|
|
"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." —Albert Camus | | Hope Report: Summer 2025 Newsletter | | | |
Dear Community,
Every day at the Centre for Grief and Healing, we hear stories that remind us why this work matters. A parent who lost a child. A young person navigating the sudden death of a friend. A spouse trying to rebuild their life after losing their partner of 40 years. In these quiet, tender moments of loss, our organization becomes a lifeline, a place where people feel seen, heard, and held. These are not just stories. These are real lives transformed by your support.
This work is only possible because of our community. And today, we need you more than ever.
This year, we were counting on several grants that unfortunately did not come through. These grants were meant to help sustain our grief support programs for 2026 and beyond—programs that are needed now more than ever. Without this funding, we are relying more heavily on donations from our community to ensure no one is turned away when they reach out for help.
If you believe in the importance of free and accessible, compassionate grief support, we need you. Your donation, no matter the size, directly supports those who are navigating the hardest moments of their lives. It means more support groups, more one-on-one sessions, and more hope for those who need it. Please consider making a donation today. Help us continue to be there when it matters most: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/donate. If you have any questions regarding your donation, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at executivedirector@bereavedfamilies.ca.
Another way you can support our charity is by joining us for our biggest fundraiser of the year, Walk to Remember, on Saturday, September 20, 2025. This event is an opportunity to walk in memory of your loved ones while raising funds to ensure others can access grief support in 2026. Register or donate: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/walktoremember2025.
Despite our current challenges, we remain committed to offering free, accessible grief support. Thank you for being here with us. Your support gives hope to those who need it—and we simply couldn’t do this without you.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Julia Duz
Executive Director
Centre for Grief and Healing
| | Seasonal Fundraising Spotlight | | | |
Clear Out for a Cause: Host a Yard Sale for Good! 🏡
Sun’s out, stuff’s out! Whether you call it spring cleaning or summer shedding, now’s the perfect time to turn your decluttering into meaningful support. Host a garage or yard sale and donate some (or all) of the proceeds to our charity.
Let your neighbours know it’s for a great cause by putting up a sign, adding a donation jar, or sharing a bit about why our work matters. Every dollar helps us continue providing grief and loss support to our community — and every item sold helps turn everyday giving into lasting impact.
Click Here to Start Your Own Fundraiser!
| | | Support Updates: January to April 2025 | | | It’s been a season full of impact — here’s what we’ve been up to! | | |
From January to April, we:
Saw 375+ group visits through...
79+ grief support group sessions.
| | |
From January to April, we:
Facilitated 225+ one-to-one grief peer support sessions.
Welcomed 157+ new members to the organization.
| | | Click on the 2024 Wrapped image or follow this link to discover the impacts we made throughout 2024. | | May-August 2025 Grief Support Groups | |
Click the photo to view our frequently asked questions, how to register for group, group guidelines, and Summer 2025 groups, topics, and dates. This document comes attached to every group registration and can also be found on our website here.
Upcoming and Current Support Groups (ages 18+ unless otherwise noted):
-
Virtual Friends and Family Loss Group: every Tuesday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
-
Virtual Parent & Guardian Loss Group: every Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
-
Virtual Partner Loss Group: every Thursday, 6:30pm-8:00pm.
-
Virtual 8-Week Suicide Loss (ages 13-17): Starts May 7th. Wednesdays, 6:30pm-8:00pm, until June 25th.
-
Virtual 8-Week Overdose Loss (ages 13-17): Starts May 8th. Thursdays, 6:30pm-8:00pm, until June 26th.
Click the photo for more information on our groups and stay tuned for future email updates about new and current support groups, their eligibility, and how to register for them. Please email us at info@bereavedfamilies.ca if you have any questions about the above groups. Note no groups will run from August 18th - August 29th.
| | | |
Help Us Sustain the Heart of Our Work
As we prepare for our 2025 Walk to Remember fundraising and commemorative event, we’re calling on our community to help us make this year’s event truly special — and to help sustain our work for 2026 and beyond. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive the grant funding we hoped for, and now more than ever, we’re relying on the power of volunteers, local connections, and creative community care. Here's how you can help:
🎶 Have a skill or service to offer?
We’re looking for volunteers who would love to contribute their time and talents at the Walk — from yoga or wellness offerings, to live music, kid-friendly activities, or other creative ideas. If you’d like to volunteer your services or time, we’d love to hear from you!
🎁 Contribute Goods or Services
Have items or skills to share? We warmly welcome donations of small giveaway items or handmade items to share with attendees, as well as practical contributions like tables, signage services, food, and beverages to help make the event comfortable and welcoming for everyone.
📣 Spread the Word
You can also volunteer by sharing our event, starting a fundraising team, or inviting friends and family to donate. Every share helps amplify our mission and reach more hearts.
🌼 Interested in becoming an event sponsor — or know someone who might be?
We have a 2025 Sponsorship Package available that includes meaningful recognition through our website, social media, event signage, and more. Sponsors make a huge difference in helping us continue to provide free grief and loss support in the community.
💬 Have another idea? Let us know!
Learn more here: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/walktoremember2025.
Your energy, ideas, and generosity help us continue to show up for those grieving — and we’re so grateful to be in this together. Together, we can create a beautiful, heart-filled event that honours grief, builds connection, and keeps this important work going — for 2026 and beyond.
| | | If you are interested in volunteering and would like to learn about the opportunities available, please reach out to Irish Dhindsa (she/her), Volunteer Manager, at volunteering@bereavedfamilies.ca. | | | Fundraising, Events, and Workshops | | | Walk to Remember 2025 is less than 4 Months Away! | |
Our much-loved fundraising event, Walk to Remember, is back and is less than 4 months away!
Join us on Saturday, September 20 at Lakeside Park in Mississauga (2268 Lakeshore Rd W) for a powerful day of connection and remembrance. In partnership with Bereaved Families of Ontario - Toronto, we invite you to walk, run, or roll alongside others who understand and find comfort in community.
Event timing is TBA, but will likely be around 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. Event timing will be confirmed closer-to.
Learn more and register here: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/walktoremember2025.
Grief can be an isolating journey, but no one should have to navigate it alone. The Centre for Grief & Healing provides free grief peer support to those in Halton/Peel and across Ontario - but we can’t do it without you. Your donation directly impacts the sustainability of our programs. Every $20+ donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt, making it easy to give while making a difference.
Registration is FREE! You can register, learn more, and fundraise by visiting https://raceroster.com/events/2025/100909/walk-to-remember.
If you have any questions, or are interested in sponsorship opportunities at Walk to Remember 2025, please email Fundraising Manager, Kelly Price (she/her): fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca.
| Walk to Remember Event Sponsorship | | |
Photo by A. Yates Photography - ayatesphotography.com.
We’re currently looking for community-minded businesses and organizations to sponsor our 28th annual Walk to Remember fundraiser.
Last year, we welcomed 300+ community members from Halton, Peel, and Toronto to honour loved ones who have passed away and raise critical funds for our free grief support services.
Sponsorship is a wonderful way to show your support for those navigating loss while gaining visibility among a compassionate, engaged community. We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities and are happy to create a custom package that aligns with your organization’s goals.
Interested in learning more? Contact Fundraising Manager, Kelly Price (she/her) for more information at fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca.
You can also download our 2025 Walk to Remember Sponsorship Package.
| | Fundraising Goals and Updates | | |
We have an overall goal of raising $70,000 to reduce wait times and continue to provide free grief supports in 2026. A large part of this goal depends on the success of our Walk to Remember, which has already helped us raise $425 net so far — a wonderful start thanks to our community’s generosity!
In total, across all fundraising streams, we’ve raised $2,594.52 for the Centre for Grief and Healing between January and April 2025. Every dollar makes a difference—helping us offer free grief support programs to individuals navigating loss. We’re so grateful to our community for making this important work possible.
Your donation directly impacts the sustainability of our programs. For example, every $8,230 raised funds one support group that provides a safer space for healing. Just $207 trains a new volunteer, equipping them to provide compassionate care. Plus, donations of $20 or more are eligible for a charitable tax receipt, making it easy to give while making a difference.
Email Kelly Price (she/her), Fundraising Manager, at fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca if you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Donor Spotlight, and/or if you would like to be added to the distribution list to receive our monthly Donor Impact Reports. These reports provide a monthly overview of the meaningful accomplishments and progress we've made to-date for the current year.
If you'd like to make a direct donation please visit: www.bereavedfamilies.ca/donate.
| Hope in Bloom Spring Fundraiser | | |
This spring, we launched our first-ever Hope in Bloom fundraiser — a heartfelt campaign inviting our community to honour loved ones by planting symbolic flowers in their memory.
Each order included a flower seed packet, a personalized engraved garden marker, and a keepsake bookmark explaining the flower’s meaning. With five beautiful flower options to choose from, this campaign offered a meaningful way to reflect and remember.
We’re thrilled to share that the response was incredibly touching, with 18 orders and $1,204 gross raised from this initiative!
Thank you to everyone who supported Hope in Bloom by ordering, sharing, or simply helping us spread the word. Everyone who placed an order has been contacted, and each personalized order is finding its way to its new home.
We’re so grateful to grow hope with you — one bloom at a time.
| |
Join Us for Our Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Join us on Monday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Centre for Grief and Healing office in Mississauga as we reflect on a year of impact and share what’s ahead. Our Annual General Meeting is an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and learn more about the work we’re doing to support individuals through grief. We hope to see you there!
-
Location: Centre for Grief & Healing office - 33 City Centre Dr., Suite 610, Mississauga, ON
-
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
-
Accessibility Consideration: When coming to our office, please click here to access our in-person accessibility document and learn more about our physical space.
| |
GriefTalks: Educational Webinars
GriefTalks are free, 1-hour webinars (via Zoom) designed to explore the many dimensions of grief, loss, identity, mental health, and wellness. These sessions aim to deepen your understanding of grief, including how it uniquely manifests in different communities and contexts, while providing a compassionate space for learning, reflection, and connection. Each GriefTalks features a unique topic and speaker, offering diverse insights, tools, and perspectives to support both individuals and professionals in navigating grief with greater awareness, empathy, and healing. Past topics have included Grief and Disabilities, Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation, Grief and Complicated Relationships, and Grief in Indigenous Communities, among many others. We host GriefTalks throughout the year, with new and engaging topics offered regularly.
Upcoming Talks:
- Navigating Grief and Relationships After Loss
- Rediscovering Ourselves: Grief, Identity, and Life After Loss
- Grieving Through the Holidays
While these webinars are free to attend, we encourage donations when registering to help us sustain this programming, which is not funded. Your support allows us to continue offering these valuable opportunities for connection, learning, and growth.
Join us for a GriefTalks to expand your understanding of grief and discover new ways to support yourself and others.
| | |
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 this 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.
| | |
As the demand for our free grief supports grows, your support becomes invaluable. Every donation helps us continue providing essential services to those facing the challenges of grief.
Transparency is our commitment, and your contribution makes a significant impact:
- $35,023+: minimum investment to run individual grief support sessions
- $33,652+: minimum investment to run grief support groups
- $15,660+: minimum Administrative costs
- $3,320+: minimum investment to run GriefTalks, our free TedTalk-like webinars featuring subject matter experts on grief and healing themes
You can donate today through our official donation channels here.
Your investment enables us to continue to provide free and accessible supports. Unlock the power of your compassion and invest in grief support, today.
To learn more about how we utilize your donations and where they go to, please connect with Julia (she/her), Executive Director and Kelly (she/her), Fundraising Manager, at: executivedirector@bereavedfamilies.ca and fundraising@bereavedfamilies.ca.
| | | Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A) | | | |
Introducing Our New IDEA Webpage
We are thrilled to launch our new Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) webpage, a dedicated space where we share our ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive, accessible, and affirming environment for all.
On this page, you’ll find our IDEA statement, core values, goals, and accomplishments, highlighting the steps we are taking to ensure that everyone who engages with our services feels seen, heard, and valued. From increasing accessibility in our grief support programs to fostering spaces that honour diverse lived experiences, this work is deeply embedded in everything we do.
We invite you to explore the page and learn more about our commitment to meaningful change. At the Centre, we aim to build and foster a community rooted in equity, compassion, and belonging.
| |
Announcing Our New IDEA Committee: Strengthening Our Commitment to Inclusion
In addition to launching our IDEA webpage, we are excited to share that we have also formed an IDEA Committee! This dedicated group is working to ensure that our commitment to equity and inclusion is not just a statement, but a lived practice across all areas of our organization.
The IDEA Committee will help guide our initiatives, review policies and programs through an inclusive lens, and create meaningful opportunities for learning and growth. By centering diverse voices and lived experiences, we aim to build a more accessible and affirming space for all who seek support.
We look forward to sharing updates on our progress and ways to get involved. Stay tuned for more!
| | | Our Centre for Grief and Healing (CFGH) Team | | | Greetings to all new members joining us. | |
As we continue to welcome new members 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 women-led 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!
| | | Welcoming Our Summer Placement Students | | |
We’re thrilled to introduce the newest members of our team joining us for their summer placements! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:
- Lyndsay, Community Outreach and Grief Support Specialist
- Alexandra (Alex), Outreach and Volunteer Relations Assistant
- Taylor, Grants and Outreach Assistant
We’re so grateful to have you with us and excited for the energy, insight, and compassion you’ll bring to our work. Thank you for choosing to journey alongside our community during this season.
Here’s to a summer of learning, connection, and new beginnings! 💙
| | |
Taylor shares:
Current Projects and Outreach:
I’m currently focused on outreach efforts and building new connections. I’ve really enjoyed tapping into my creative side to find unique ways to connect our services with specific communities. For example, reaching out to doulas and sharing our contact information allows them to provide grief support resources to families experiencing loss. It’s been rewarding to think about how we can extend our reach in meaningful ways.
Reflections and Key Learnings:
Throughout my first 2 weeks here, I’ve been continually learning new approaches to grief through our training sessions and shadowing opportunities. Gaining insight into the many types of grief and how to respond to each with compassion and understanding has been incredibly valuable. The training manuals and team support have helped deepen my knowledge and confidence in this work.
New Tools and Resources:
One tool that has grown on me is Salesforce. At first, I found it a bit overwhelming, but I’ve come to appreciate how everything is organized in one place. It’s become an essential part of staying organized and informed.
| | 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 Irish (she/her) at volunteering@bereavedfamilies.ca with your interest.
All other inquiries (intakes, group registrations, getting set up with us) can be forwarded to Sam (she/her) at info@bereavedfamilies.ca.
Our next Hope Report will be sent in August 2025. Our Care Corner: Wellness Newsletter will be sent in July.
|
| | | |
