The Canuck Place bereavement team invites you to attend our Fall Bereavement Offerings

We recognize that the loss of a child affects everyone in the family. As part of our bereavement care, we offer various ways for families to connect with each other. Over the last months we have learned much about what is supportive to bereaved families. Most of all, we understand that being together in a compassionate community is essential, along with opportunities to begin to understand the nature of grief and process the complex, unique experience with peer support.

For families currently supported by Canuck Place bereavement care, we will continue to offer peer support groups for children, youth, and families led by professional staff and trained volunteers, in person at both hospice locations and virtually.

Peer support is offered with the understanding that:

  • Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a loved one for children and adults
  • Within each individual is the natural capacity to heal
  • The duration and intensity of grief are unique for each individual
  • Caring and acceptance assist in the healing process

We invite you to explore our bereavement care offerings for Fall 2024 below:

Derek and Rebecca Van Oosterom speak with Canuck Place Counsellor Natasha Zacher.

Monthly Offerings

Walking the Path of Grief: The Nature of Grief

These sessions explore the profound impact of grieving a child on all aspects of a person and family’s life: mind, body, spirit, sense of self, relationships, emotions. Often families find guidance, reassurance, and information helpful in the early months of grief; and this can be supportive at any time along the way. The sessions are one-time gatherings that are partly psychoeducational material as well as participant sharing.

Date: Monday, November 4 and December 9

Time: 6:30–8 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Age Group: Adult family members 19+

Monthly Drop-In Group for Parents

This monthly drop-in virtual group is intended for parents or caregivers who have attended a support group previously and are looking for an opportunity to re-connect with other parents, with less ongoing commitment.

Date: Monday, October 21, November 18, and December 9

Time: 5–6:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Age Group: Adult family members 19+

Support Groups

Parents, caregivers, and siblings who participate in these bi-weekly support groups often share that the connection provides understanding and care. Our support groups are closed in the sense that all families go through an interview process to ensure group is a good fit for your family at this time, and the group will remain together through all 12 sessions. The expectation is that families commit to regular attendance to gain and offer support from each other.

These formal support groups are intended for families up to three years after the loss of a child who was cared for by Canuck Place and who are at least six months bereaved.

Bereaved Parent and Sibling (ages 6-12) Bi-Weekly In-Person Group

Our program offers concurrent parent and sibling groups to support families as they navigate grief together, while honouring how parents and bereaved siblings grieve differently. While parents gather and connect, siblings can be a part of their own dedicated group, where they will learn about their grief-related feelings, and explore their ongoing relationship with their brother or sister who died. Parents who do not have a child attending the sibling group are also welcome to attend the parent group.

Dates: November 7 until mid–April 2025 (12 sessions)

Time: Thursdays evenings, 6:30–8 p.m.

Location: Canuck Place Vancouver – Glen Brae Manor | 1690 Matthews Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Age Group: Bereaved Parent and Sibling (ages 6-12)

*Childminding and adapted programming will be available for children under 6

Supporting Littles: Parent and Siblings Together – In-Person Group

We offer three sessions for parents/caregivers to attend a peer support group together with their preschool aged siblings (ages 3–5). The sessions will be a time for parent/caregivers to connect with other families and young siblings to share their grief experiences through play, music, and developmentally appropriate activities. These will be facilitated by our music therapist and a member of our counselling team. A parent or caregiver is required to attend with the child. Interested participants will sign up for all three sessions with different themes. This is a pilot group so may continue or be offered after this series is completed.

Dates: November 8, November 22, and December 6

Time: 10–11 a.m.

Location: Canuck Place Abbotsford, Dave Lede House | 32772 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC

Age Group: Parents/caregivers together with their preschool aged siblings (ages 3-5)

Bi-Weekly Virtual Groups

Virtual Parent/Caregiver Group

The virtual parent/caregiver group is open to parents living across BC and Yukon. This group will be theme based, with each session exploring a grief-related theme or experience shared by bereaved families. This group will be facilitated by two counsellors, with the intention of stewarding connection and conversation between group members.

Dates: November 12 through mid–April 2025 (12 sessions)

Time: Tuesday evenings, 6:30–8 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Age group: Ages 19+

Virtual Sibling Bereavement Groups

The Virtual Sibling Bereavement Groups offer space for children grieving the death of their sibling to share their experiences and build connection through a variety of grief-related activities and ways of expression, including discussion, art, play, and music. Topics may include: learning about the nature of grief, feelings, sharing memories, developing coping tools, rituals and ceremonies, and more. Gentle guidance from facilitators will create opportunities for children to participate in the ways that best suit them.

Dates: November 5 until mid–April 2025

Time: Tuesdays, 4–4:40 p.m. (Age 6–8) and 4:45-5:30 p.m. (Age 9–12)

Location: Zoom

Age Group: 6–8 and 9–12

Community Gatherings

These gatherings are opportunities to connect with a compassionate community of grieving families. We hope these gatherings will support connection through strengthening family and peer-relationships, practicing of self-expression, while honoring and remembering the child who died.

Precious Pictures Scrapbooking Workshops 

LEARN MORE

Members of the Van Oosterom family look through their Precious Pictures scrapbook together with Canuck Place Counsellor Natasha Zacher.

Winter Holiday Gatherings

Holidays can be so very difficult after the death of a child. During these unique times, it may be harder to feel connected to the ones you love. Yet, connection with your child and loved ones can give comfort and support you when you need it most.  As part of our support for this winter holiday time we invite families for these warm-hearted gatherings.

Finding the Words: Tending to Holiday Grief

This session will integrate group discussion around navigating grief at this time of year, followed by an opportunity to craft a unique holiday card that captures how you might tend to your grief through the holidays. There is opportunity, if you wish, to share with each other the cards that you have made. This is a session for those who consider themselves writers and crafters, and those who do not.

Date: November 30

Time: 1–3:30 p.m.

Location: Canuck Place Vancouver – Glen Brae Manor | 1690 Matthews Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Age Group: Ages 19+

*This session is for adult family members only and child-minding will not be available. We kindly ask that you make childcare arrangements for younger family members.

Starlit Stories and Songs

Please join us for an evening of holiday stories, songs, crafts, treats, and remembering; where you can connect with other bereaved families and continue to make holiday memories. The dress code is cozy and comfy (pajamas welcome!)

Date: December 5

Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: Canuck Place Abbotsford – Dave Lede House

*Intended for families with children under 10

 

We invite you to consider joining one of our Canuck Place bereavement groups, drop-in sessions or community gatherings this season.

Please feel welcome to contact us via email at [email protected] if you have any questions. Let’s explore how best to care for your family’s needs as you grieve and remember.

Complete ­the form below to express interest in any of our bereavement offerings:

If you have any questions about any our bereavement offerings, please feel welcome to reach out directly to [email protected] for support on finding offerings that are best suited to you and your family.
Name(Required)
Optional. Please provide the best phone number to reach you at.
If you are a family who has lost a child within the last 2 years, please select the Bereavement offerings you are interested in learning more about below:
If you are a family who has lost a child in the last 2-5 years, please select the Community Gatherings opportunities you are interested in learning more about below:
Please write the first and last names of all individuals in your family who are interested in any of our Bereavement offerings, separate each name with a comma.

Canuck Place Counsellor Deb Davison hosts an online counselling session.

Family Engagement at CPCH

Children and family are at the centre of the care provided at CPCH. We respond to the voices of our patients and families, and collaborate on improving care by working directly with families. Partnering with families and acknowledging their living and lived experiences are vital and valuable components to improving our program services. The vision for the framework is to ensure consistent, safe, and respectful engagement with children, youth, and families at CPCH, to fully represent the diverse perspectives and promote continual improvement of pediatric palliative care and services.