John Dubé, Clinical Supervisor
John is a registered social worker and a registered clinical counsellor in the province of British Columbia. He began his work in the area of suicide and bereavement in 1985 responding to family and community needs to a suicide, homicide or traumatic death.
His primary counselling area is working with clients who are bereaved due to a suicide, homicide or traumatic death. He works with individuals by encouraging them to find the answers within and utilize their own resources for change and to heal. He believes in providing a respectful and safe place that supports clients to do self-reflective work and discover new ways of coping, integrating the painful event while navigating their world.
Over the past 25 years, John has conducted numerous workshops and trainings to professionals (therapists, counselors, teachers, social workers, victim services personnel, nurses and hospice staff) on topics such as: Grief – The Basics; Complex Bereavement Issues; Bereavement due to Suicide, Homicide and Multiple Loss; Suicide Prevention/Intervention Strategies; Professional Self-care, Communication, and Program Evaluation and Outcomes.
Debra, TLFT and Grief Support Group Facilitator
Debra has a M Ed degree in Counselling Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. Her over 35 years of professional experience in Alberta and BC has included direct counselling services for individuals and groups, post-secondary teaching, senior organizational and clinical management in not-for-profit and commercial environments.
Her passion is helping others become their best selves regardless of challenges and situations. Her clinical expertise includes grief and loss, depression, anxiety, conflict management, and communication strategies. Debra has had over 20 years’ volunteer experience in palliative/hospice care. Currently, she volunteers at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice where she helps out in the kitchen with meal-prep, dish-washing and cookie-baking!
Jessica Wolf Ortiz, TLFT and Grief Support Group Facilitator
Jessica Wolf Ortiz is a Registered Clinical Counselor with 24 years of experience in the clinical field and holds a Master’s degree in Family Therapy. As someone who has personally experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide, Jessica has dedicated much of her career to grief therapy, particularly focusing on suicide bereavement. She serves as a Suicide Grief Support Group Facilitator with BCBH and spent three years as the Bereavement Coordinator for the Crisis Centre of BC’s Bereavement Program.
Jessica’s credentials also include roles as a Crisis Intervention University Instructor and Hotline Supervisor. She is a TED Talk speaker and the author of “Overcoming Suicide Bereavement: The Stories of Those Left Behind.” Additionally, Jessica is a passionate educator in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Drawing from her professional and personal experiences, she firmly believes in our ability to transform ourselves and use our suffering as a catalyst for change.
Dawn, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Dawn is a Registered Social Worker and Veterinary Social Worker based in British Columbia, with a focus on grief and loss, trauma informed care, and community outreach. At the Vancouver Humane Society, she supports low-income pet guardians through the McVitie Veterinary Assistance Program. She also runs a private practice specializing in pet loss, disenfranchised grief, and professional education.
With over a decade of experience in social services, including work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Dawn has supported individuals facing housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers. She holds credentials in social work, counselling, psychology, and animal welfare.
Drawing from her own lived experience with grief, Dawn leads with compassion and a commitment to inclusive, culturally safe care. She is passionate about bridging the gap between social service and animal welfare and advocating for often overlooked forms of grief
Ryan, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Ryan holds a Master of Human Rights, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, and is currently pursuing a Master of Counselling Psychology. In addition, Ryan has certificates in Crisis Intervention and Trauma Supports as well as Thanatology (the study of death and dying).
Since 2023, Ryan has been actively involved with BC Bereavement Helpline as a Grief Support Group Facilitator, focusing on those who have experienced suicide and homicide loss. Ryan has also dedicated years to facilitating support groups for individuals living with addictive behaviours and those grieving medical assistance in dying (MAiD) losses. Providing a calm and open space for participants is at the forefront of Ryan’s approach to facilitation.
Ryan is deeply passionate about volunteering. Over the past 20 years, they have volunteered with more than 30 organizations. Many of these roles centered around mental health, human rights, and international development.
Leita (She/Her), Grief Support Group Facilitator
Leita is an organizer, advocate and therapist who supports folks as they navigate life-altering traumas. She is honoured to work with many different communities, families and individuals as they navigate their healing journeys. She is committed to the de-professionalization of therapy; prioritizing safety, transparency and relatability. Her practice focuses on the complexity of violence, systemic oppression, accountability, transformation and healing. She comes to this work with a deep commitment to radical compassion, subverting systems and the belief that no one is disposable.
Dr. Alana Abramson, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Dr. Alana Abramson began her work in human services with the Crisis Centre of BC and went on to be involved in the field of restorative justice as a researcher, practitioner, and trainer since 1999. She has extensive experience facilitating difficult conversations around various topics including suicide, violence, and trauma in community, prison, and school contexts. In 2017, Alana was the recipient of the Restorative Justice Award from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Alana is currently a full-time Criminology Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, instructor of trauma informed practice and leadership for the Justice Institute of BC, Facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project and the BC Bereavement Society, and trainer with Achieve/Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute and the Restorative Justice Association of BC.
Sylvia Chow, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Sylvia’s brother, Simon Chow, lost his 15-year battle with schizophrenia and died by suicide in 2020. Sylvia was guided towards the support group resources offered by BC Bereavement Helpline and the Crisis Centre of BC for additional support following her loss. She then began to volunteer with the Crisis Centre of BC a few years later and started to explore facilitating Suicide Loss Support Groups with BCBH in 2024.
Sylvia’s facilitation is informed by Simon’s and their family’s challenges as a Chinese Canadian immigrant family surviving through mental health struggles in the Lower Mainland. She is driven by her passion to promote mental health education and advocacy, specifically through her lens as a first-generation Chinese Canadian immigrant.
Sylvia continues to advocate for mental health and suicide loss education and support through all facets of her professional and personal life.
Samara Hohl, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Samara has a background working with children and families, web design, and is currently in the process of completing her Bachelors of Social Work. She brings with her lived experience with toxic drug poisoning and homicide loss, and is honoured to be able facilitate with BCBH to walk alongside those who are navigating and healing after their loss.
Samara’s personal losses have informed her understanding and approach in navigating traumatic losses, and has a deep passion for supporting other’s in their grief journey.
Susannah, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Trista McIver, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Trista is a homicide survivor, having lost her father, Jack McIver, to homicide in 2019. Jack was a well-known public figure and longtime business owner in Vancouver, with over 55 years of service to the community. In the years following her loss, Trista became an active member of three homicide grief support groups, and in 2022, she completed training to become a facilitator for homicide and suicide grief groups, bringing valuable lived experience to her role. She lives in Vancouver with her son and finds joy in the outdoors and walking dogs professionally.
Atrina , Grief Support Group Facilitator
Atrina began volunteering with BCBH as a helpline responder in 2023 before transitioning to supporting Suicide Grief Support Groups in 2025. She is a Peer Support Worker in the Greater Vancouver community, working with low-barrier organizations that support youth across the province.
In her late teens, Atrina experienced an isolating journey with mental illness that completely changed her world. While navigating recovery, she also experienced significant interpersonal trauma and disenfranchised grief. It was through her volunteering experiences in mental health and medical support settings that she discovered the power of collective care and the value of shared spaces where people can grieve and heal together.
Atrina approaches facilitation with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and deep respect for the vulnerability it takes to share one’s story. She is honoured to continue creating spaces at BCBH where people feel safe bringing their whole selves, especially the heaviest parts.
Anne Bird, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Anne holds a PhD in Social Justice Studies from the University of Toronto where her research interests focused on female dominated Carework and emotional labor. As a community development worker Anne supported the development of children and family services, later joining the Ontario government to work on files in four ministries. Since her retirement from the Ontario Public Service in 2023 Anne has turned her attention to a personal passion, that of animal well-being.
In 2024, Anne completed the Animals and Society Specialization Certificate through the University of Colorado, Boulder, studying current animal welfare issues. Subsequently Anne completed the Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula program at the University of Vermont, an emerging area of supporting people and their animals at their end of life. Anne is a member of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care and through the American Sociological Association, an active member of the Animals and Society section.
As a Carework researcher and a lover of animals large and small, Anne’s goal is to support families and their pets, or their working animal companions, through the difficult transition of their animal’s death and the grief process. Anne also has a special interest in supporting staff in animal related occupations who may struggle over the loss of animals in their care.
Jacquelyne Allen, Grief Support Group Facilitator
For over 15 years, Jacquelyne has provided support to individuals and groups experiencing losses to suicide. Jacquelyne has extensive experience in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and grief counselling. Her background includes a Bachelor’s of the Arts in Psychology, Master’s Degree level course work in Counselling, and Traumatic Loss Facilitator Training. In addition to being a facilitator with BCBH, Jacquelyne currently volunteers on the BC Bereavement Helpline.
Jacquelyne draws from her extensive personal and professional experience to help others navigate the myriad of feelings and life changes brought about by loss.
Jenn, Grief Support Group Facilitator
Jenn has worked in the non-profit sector for 8 years, supporting community members who have experienced or are at risk of vulnerabilities including violence, the toxic drug supply, homelessness, and incarceration. She holds a master’s degree in human rights and social justice and has a passion for systems change that is rooted in relationship, compassion, and shared humanity.
She has facilitated groups and trainings for adults who have experienced violence, queer youth who are navigating healthy relationships, crisis response volunteers, and many others. She loves the learning that comes from being in these sharing spaces with people.