurses and health-care professionals across Ontario to strengthen their collective voice in the face of provincial government attacks on the public health-care system we all need and rely on. We welcome these skilled workers to our union.”
Currently, nurses and PSWs at Marigold Hospice Care are struggling to keep up with heavy workloads that make providing high-quality care a challenge; they are paid uncompetitive wages in a workplace that would benefit from clearer direction.
“The collective strength of ONA membership is key in fighting for the best for members and patients,” says Ariss. “We welcome Marigold Hospice Care nurses and PSWs and look forward to supporting them in their fight.”
ONA is the union representing 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
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