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"Flowers grow back even after the harshest winters. You will too."
-Unknown
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Hope Report: Winter 2025 Newsletter
| | | A Message from the Executive Director | | | |
As we step into 2026, I want to begin by saying thank you. Whether you are a participant, volunteer, community partner, donor, or funder, your ongoing support and connection mean the world to us. It is because of you that the Centre for Grief and Healing continues to be a place of comfort, community, and hope for those navigating life after loss.
This year is already filled with exciting growth and meaningful opportunities to serve our community. Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant, we are preparing to launch a brand new series of six, four-week culturally tailored grief and wellness workshops. These sessions will offer safer, identity-affirming spaces to explore the connection between grief, culture, movement, art, and healing. We look forward to sharing more details very soon, so please keep an eye out so you can join us!
In March, we will also be introducing our six-week Grief and Mental Health Workshop Series for individuals receiving Ontario Works*. These in-person sessions, hosted at our Mississauga office, are made possible through the Region of Peel’s CARE Program and will focus on tools for healing, emotional regulation, and building mental wellness after loss. *While priority registration will be given to individuals receiving Ontario Works, those who do not access Ontario Works are also warmly welcome to join, space permitting.
We are also excited for the return of Bids of Hope, our online silent auction fundraiser running from February 17 to 27. With a wide range of items and experiences to bid on, every dollar raised will go directly toward keeping our grief supports free and accessible to all who need them.
As we look ahead, we are committed to deepening in-person support offerings, developing more inclusive and culturally responsive programming, and connecting with our community in meaningful new ways.
To everyone who journeys alongside us, thank you. Your care, compassion, and generosity make this work possible. We are truly grateful for all that we have accomplished together, and for all that is still to come.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Julia Duz
Executive Director
| | | Our Centre for Grief and Healing (CFGH) Team | | | Greetings to all new members joining us. | |
As we continue to welcome new faces to the organization, we wanted to say hello and welcome to the Centre for Grief and Healing (BFO-H/P).
As a small yet powerful team, we take pride in our unique perspectives and leadership. To learn more about us, [click here], and don’t forget to explore our Volunteer Recognition Wall, showcasing the generosity and dedication of our fantastic volunteers!
| | | ❄️Seasonal Fundraising Spotlight
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Bids of Hope: Online Silent Auction
We’re pleased to share that Bids of Hope, our new online silent auction, is now live!
Created in partnership with Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto, Bids of Hope brings our communities together to raise funds in support of free, compassionate peer grief support, while celebrating the generosity of local businesses and community partners.
The auction runs February 17–27, 2026 and features approximately 70+ donated items and experiences, including gift cards and passes to yoga and fitness studios, spa and facial treatments, hotel stays, dining experiences, and more. Every dollar raised helps ensure grief support remains accessible and free of charge for those who need it.
We invite you to visit the website, place your bids, and help make a meaningful impact through your participation.
Learn more and start bidding at: https://www.32auctions.com/bidsofhope2026.
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Thank You to Our Generous Donors
Bids of Hope would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors and community partners. We are deeply grateful to the local businesses and individuals who have donated items, services and experiences to support free grief peer support for individuals across Halton, Peel, and Toronto.
Your generosity helps ensure that grief support remains accessible, compassionate, and free of charge for those navigating loss. Thank you for standing with us and for helping bring hope, comfort, and connection to our community.
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If you have any questions about Bids of Hope, please contact Kelly Price, Fundraising Manager.
We give our heartfelt thanks to our generous Bids of Hope donors:
| | | We’re still finalizing our year-end details and preparing a more comprehensive report to share at our 2026 Annual General Meeting; however, we can share that in 2025 we had the privilege of journeying alongside many individuals in their grief; each person more than a number, each story deeply meaningful to us. | | | |
In 2025, we:
Supported 1,110+ group visits through...
200+ grief support group sessions.
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In 2025, we:
Facilitated 690+ one-to-one grief peer support sessions.
Welcomed 460+ new members to the organization.
| | | Specialized Grief Workshops | |
Funded workshops developed for specific groups and/or communities that explore grief through wellness-based and experiential approaches, including movement, creativity, and embodied learning. Participants are welcome to attend as they are able; however, attending multiple sessions is encouraged to support continuity and connection.
Please note: These workshops cannot be registered for online. As some sessions may include sharing and interaction with other participants, a brief intake and consent process is required to ensure the workshops are a good fit and to support a safe group experience. For questions or next steps, please contact info@bereavedfamilies.ca.
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Mental Health Workshop Series
With funding from Peel Region through the CARE Program, we are offering two 6-week, in-person mental health workshop series (ages 18+) that prioritize individuals receiving social assistance. These workshops support adults navigating grief while building practical skills for emotional wellbeing and daily life.
These workshops will explore:
- Grief and trauma
- Secondary losses
- Identifying personal needs
- Strengthening support systems
- Self-compassion
- Future planning
- Experiential and activity-based learning
The first in-person workshop series will start the first week of March, with a second in-person series offered in mid-October.
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Moving Through Grief
Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation through the Seed Grant, we plan to offer 6, 4-week population-specific grief and mental health educational workshops. These time-limited, in-person series are designed to meet people where they are and offer alternative, culturally responsive ways of engaging with grief.
Each series combines trauma-informed movement, embodied wellness, and arts- and culture-based activities to support community-specific ways of engaging with grief.
Upcoming series (4 weeks each) for:
- Seniors (Ages 65+) – Week of April 20
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Folks (18+) – First week of June
- Indigenous Folks (18+) – Mid-September
- BIPOC Folks (18+) – Early November
- Youth (Ages 18–24) – Early November
- General Public (Ages 18+) – Early January 2027
| | | January-April 2026 Grief Support Groups | |
Winter 2026 Support Groups and Educational Groups (ages 18+):
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Virtual Friends and Family Loss Group: every Tuesday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
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Virtual Parent & Guardian Loss Group: every Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
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Virtual Partner Loss Group: every Thursday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
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8-Week In-Person Friends and Family Loss Group: every Wednesday until March 25th, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
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6-Week In-Person Mental Health Workshop Series: every Thursday starting March 5 until April 9, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
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Virtual 8-Week Traumatic Loss Group: every Wednesday starting March 11 until April 29, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
Click the photo ("Grief Support Groups Guide") to view our frequently asked questions, how to register for group, group guidelines, and additional Winter 2026 groups, topics, and dates. This document can also be found on our website here. Please email us at info@bereavedfamilies.ca if you have any questions.
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If you are interested in volunteering and would like to learn about the opportunities available, please reach out to Samantha (she/her), Volunteer Manager, at volunteering@bereavedfamilies.ca. | | |
Growing Our Volunteer Community
In January 2026 we welcomed 6 new volunteers to our organization! In February 2026 we will be holding an Individual Peer Support Training for 9 volunteers who will be supporting people with our individual sessions. We have shifted our focus on building our one-to-one volunteer community to be able to support more people with these sessions, and limiting wait times for them.
We are currently in the midst of planning our Volunteer Appreciation night for March! We cannot wait to celebrate our volunteers and all the support they have given the organization this past year.
| | | | Community Connections and Workshops | | | |
Get to Know Us!
We've recently had some wonderful meetings with other organizations in the Halton and Peel regions, and we're excited about the opportunity to collaborate with them next year.
We are also excited to offer and virtually host a free 30 to 45-minute "Get to Know Us" meeting with organizations and professionals interested in learning more about us and the work we do. If you are from an organization and are interested in inviting us to a virtual meeting, please contact us at: outreach@bereavedfamilies.ca.
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Building Connections
Our private, paid workshops ("Navigating Through Grief" (NTG)) are designed for helping professionals, the general public, and teams in workplaces, agencies, or organizations. These pre-set workshops explore grief and loss, their unique impacts, and practical ways to support yourself and others through grief. We also offer customization options to tailor the workshop to your team or the population you serve.
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GriefTalks: Educational Webinars
GriefTalks are free, 1-hour Zoom webinars exploring grief, loss, identity, mental health, and wellness. They provide a compassionate space for learning, reflection, and connection, highlighting how grief manifests differently across communities and contexts. Each session features a unique topic and speaker, offering tools, perspectives, and insights to support both individuals and professionals in navigating grief.
| | | | | The Real Impact of Your Support | | | |
When you give, you're helping ensure grief support remains free, accessible, and rooted in compassion. Make a difference today: https://www.bereavedfamilies.ca/donate
If you’d like to learn more about how we use donations or how you can get involved, reach out any time:
Julia (she/her), Executive Director – executivedirector@bereavedfamilies.ca
Kelly (she/her), Fundraising Manager – fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca
| | | Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A) Updates | | | |
We are currently developing a new IDEA-informed training for all Centre for Grief team members. This training will explore how grief is shaped by systemic inequities and how we can offer more inclusive, equitable, and accessible grief support. It will be tailored specifically to the realities of grief and loss, and grounded in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices.
In alignment with our commitment to accessibility, we have added new chairs for our in-person groups that better support a wider range of bodies, mobility needs, and comfort levels. We have also introduced a selection of sensory and grounding tools to help participants regulate, focus, and feel more at ease during sessions, recognizing that grief and trauma can impact how people experience their bodies and attention.
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We’re also excited to share that this year we are developing six new culturally tailored workshop series designed to support specific communities in meaningful and responsive ways. These offerings are made possible through the Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant.
If you’re interested in providing insight, sharing your lived or professional expertise, supporting program development, or facilitating within one of these series, we would love to connect with you! Please reach out to learn more about the opportunities available to help shape and deliver these impactful initiatives.
| | | Expressing Appreciation for Our Generous Funders and Community Support! | | | Click here to see what our current funders are supporting. | | | Feedback, Comments, Suggestions | | | |
Comments, concerns, feedback, and compliments can always be forwarded to Victoria (she/her) at programs@bereavedfamilies.ca. Anonymous feedback can be submitted to us here: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/contactus.
Partnership opportunities, event support inquiries, and donation inquiries can be forwarded to Kelly (she/her) and Julia (she/her) at fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca and executivedirector@bereavedfamilies.ca.
Looking to volunteer? Please contact Samantha (she/her) at volunteering@bereavedfamilies.ca with your interest.
All other inquiries (intakes, group registrations, getting set up with us) can be forwarded to info@bereavedfamilies.ca.
Our next Hope Report will be sent in April 2026. Our Care Corner: Wellness Newsletter will be sent next month.
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