Roger Neilson House

Morley Hoppner partnered with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the Ottawa Senators to raise funds and develop Roger Neilson House with an exciting vision to improve the quality of life for children and families going through the most difficult times imaginable. Roger Neilson House is an eight-bed pediatric residential hospice that offers compassionate care in collaboration with CHEO’s palliative care team. This exceptionally meaningful facility is located on the CHEO grounds and provides a home-like environment to children who have a significant risk of passing away before reaching adulthood. In our role as Construction Manager, Morley Hoppner donated our preconstruction and construction management services to the project to ensure its fruition.

The hockey world lost a beloved coach, friend, and mentor in 2003 when Ottawa Senators Assistant Coach Roger Neilson passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. To honour Roger, the Ottawa Senators Foundation forged partnerships to establish Roger Neilson House, Ontario’s first paediatric respite and palliative care home, a project that struck a chord with the entire local construction community. Morley Hoppner was one of the first companies to offer services. Ken Hoppner offered his project management expertise to the volunteer board of directors set up to monitor the construction activities. Now retired, Glen Morley was asked at the time by the Senators Foundation to act as Director of Construction, and the rest of the team at Morley Hoppner dove right in with budgeting, scheduling, job costing, coordination, and fundraising. With the passion of the construction community behind it, Roger Neilson House opened its doors in May 2006, a full two years ahead of schedule. The hospice features eight bedrooms, a playroom, lounge, kitchen and dining room, office space, laundry facilities, and a “snoozelin,” which can act as a stimulation or relaxation room as needed.