Bereavement Support

Grief and Bereavement Support Group (Virtual & In-Person)

The grief journey uniquely affects our physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual well-being. It becomes more manageable and meaningful when shared with others who understand its challenge. This program provides group support in a safe and nurturing environment. Group members may share feelings of loss, learn about the grieving process, develop strategies for coping, and begin to integrate this change into their lives in order to move forward.

Groups Running in Winter/Spring 2026:

• Morning Group: January 23 – February 27, 2026, from 10:30am – 12:00pm (FULL)
• Afternoon Group: January 22 – February 26, 2026, from 1:30 – 3:00pm (FULL)
• Young Adult Support Group: January 20 – February 24, 2026, from 7:00 – 8:30pm

Early Days Grief Group (4 sessions)

For those who have lost a loved one within the last 3 months. This group runs when there is sufficient interest and registration, and is led by two highly skilled volunteers. The group is designed for those who are new to grief and unsure of what is “normal” and what can be expected. This group will provide resources and supportive discussions to help mourners normalize those early days.

Individual Bereavement Support and Grief Counselling

Circle of Care offers short-term bereavement support and grief counselling (6 sessions) to adults requesting individual support as they adjust to the death of someone dear to them. The client will be asked to select goals they wish to focus on during this term of service.

Support for Complicated Grief and Bereavement: Suicide Loss and Death by Toxic Supply/Substance Related

Experiencing the loss of someone who has died by suicide and/or toxic supply (a substance related death) can have a profound impact on one’s ability to process and cope with the experience. The resultant grief can become complicated and challenging to process, with associated feelings of shame, guilt, resentment, shock, and anger.

We offer one on one virtual, phone, and/or in-person grief support for those who’ve experienced such losses, with the aim to help process the reality and circumstances surrounding the death, as well as develop coping and healing strategies in trying to learn to live with the loss.

Groups Running in Winter/Spring 2026:

• 10 Week Suicide Bereavement Support Group: February 10 – April 14 (no group on April 7), from 6:30 – 8:00pm

Bereavement Support Volunteers

Bereavement support volunteers offer emotional and practical support to bereaved clients as they work through the grieving process. These volunteers offer support by phone/video chat. Our volunteers are all Hospice Palliative Care Ontario-trained with at least 30 hours of intensive training. They are then given additional training in how to provide bereavement support to our clients.

Caring Café

If you have experienced a bereavement in the past year, whether through the death of a family member, adult child, or friend, and would find comfort in joining with others in similar circumstances, please join us for our once a month drop-in. This group is open to clients who have completed either an 6-week bereavement support group through Circle of Care, or our 1:1 counselling sessions. We meet the first Tuesday of each month via ZOOM from 1:30-3:00pm.