A new format of group grief support, a Coffee and Compassion Circle will offer the experience of compassion in a drop-in model. To be facilitated once monthly on Monday afternoons starting at 1:00pm, the circle will offer grievers the opportunity to connect with others who are grieving the death of a loved one, to improve their understanding of the grief process, to ask unanswered questions in a safe, supportive space, and to learn about the free programs and services offered by Chilliwack Hospice Society.

A grief support group dedicated to pet loss will give those who are grieving the death of a beloved pet a safe, non-judgmental space to mourn this meaningful death with others who understand. Discussion topics will include normalizing grief, making room to grieve, self-care, the importance of rituals, and memorializing your pet. The pet loss grief support group will meet once weekly for four consecutive weeks, starting September 11.

For families grieving the death of a grownup or sibling in a child’s life, the Child and Youth Program will be facilitating monthly Family Art Nights to help children and their grownups process their grief through creative expression. The group will offer participants a safe place to connect with other families who are coping with grief and loss and to share their experiences if they choose. Projects will include memory lanterns, pour painting, and Christmas ornaments.

Movement can be very helpful when coping with stress or grief. A new walking group for caregivers will offer mutual support and camaraderie for those who are caring for a dying person while improving overall well-being by walking along the beautiful Vedder Rotary Trail. Strength in Strides: Caregiver’s Journey will meet once weekly for eight weeks, beginning September 11.

First Step Grief Support Group will meet Saturday mornings this Fall beginning October 19. An eight-week closed program at Chilliwack Hospice Society, First Step offers mutual support and socialization for bereaved adults wanting to share the journey into change and renewal. Grief has no timeline. As such, some group members may choose to begin participating in the weeks following the death of their loved one. Others may find themselves open to the benefits of participating in a grief support group years later and are welcome to do so.

“Each grief support group Chilliwack Hospice Society facilitates offers participants validation, comfort, and a chance to feel seen as they navigate significant loss in their lives,” says Executive Director Sue Knott. “While we cannot fix their pain, we can hold space for them and offer care and compassion for the grief journey.”

Throughout the year, in addition to groups, Chilliwack Hospice Society provides one-to-one grief support for children, youth, and adults. Professional staff offer guidance through the tangled processes of grief and loss that accompany dying and death. It does not matter when or how the death occurred, or how a person is connected to the death — anyone can benefit from this support.

If you or someone you know is grieving the death of a loved one right now, call Chilliwack Hospice Society at (604) 795-4660 or visit www.chilliwackhospice.org to learn more about the one-to-one support, groups, and workshops that are currently being offered. Chilliwack Hospice Society programs and services are provided free of cost thanks to the generosity of individual donors and businesses in our community. Donations are always gratefully accepted at the Thrifty Boutique and online at www.chilliwackhospice.org/donate

For more information, news, and events, join our email newsletter list or follow @ChilliwackHospice on Facebook and Instagram.

Chilliwack Hospice Society is a community-based organization that helps individuals and families dealing with dying and death through support, education, and programs that promote wellness and healthy grieving.

First Step Grief Support Group begins January 30 and meets weekly for eight weeks. The group is best suited for those who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past six months or year; offering mutual support and socialization for bereaved people wanting the share the journey into change and renewal. It is well-established that grief has no timeline. As such, some First Step group members may choose to begin participating in the weeks following the death of their loved one. In turn, others may find themselves open to the benefits of participating in a grief support group years later and are welcome to do so.

A Traumatic Loss Support Group will continue to meet once monthly on a drop-in basis. The content of this group’s meetings is specifically developed for those who have experienced the death of a loved one due to homicide, suicide, drug poisoning, workplace accident, or sudden illness. The next drop-in session for traumatic loss support will be held February 1.

Chilliwack Hospice Society recognizes that significant loss isn’t limited to human connections. Beginning February 14, a supportive space will be created for those grieving the death of a beloved pet. The group will meet once weekly for four weeks and include topics such as normalizing grief, making room to grieve, self-care, the importance of rituals, and memorializing your pet.

In addition to grief support groups, staff and volunteers offer many opportunities for one-to-one support and complementary therapies to assist members of the community through the grieving process. Informal connections with other bereaved individuals and mutual support can be found in Relaxation Program, Supportive Walking Group, and Gentle Chair Yoga sessions.

As part of the organization’s community outreach and education programs, a matinée series of ‘Movies That Move You’ will be shown once monthly, starting with Manchester By The Sea on January 30. Each movie has been selected for its themes of grief and loss and are suitable for adults’ viewing and discussion. Advance Care Planning workshops will continue in 2024 with the next two-part session starting March 21. The writing prompts, worksheets, and group discussion help individuals or their parents develop an Advance Care Plan, including indicating one’s beliefs, values, and wishes, Temporary Substitute Decision Maker, Representation Agreement, and Advance Directive.

If you or someone you know is grieving the loss of a loved one right now, call Chilliwack Hospice Society at (604) 795-4660 or visit www.chilliwackhospice.org to learn more about the one-to-one support, groups and workshops that are currently being offered. Donations are always gratefully accepted at the Thrifty Boutique and online at www.chilliwackhospice.org/donate

For more information, news, and events, join our email newsletter list or follow @ChilliwackHospice on Facebook and Instagram.

A safe, supportive space for displaced Ukrainians who now call Chilliwack home has been created at Chilliwack Hospice Society. The group will meet monthly to assist those affected by the war to process their complicated grief and losses. One-to-one support is also available by appointment for those participating in the group and those who aren’t comfortable with the group setting. In addition to a grief support group dedicated to these newcomers to Chilliwack, Hospice Society staff will be facilitating three other grief support groups during the winter months.

First Step Grief Support Group begins February 7 and meets weekly for eight weeks. The group is best suited those who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past six months or year; offering mutual support and socialization for bereaved people wanting the share the journey into change and renewal. It is well-established that grief has no timeline. As such, some First Step group members may choose to begin participating weeks following the death of their loved one. In turn, others may find themselves open to the benefits of participating in a grief support group years later.  A Traumatic Loss Support Group will also begin meeting in February with the exact dates to be decided. The content of this group’s meetings is specifically developed for those who have experienced the death of a loved one due to homicide, suicide, drug poisoning, workplace accident, or sudden illness.

Chilliwack Hospice Society recognizes that significant loss isn’t limited to human connections. Beginning February 22, a supportive space will be created for those grieving the death of a beloved pet. The staff-led grief support group will meet once weekly for four weeks and include participation from the Society’s university practicum students. Students of social work, counselling psychology, child and youth care, and other fields offer a wonderful exchange of knowledge and experience for staff, volunteers, clients, and students alike, and will be contributing to grief support groups – First Step, Traumatic Loss, and Grieving the Death of a Pet.

“In addition to our grief support groups, staff and volunteers offer many opportunities for one-to-one support and complementary therapies to assist members of our community through the grieving process,” Lucy Fraser, director of programs, says. “Informal connections with other bereaved individuals and mutual support can be found in our Relaxation Program, Supportive Walking Group, and Gentle Chair Yoga sessions, as well as our many volunteer opportunities.”

As part of the organization’s community outreach and education programs, a new matinée series of ‘Movies That Move You’ will be shown once monthly, starting with Collateral Beauty on January 24. Each movie has been selected for its themes of grief and loss and are suitable for adults’ viewing and discussion. Advance Care Planning workshops have also been well-received by the community and will continue in 2023 with the next two-part session starting February 16. The writing prompts, worksheets, and group discussion help individuals or their parents develop an Advance Care Plan, including indicating one’s beliefs, values, and wishes, Temporary Substitute Decision Maker, Representation Agreement, and Advance Directive.

Exemplifying the real impact Hospice Society programs and services are having on the Chilliwack community, was once again named a finalist for Non-Profit of the Year by the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Also in December, Child & Youth Program Manager Franceska Hills was recognized by Murray Mazda as a ‘Local Community Legend’ and received $2,500 in arts supplies toward the Society’s children’s programs.

“Our staff and volunteers at Chilliwack Hospice Society, with support from our dedicated board of directors, continues to build our programming and expand our outreach efforts; providing heartfelt support to more adults, teens, and children who are dying or grieving,” Executive Director Sue Knott says. “We are incredibly grateful for the continued benevolence of individual donors, sponsors, and grants which enable us to meet the increasing demand for our services from the community.”

If you or someone you know is grieving the loss of a loved one right now, call Chilliwack Hospice Society at (604) 795-4660 or visit www.chilliwackhospice.org to learn more about the one-to-one support, groups and workshops that are currently being offered. Donations are always gratefully accepted at the Thrifty Boutique and online at www.chilliwackhospice.org/donate

For more information, news, and events, join our email newsletter list or follow Chilliwack Hospice Society on Facebook and Instagram.