Special opportunities for rituals and remembrances included the Mother’s Day Memorial on May 9 and the Father’s Day Memorial on June 13. Both events offered safe spaces for those grieving a parent or parent-figure to share memories and find comfort in community. On August 21, Fedorkew, alongside Jennifer Dacre and Kaylee Lovesy, co-facilitated the Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day Memorial, offering a time of reflection for those grieving the loss of a beloved pet or caring for a dying animal. The day included storytelling, expressive arts, and community support.

“Grief touches each of us in different ways, but it is something no one should have to carry alone,” said Fedorkew. “These programs create spaces where people can honour their stories, find comfort, and remember that community can hold us through the hardest seasons.”

Educational opportunities have included advance care planning workshops on July 15 and 17, and September 5 and 8, covering end-of-life care planning, temporary substitute decision makers, representation agreements, and advance directives. On June 19, Planning with Purpose: A Conversation on Death, Dignity and Diverse Traditions was presented in partnership with Tammy Miller of Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home, helping participants explore funeral planning, cultural traditions, and essential considerations before and after a death. In September, Planning Ahead: An Introduction to Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements, presented by Aatif Nanji of Simpson Notaries, provided practical guidance on preparing for the future.

New wellness and connection programs were also introduced. Gentle Mat Yoga, led by Emmy Kerr, was offered once weekly outdoors through August, blending movement and mindfulness as a way to nurture body and spirit in grief. Fedorkew also launched Craft and Chat, held the second Friday of every month, creating a welcoming space for participants to connect and process grief through creativity.

Throughout the year Chilliwack Hospice Society hosts a variety of in-person and virtual educational workshops and presentations for the community. Topics may include advance care planning, financial and legal matters, self-care and wellness. Educational workshops are provided for free thanks to the generosity of individual donors and businesses in our community.

Today, on Advance Care Planning Day in Canada, Chilliwack Hospice Society joins individuals and organizations across Canada in raising awareness about the importance of planning for future health care decisions. Advance care planning is more than just a document — it’s a process of thinking about your values, wishes, and beliefs, and then sharing those with the people you trust, including your health care providers.

“In B.C., over three-quarters of people agree it’s important to talk about what matters most in future health care,” says Deanna Fedorkew, Community Outreach & Education Manager at Chilliwack Hospice Society. “Yet less than half have had those conversations with their families, and even fewer with their health care team. We want to help people change that.”

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning includes choosing a substitute decision maker — someone who knows what matters to you and can speak for you if you’re unable to communicate. In B.C., the law outlines a list of people who may be asked to make decisions on your behalf if no plan is in place. But without knowing your wishes, those decisions may not reflect what you truly want. Creating an advance care plan ensures that your voice is heard, even if you can’t speak for yourself.

Upcoming Workshops: Learn How to Create Your Plan

Chilliwack Hospice Society offers free educational workshops to help individuals and families understand the process of advance care planning and take steps toward creating their own plan. The next two-part workshop will be held:

Monday, July 15 & Wednesday, July 17
1:00–3:00 PM
Chilliwack Hospice Society – 7112 Vedder Road

These sessions are interactive and informative, designed to empower people with the knowledge and tools to begin or continue their planning conversations.

Deanna adds, “It’s not always an easy topic to approach, but it’s one of the most important gifts you can give your loved ones. Having a plan in place can ease the burden during stressful times and ensure that your care reflects your wishes.”

For more information about the workshops or to access resources about advance care planning, please contact Deanna Fedorkew at (604) 795-4660 or email deanna@chilliwackhospice.org.

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.

Throughout her time with us, Laurie has been a beacon of compassion, creativity, and dedication. She created supportive spaces, groups, and educational workshops that helped individuals facing terminal illness or grieving the death of a loved one. In 2020, Laurie founded the Supportive Walking Group, which brought grieving individuals together in the healing embrace of nature. Earlier this year, she launched the Musical Connections group, offering a creative outlet for those processing loss through music. She also organized educational workshops on topics such as advance care planning, self-care, wellness, yoga, expressive arts, cooking for one, and downsizing and decluttering—ensuring the community had access to valuable resources, all provided for free thanks to the generosity of local donors.

Laurie’s contributions to community events were nothing short of remarkable. She was front and centre in organizing beloved initiatives like the Hometown Hoedown for Hospice, Annual Memorial Celebration, Health and Wellness Day, and volunteer appreciation events every spring and winter. From arranging décor, entertainment, and catering to securing sponsorships and donations, her vision and dedication brought these events to life, creating meaningful experiences for participants while raising critical support for Chilliwack Hospice Society.

Beyond her many professional accomplishments, Laurie has been an exceptional team member who cultivated close, positive working relationships with staff at Chilliwack Hospice Society. Her warmth, collaboration, and unwavering support made her a valued colleague and a source of inspiration to all who had the pleasure of working with her.

As Laurie embarks on this next chapter, she is looking forward to spending more time outdoors, playing guitar and harp, and creating new memories with family and friends. We extend our deepest gratitude for her incredible service, compassion, and creativity. Her dedication to honouring volunteers, connecting with the community, and fostering healing spaces will be deeply missed.

Please join us in wishing Laurie a retirement filled with joy, adventure, and all the things she loves most.

The program curriculum included:

• defining types of grief, factors that affect the grieving process, and what may be helpful when someone is grieving
• practicing active listening and interpersonal communication skills
• learning about different personal values, attitudes and beliefs about death, dying, grief and loss from guest speakers representing Stó:lō and Buddhist backgrounds
• understanding the differences in the cognitive development of children, teens, and adults
• discussing setting and maintaining healthy boundaries as a support person
• best practices for social media use when a peer is grieving a death of someone they love
• volunteer training for facilitating grief support groups for children and youth

Participants also learned about the resources available to them in the community, including the programs and services at Chilliwack Hospice Society, and discussed how they might refer a bereaved classmate for additional support.

Practicum students Caitlin Lidster and Chloe Amos contributed to the weekly discussions offering insights from their experiences.

“I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Chilliwack Hospice Society’s Teen group this year as a practicum student. It was amazing to learn and participate alongside the teens during the six sessions together, and I enjoyed listening to all their contributions and thoughtful ideas that they had surrounding the topic of grief. I think that having this group is so important especially for high school aged students. Learning how to provide support for a grieving friend or classmate can make a huge difference in their lives and how they experience grief. Having this group provides the resources for teens to learn more about grief as a whole, and about the different supports and resources that are available to those experiencing grief.” — Chloe Amos

Students also gave their own brief presentations, participated in journaling exercises, games and activities to gain further understanding.

All participants received a certificate recognizing their successful completion of our Teen Grief Peer Support Training and were credited with work experience hours for their high school graduation requirements. We anticipate facilitating another Teen Grief Peer Support Training course in the spring with new students.

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