Veralin Phillips-Michael
Veralin was born in Saskatchewan and raised on a farm. Upon graduating high school, she worked for the CIBC in Radville, Saskatchewan. Banking wasn’t in her heart though, and she left that job after a few months and landed a job in Weyburn, Saskatchewan as an insurance broker, where she stayed as the Operations Manager for Miles Agencies Ltd. for ten years. The business sold, and Veralin moved to Toronto, Ontario, where she met her future husband. They worked together at CICS Redshaw and there Veralin was a Customer Support Representative for the Computer Software firm, supporting insurance brokers across Canada who used the Redshaw Broker Management System. Veralin’s fiancé was the programmer. Veralin lived in Toronto for 2 years and then she and her fiancé moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1990, married in 1991 and had a baby daughter in 1992.
Veralin joined the insurance brokerage of CJ Campbell Insurance in July 1990, where she remained as a broker for 27 ½ years. The business had changed management, and Veralin decided to move to another brokerage in January 2018, where the head office was in Edmonton. They offered her a management position, and she opened and managed the Calgary Division of First Foundation Insurance Inc. First Foundation Insurance aligned with Veralin’s belief of client care. She has always believed that client service is paramount. Veralin has always loved taking care of her clients as was evident when her clients of 30 years looked for her and found her, thus following her to First Foundation Insurance. In October 2025, First Foundation Insurance sold the entire business, and Veralin sold the Calgary Division, as was a condition of the sale. After 48 years as an insurance broker, Veralin was making a change in her career path.
Veralin did not only work in insurance, though. She also has a love of children, and she opened a community dance studio, Dance Dimensions Inc. In 2006. Since Veralin’s daughter was a competitive dancer with many awards and titles, she became the teacher at age 14 and Veralin did the administrative duties. The idea of the studio was to keep costs low, so children in the community could learn a love of the arts and experience dance firsthand. The students received trophies and Dance Dimensions had their students showcase their dances in year-end recitals while wearing beautiful costumes. The studio taught leadership qualities and organizational skills. Sadly, the studio closed in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Veralin’s mother lived in her own home until she was 98 years old. Unfortunately, her bones had become brittle, and she suffered continuous painful bone breakage. Veralin took her mother into her home and took care of her until she passed away at the age of 101. Veralin was blessed to have the honor of taking care of her mother and tending to her needs in her final years. She passed away on October 4, 2022, in Veralin’s arms.
Following the death of her mother, and the sale of First Foundation Insurance, Veralin decided that her heart belonged to the people who were unable to care for themselves. She believes that no one should have to live with loneliness. Veralin feels strongly that everyone should have a voice on their behalf to advocate for them, whether it be to the caregivers in long-term care facilities or to their families. Above all, no one should ever die alone. Veralin’s strong beliefs in compassionate care and to honor her beloved mother gave birth to Gentle Hands & Kind Heart.
Trusted Companion Care for people who have health issues, such as dementia, aphasia and other ailments has become a passion for Veralin. Her empathetic nature and kindness for those in need opened the door to other much needed work such as End-of-Life Doula service. This in turn has also led her to offer Grief Support for anyone who has suffered a loss of any kind.
Veralin has a huge love for animals, and she strongly believes that if people need compassion and kindness in their final hours, then so do our furry friends. This encompassed another segment of her work, which is Animal End-of Life Doula service.
Veralin has taken many courses in an ongoing effort to give her clients the best care and support in every aspect of their lives, even transitioning through death. She is a Certified Death Doula, Certified Mediumship – Level One, Certified Respite Care for Death Doula, Certified End-Of-Life Animal Care 1, and has a Certificate for Palliative Care Training for Volunteers. She is presently enrolled in a course to obtain Grief Coach Certification, and she is also enrolled in an ongoing Mentorship Program by a Certified Death Doula.
Gentle Hands and Kind Heart describe Veralin perfectly as she strives to be a compassionate care worker and advocate for her clients to the fullest. Veralin will go above and beyond to ensure that her clients receive the most attentive love and care.
