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Grief and Loss Podcast Discussion
Valerie’s guest is John Dube who is a Senior Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor at Family Services of the North Shore. John has specialized in bereavement work for the past couple of decades, and while he acknowledges how hard this work is, he also shares the extraordinary nature of people, and how through this journey, they’ve taught him to live.
In this conversation Val and John talk about the stages of grief, John’s concept of the triple burden of grief, how friends and family can best offer support to a bereaved person, and how we can help ourselves when we experience a loss. Val and John talk about the important role of rituals such as funerals and memorials in the bereavement process, and they offer the comforting notion that every expression and individual experience of grief is normal.
We hope this episode provides comfort if you are in need of it, along with insights into this very common and often painful part of life.
Grief in the Time of COVID
Presented by Grief Educator, Dr. Catherine Hajnal. Things are pretty topsy-turvy right now. The reality is that some of that unease and anxiety might be us grieving a felt sense of loss due to the COVID-10 pandemic and of us trying to make sense of all of that is happening around us. Listen to Dr. Hajnal define and discuss Secondary and Ambigous Losses present with the pandemic and learn some coping skills to help ease our feelings of loss.
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We wish to thank the Sovereign Order of St. John Jerusalem, Vancouver Commandery for their support.
Sometimes we don't know what exactly to say to a friend or loved one experiencing a loss.
Here's a guide with comments which grievers find helpful following a loss.
National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week brings focus to issues and resources available for victims, survivors, and their families. The BC Bereavement Helpline has held events during this week, in turn highlighting the resiliency of survivors and bringing awareness to existing services. For more on National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, click here.
Voices of Resilience Podcast Series
BCBH produced an original 5-part podcast series, “Voices of Resilience,” in support of National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, May 28 – June 3, 2017 telling the stories of fiveindividuals affected by crime and how they responded with resiliency.
Podcast #1: “Fighting Back, Jessica’s Story”
Listen to Jessica’s story of fighting back in the face of the loss of her sister to homicide, followed by her experience through the resolution of the 30-year-old cold case.
Podcast #2: “Alchemy, Tamara’s Story”
Listen to Tamara tell the story of her brother’s tragic murder and the resulting “alchemy” of the Daniel Pearl Foundation and her own happiness.
Podcast #3: “Moving Forward – Meghan’s Story”
Hear how Meghan, healing from a recent sexual assault, describes resilience as something that looks different each day – two steps forward, and one step back – and vows that she will not allow this experience to take over her life.
Podcast #4: “Pushing for Change – Jo-Anne’s Story”
In the aftermath of her niece’s murder hear how Jo-Anne has advocated for Kimberly’s Law, legislation that proposes changes in laws to protect our young people and society by preventing further tragedies and providing help for at-risk youth.
Podcast #5: “Forgiveness – Carol’s Story”
Hear how Carol turned to Restorative Justice, and received support through the Community Justice Initiatives Association, to forgive the murderer of her son.
Voices in the Courtroom: Empowering Victims Through Victim Impact Statements
For National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2016, the BC Victims of Homicide, along with our partners, hosted a two-part event on Victim Impact Statements. Victims and families are not personally represented in the court system and often feel, as a result, that their voices are silenced. Raising awareness of the value of Victim Impact Statements can help bring the voice of the victim back into the courtroom, help the community realize the impact of a particular crime on individuals and society, and be a healing tool for some. The Victim Impact Statement then becomes a part of everyone’s journey as we understand the consequences of a particular act and see how it has affected an individual, a family, and a community.
The event was held Monday, May 30th, 2016. The second part of the event was a workshop led by Lovepreet Brar on writing a Victim Impact Statement. The first part of the event included a series of presentations from the perspectives of a victim/survivor, perpetrator, restorative justice practitioner, and a judge; those are available for viewing below.
The following individuals presented during our workshop and spoke of the impact a crime has had on their lives:
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Department of Justice Canada Victims Fund.
What Happens When a Homicide Occurs? A Dialogue
A forum was held on April 25, 2015 to bring together victim family members, criminal justice professionals and other service providers who are involved when a homicide occurs. This forum allowed for dialogue and engagement to promote better understanding of the challenges and limitations that professionals and families face after a homicide.
Introduction with Marlyn Ferguson
Keynote Speech with Cristina Pastia and Question Period
Carolyn Sinclair, Victim Services
Roselle Quinones, Victim Services
Swetlana Boot, Funeral Director
Maureen Parsley, Victim Safety Unit
Andrew MacDonald, Crown Counsel
Tara George, Correctional Service of Canada Victim Services