About
The Sibling Support Centre is a new Centre created from the generous donations from our C+W Auxiliaries and BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital Foundations. With the support of donors and the many partners who have informed this work for more than four years, the Centre has now moved into our pandemic centric pilot.
The centre’s workflow and design came from three working advisories that included staff, leaders, fundraisers, patients and families. The shared goal of the advisories was to create a safe and supervised center for siblings who may require short respite play while a family member is receiving care at BC Children’s or BC Women’s.
- Focused: We listen to what matters most to children, youth and families
- Inclusive: We intend to serve siblings of patients from across campus equitably
- Culture: We commit to a program that reflects cultural safety and humility
- Research Driven: We will use evidence-based evaluation and share the organization’s ongoing pursuit of patient-centric quality improvements
- Exceptional: We demonstrate a commitment to co-design with patients and families, creative thinking and exceptional experiences
- Innovative: Our work fosters a spirit of inquiry and innovation that will result in positive sibling and family experiences

Coordinator, Sibling Support Centre:
We are delighted to welcome Rhiannon Satherley, to the Patient Experience team as our coordinator for the Sibling Support Centre.
With over 20 years of working at BC Children’s and BC Women’s, Rhiannon works to frame her interactions with a trauma informed lens, and continuously reflects on being open to others and their cultural experiences. Rhiannon is passionate about supporting siblings and their families through the centre and looks forward to collaborating with community partners.
Coordinator, Volunteer Resources:
We are also excited to be welcoming Deanna Viscardi, as coordinator, Volunteer Resources. She will work to support Volunteer Resources across BC Children’s and BC Women’s, and provide support to the Sibling Support Centre Coordinator and stakeholders.
Deanna has also worked as a volunteer coordinator, and in her role has helped organize and train volunteers, as well as coordinated resources for organizational, community and outreach events. She has collaborated with local communities to gather volunteers to sponsor and facilitate events and fundraising initiatives. She is proud to be a member of the volunteer resource team at the Sibling Support Centre, and to help provide such an important family service with the support of volunteers.
The centre’s staff will work to support families with short term respite and the opportunity to focus on the child/patient receiving care, while knowing their other child/children are in a safe play setting. Staff will also assist families with locating other resource services and information, as needed.