Contact the Helpline 604-738-9950
Toll-Free: 1-877-779-2223 M-F 9AM-5PM
Toll-Free: 1-877-779-2223 M-F 9AM-5PM
The Compassionate Friends Zoom Support Group for Parents: Virtual - Monthly
TCF of Greater Vancouver has a virtual support group on Zoom on the second Saturday of each month at 2pm.
This support group is for bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a child; siblings and grandparents are also welcome.
Please e-mail VancouverbbyTCF@hotmail.com for registration.
Camp Kerry Society 'These Simple Words' Songwriting Workshop: Virtual - Oct. 24th
Camp Kerry Music Therapist Luke Burton will guide you through the songwriting process in this virtual workshop, as you explore your creative side and set your emotions in motion with creativity exercises and easy song-writing tools. Luke is an Accredited Music Therapist and a singer/songwriter with many years of experience as a performer, therapist, group facilitator and community choir co-leader. He has worked as part of the Camp Kerry team since 2017. No prior song-writing experience or musical ability is required.
Registrants will receive instructions by email on how to attend this online workshop shortly after registering.
Time: 10am – 1pm PST, 1pm – 4pm EST, 2pm – 5pm AST
To register, click here, and follow the links specific to the area of Canada in which you live.
Grief Education Workshop: Vancouver - Oct 24, 31 & Nov 14
Join facilitators Chris Newell and Dr. Catherine Hajnal for this workshop designed for those who want to develop a better understanding of how to help people who are dealing with loss and grief.
When: October 24, October 31, November 14, 2020 (three Saturdays)
When: 9:00 - 4:00pm
Where: Downtwon Vancouver, Burrard & Georgia (exact location to be provided after registration)
Cost: $410 until September 20. $450 until October 10. $480 until October 28.
Click here for POSTER. Please contact Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society via email at lmgr@lgmr.ca.
Navigating Traumatic Loss During COVID-19 - Oct. 24
Virginia Mason is offering a discussion delving into the experiences of a panel of survivors of sudden, traumatic death, as the time of COVID extends and additional societal changes emerge.The audience will again have an opportunity to ask questions and share their own experiences. The goal of this event is to foster healing for all sudden, traumatic death survivors as they hear the first-hand stories of others with a shared experience. All are welcome.
Location: Zoom Videoconference
Time: Saturday Oct 24. at 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Registration: Register here. Participation is limited to the first 100 attendees.
Cost: Free
Camp Kerry Society Virtual Grief Support Groups For Adults Impacted by COVID-19: Oct. 26 - Nov. 30
This 6-week online program provides opportunities for adults who have been bereaved during COVID-19, to connect and to share their experiences of loss in a supportive, compassionate environment with others who understand the unique challenges of losing a loved one during a pandemic. In this group participants will find a mutually compassionate space where they can voice their feelings, honour their loved ones and learn (discover and explore) strategies that can assist them in coping and self-caring as they grieve.
Registration will be limited to 12 participants. Each session is one hour.
Date: October 26 – November 30
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm PST
7:30pm – 8:30pm EST
8:30pm – 9:30 pm EST
Where: This support group is available online. Please note these sessions are open to participants from all across Canada. You may select the region closest to you when registering.
For questions or help with registration, please contact the Camp Kerry office at info@campkerry.org or visit campkerrysociety.org
Burnaby Hospice Society Partner Loss Support Group: Virtual - Oct. 27 - Dec 1
Meet with others who are grieving the death of their partner. Led by a Registered Clinical Counsellor, you will have the opportunity to discuss the variety of emotions and experiences following a death with other bereaved partners. Each week the group will discuss grief-related topics, gaining knowledge and practical tools to integrate and honour your grief, live with the loss and cope with the challenges you may be facing.
Completing an online intake form is required, group members are asked to make a commitment to attending all six sessions. Group guidelines & technical requirements to participate will be emailed to participants after an intake is completed.
Cost: Free
Dates: Tuesdays, Oct. 27th - Dec. 1st
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Registration: Call or email at: 604-520-5024 / counselling@burnabyhospice.org
Douglas College Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course: Virtual - Oct. 28 - Dec. 8th
The Camp Kerry Society is pleased to be offering the Mindfulness Program in partnership with Douglas College. This Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, based on the program developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, runs over 8 weeks, and offers guided mindfulness meditation practice.
The course is taught by Camp Kerry Team member, Anne Walker, who has worked in the health care field as a hospice/palliative/oncology care Social Worker for over 20 years. Creating safety, building resilience and holding possibility are important to her as well as compassion, laughter and mutual adventure in learning.
Instructions on how to access your course materials will be emailed to you by the Program Assistant within five (5) business days prior to your chosen course start date.
Courses have presently been moved to online delivery, until the end of 2020. Students are expected to participate in class discussions. You will need a computer that is connected to the internet to access the Blackboard Collaborate virtual platform. We recommend using either Chrome or Firefox as your browser. As your course includes live sessions, you will also need to enable your computer’s audio and microphone to participate.
Fee: $350
Dates: Wednesdays, Oct. 28 – Dec. 8, 2020
Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm PST
Course Number: BREV 1000
Course Registration Number: 31170
Registration: Call CE Registration at 604-527-5472 and quote the course number (BREV 1000) for the session you are interested in. Payment of the tuition fee ($350) must accompany registration.
Further information is available here.
Adult Grief Support Group - Loss of a Parent - Nov.3rd
Vancouver Hospice Society will be hosting a free 4 week virtual support group for adults who have lost a parent. The group will be facilitated by a clinical counsellor and participants will explore the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual components of the grief process.
Date: Starts November 3rd
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Register: Please email counselling@vancouverhospice.org or call 604-737-7305 ext. 216.
Camp Kerry Society Reflective Writing Series: Virtual - Nov. 16 - Dec. 7
This introductory series is for those without any writing experience and seasoned writers alike. Prior to writing, each session will begin with a check-in and a mindfulness meditation. Opportunities to connect with various exercises that encourage listening to inner thoughts will be provided. This series is designed to support participants with any processing they may want to do specific to their grief while also supporting the reflective process.
The intention of this series is to inspire and open some new pathways of listening rather than about becoming a better writer. Tama teaches with a flow between deep stillness and effervescent lightness. Through this process she will offer tools and techniques to help with clarity and mindfulness as we move towards the end of a year and the holiday season.
Tama Recker, Group Facilitator: Tama has worked in various roles in hospice and bereavement support for many years. She is a counsellor and Therapeutic Touch practitioner as well as a teacher/facilitator of mindfulness, meditation, creative workshops, and more. She has thoroughly enjoyed being part of the fun at Camp Kerry since 2011 as well as connecting with the quiet moments.
Fee: Free
Dates: November 16th - December 7th
Time: 7:00 – 8:30pm PST
Registration: To register, click here and follow the link titled "Register from Western Canada".
Virtual Webinars & Resources
Quality palliative care helps you honour your culture, spirituality and traditions. At LivingMyCulture.ca, people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief to support others. Perspectives include First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Chinese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Indian, Iranian, Italian, Pakistani and Somali.
This infographic by Morning Star Lodge at the University of Saskatchewan is a guide for Indigenous Peoples for processing grief and maintaining holistic health during these uncertain times. Canadian Virtual Hospice and the University of Saskatchewan Medical School were partners in the development of this resource.