December 10, 2021
December is a busy month! Check out the Member Portal for all the events scheduled each week and to register for upcoming special events in December and January 2022.

We'll be posting new dates for Food For Life in January and February shortly. Food For Life needs help in the winter as their student volunteers return to school! If you have a couple of hours to join us and help out, we'd love to see you!
Covid Updates!
Covid is the houseguest who doesn't know when to leave! Every time we think it's leaving....back it comes.

Here's an article from Macleans magazine about the likely outcome of Omicron.

If you're travelling in Canada this holiday season, here are the rules for masks in each province.

And, if you're looking to book a booster or vaccine check out Vaccine Hunters
Annual Christmas Draw!
Get Your Tickets Now!
Surprise Someone With a Beautiful Holiday Gift or Add To Your Home!

Barb Chapman has generously donated a painting for a draw to benefit Acclaim Health's new Dementia Centre. The Dementia Centre is now open and offering services to dementia patients, their caregivers and friends. Your contributions help expand and grow the Centre so more people can be accommodated and more services offered. Thank you!

Valued at around $300 it is a 12" x 12" oil on gallery canvas, wired and ready to hang with or without a frame.

It can be yours to win with a purchase of a draw ticket @ 1 for $20 or 3 for $45.

Please etransfer your ticket purchase to widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com or provide a cheque or cash to either Stephanie or Penny. Stephanie will send you your tickets.

All proceeds from the draw will go to Acclaim Health. The draw will be held Thursday December 23rd.
In Other News..........
Leslie F shared another great holiday decoration she created. This one with golf cart pulled by reindeer is for her brother, a golf enthusiast.

Looking for the recipe for meatloaf that Suzanne Forster provided this week? Check out the recipe section of the portal here and her website for her easy chili recipe!

The Comedy Pet photography awards are here!

Tuesday Zooms! Pls note that due to several special events and evening events our Tuesday 2pm zooms are cancelled in December. Please refer to the event portal to see regularly scheduled events and to register for them!
Thanks to Marika for this poem and reminder of the stages of grief.
One smile can start a friendship
One word can save a relationship
One act can change a life
One person can make a difference
The Power of One

by Nitya Prakash 
December Events!
Lianne Harris Returns with a Holiday Feast
@3:30pm today!

Tis the season to prepare and eat all kinds of delicious food! Join Lianne as she looks at all the different types of food that represent the holidays.
Carole LaTour Returns December 16th!

Getting Through The Holidays with Carole LaTour! Dec 16th at 6pm

Please note the date for this presentation changed to Thursday Dec 16th at 6pm.

Carole is a grief counsellor with many years experience helping people manage their lives after loss.

Be sure to register on the portal to attend this special session and watch for the next date in January for Carole's next session!
Happy New Year!
We're looking forward to lots of exciting new activities to come in the New Year...Here's a few!
Life After Loss Winter Series with Dr. Flavia Ceschin
Dr. Ceschin is returning monthly on the following Fridays, January 7, Feb 4, Mar 4 and April 1 at 10am to facilitate discussions on a variety of topics facing widows and widowers after the loss of a partner or spouse.

Dr Ceschin is a grief counsellor in practice in Oakville and Burlington. You can read more about her here.

Please note that there is a $10 fee pp to attend each session.
Finding Possibility in Opportunity!
Starts Jan 10th @ 2:30 pm for 5 consecutive weeks - a special program for Widowed Friends Members. 

This 5 week program is led by Laurie Hunt.
Life is filled with uncertainty. The more adept you become at being comfortable in the discomfort of not knowing, the easier it will become for you to see options ... even when none are readily apparent.

This program will help you figure out what's next ...one step at a time. You'll learn a 5-step process to:

  • See where you have more or less control in your life  
  • Identify where you'd like to make changes
  • Create a list of engaging options 
  • Choose a compelling action 
  • Feel confident completing that action

The program includes online video modules with a workbook as well as five live group coaching sessions on zoom starting on January 10, 2022 at 2:30pm. Total cost is $75. Learn more about Laurie and the program here.
Intro to Meditation
Join us Tuesday Jan 11 at 2pm when Marguerite Oranes joins us for an hour long Intro to Meditation.

If you've been wondering if meditation is right for you, join us to learn more about the process and benefits.

Register on the Member Portal to join us!
Next Meeting January 12th@1pm
The Book Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 1pm.

We've read some great books and are looking forward to January's selection of The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes and February's pick, The Gown by Jennifer Robson.

New members are always welcome! Check out our previous selections on the Member Portal or email us at info@widowedfriends.ca if you have any questions.
Lianne Harris Returns Friday January 14th at 3:30pm
Save The Date!! We're getting the topics together for the new year and we'll post January's topic soon.
Sugar Junkie! Tuesday January 18th at 2pm
Suzanne Forster returns ( Ditch The DriveThru) for a presentation about how to find a safe, powerful and holistic approach to balancing sugar in your life and
kicking the sugar habit without giving up sweetness.
piggy_bank_100.jpg
Financial Q&A
Join us Jan 25th at 6pm for a financial checkup with Dana Mitchell from Basis Wealth.

Dana will join us to answer your financial questions. With the new year, tax season coming and uncertain markets, if you have questions, Dana has answers.

Email us at info@widowedfriends.ca with your financial questions you'd like answered and we'll submit to Dana. It can be about anything financial from bank accounts to RRSPs, RRIFS, stocks, mortgages etc. No judgement so feel free to ask any financial question on your mind!
Sneak Peak!!
Retreat for the weekend!

Get away for a weekend at a beautiful Ontario country retreat!

We are working out the details now, so watch for more information about an exclusive weekend at a lovely Ontario newly renovated country home just for Widowed Friends members!

Activities might include journaling, yoga, guided walks, mediation and of course good food and good friends!

More details to come......