THE HOPE REPORT: WINTER 2019 EDITION
Even When It's Cold Outside Our Memories Keep Us Warm
We’re excited to share what we’ve been working on since our last update.
We have both traditional and new initiatives for you including: our Annual Loving Memory Ceremony, National Bereavement Day, our Plant-A-Tree Campaign and some tips to help you over the holiday season!   
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
OUR NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT DAY
CAMPAIGN VIDEO IS LIVE!!
TODAY IS  NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT DAY!

What is National Bereavement Day?

Throughout the month of November, culminating on November 19th, The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, together with sector partners, community agencies and the Centre For Grief & Healing (BFO-H/P) has been promoting resources and tools to help Canadians throughout their grief journeys – for those dealing with grief, bereavement, anticipatory grief, ambiguous grief, and chronic sorrow.

This year's National theme is  "Coping with grief, together through living and grieving" . The 2019 digital campaign aims to encourage individuals and groups to learn about grief and bereavement.

As a society, we are so focused on prolonging life and curing illness that very little thought is given to what happens at the end of our journeys – including to those who are left behind. The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association began National Bereavement Day as a way to help bring this discussion to the forefront of Canadians’ minds, and allow time to grieve, to remember, and to heal. As a Bereavement organization, it is important to us that we advocate to normalize the idea that grief and bereavement is a part of life and challenge Canadians to ask each other about their grief and to share their stories.

What is the Centre For Grief & Healing Doing to Honour National Bereavement Day?

This initiative is aimed at educating people in the wider community about grief and what impact it has on those who have suffered a loss in our community. We are recognizing National Bereavement Day with our "Say Their Name" Digital Campaign. This campaign shares tips, resources, education and stories about grief and the impact it has had on the people in our community.

As part of this campaign, we will be sharing individual stories from our program participants, volunteers, students, and staff members that highlight the love, the loss, the hope and the healing of those grieving in our community. Specifically, encouraging others to acknowledge and remember the loss by letting them know it's ok to "Say Their Name"

What Can I Do To Participate in National Bereavement Day?

There are several different ways to participate in today's National Bereavement Day:

Follow us on social media, where you can like, share, and comment on National Bereavement Day and help us spread the word and shine a light on the work we are doing at the Centre For Grief & Healing.

We invite you to share your own grief story, encourage those in your network to "SayTheirName" and explore the following hashtags to promote this digital campaign. Don't forget to tag us in your post and use the hashtags #SAYTHEIRNAME #WELIVE #WEGRIEVE or #NATIONALBEREAVEMENTDAY
You Are Invited

Please join us for our Annual Loving Memory Ceremony on Tuesday December 3rd, 2019 at the Unitarian Congregation Mississauga .

This traditional event includes: our Loving Memory Tree, the Scroll of Memories,a special performance by the Mississauga Children's Choir, Guest speakers and much more!

For more information or to register for this event, please visit our website!
Tue, Dec 3, 2019 6:30 PM EST
Loving Memory Ceremony
Unitarian Congregation Mississauga, Mississauga
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MIKE
"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time; they just have the heart!"

Our Volunteer Spotlight this month recognizes someone behind the scenes...someone you may not realize has been quietly helping us record our special moments of remembrance, hope, and healing. He is a true gentleman and is always willing to roll up his sleeves and dive right in to help.

Michael Podolak is currently enrolled as a full-time Film Production student at Humber College, where he is pursuing a career in movie production. When he becomes a famous director, we hope he will remember us!

Mike has helped with several projects including our Annual Walk to Remember and most recently filmed and directed our "Say Their Name" Campaign Video in Honour of National Bereavement Day. This featured video clip - and the stories that we will be sharing over the next few months - took Mike hours of his time to set up, interview, film and create. We are sure you'll agree with us - he is pretty amazing!

We would like to give a huge thank you to Mike for his professionalism, talent, and willingness to step in whenever we ask! He is truly such an asset to our charity and we couldn't have shared these stories without you! 


Every volunteer is important to us at the Centre For Grief & Healing. If you have a talent, skill, or profession that you think could contribute towards our mission, we would love to hear from you!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and making an impact in your community, please visit our website to get started!


PLANT-A-TREE CAMPAIGN
GROWING A LIVING LEGACY
As part of our National Bereavement Day Campaign, we invite you to join us as we plant 100 trees in honour of our loved ones*.

Together with the City of Mississauga, we are helping conserve and enhance the City's open spaces and forested areas for future generations to enjoy. Leaving a living legacy is a great way to celebrate the life and memories of our cherished loved ones. 

*For complete details on this program, please visit our website at https://www.bereavedfamilies.ca/plant-a-tree-campaign
Grieving Over the Holidays
Thank you to our generous funders: