Burnaby Hospice Society
4535 Kingsway V5H 0E5 Burnaby, BC, Canada

Just a reminder: This week on Thursday, the Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store will be celebrating 15 years! Please join us in commemorating this incredible milestone on Thursday, March 25th. A day with special sales, macaroons and door prizes - you won’t want to miss it.... So come on down to the Burnaby Hospice Society Thrift Store to have some fun during a joyous occasion. Located at: 6843 Kingways St - Burnaby

Burnaby Hospice Society’s Hike for Hospice 2021! Start clearing your calendars because the annual Burnaby Hospice Society Hike for Hospice is coming up! Between May 1st to May 10th, there will be prizes for the top team and highest fundraiser. It’s going to be an event you won’t want to miss. *For the first 100 participants, we will be giving out FREE swag bags*... Sign up now at: (604) 520 - 5087 or go to: burnabyhospice.org/events/hike

In the matter of a week’s time, the Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store will be celebrating 15 years! Please join us in commemorating this incredible milestone on Thursday, March 25th. A day with special sales, macaroons and door prizes - you won’t want to miss it. So come on down to the Burnaby Hospice Society Thrift Store to have some fun during a joyous occasion. ... Located at: 6843 Kingways St - Burnaby

Meet Brian Vidler! We welcome Brian Vidler as the new Executive Director for the Burnaby Hospice Society. Brian comes to us with a mixture of non-profit and for-profit experience, all within the lower mainland. Most recently he was the Chapter Director for Shelter Movers Vancouver which provides free moving and storage services to women and children within the lower mainland who are fleeing abuse. He was a founding member of the Vancouver chapter which has grown rapidly sin...ce operations began in 2018. Brian has a degree in chemical engineering and worked for a local company in the railroad supply industry for 16 years where he filled various roles including general manager. A compassionate person, Brian seeks to support our amazing staff and volunteers to continue to deliver our free palliative and grief services to the residents of Burnaby. Please feel free to connect with Brian, or the Burnaby Hospice Society to learn more about our services, or get involved. Welcome - we’re happy to have you!

Today we celebrate women. We’d like to thank all of our female staff and volunteers that have helped make the Burnaby Hospice Society what it is today. May we continue to go forward advocating for the visibility of women and the work left to be done. #internationalwomensday

"One-year death anniversaries are often difficult and filled with a variety of emotions. They are times when people naturally reflect on what was happening in their life and in the life of the person who died one year ago. They can bring new surges and waves of #Grief. Starting this week, millions of Canadians will begin to experience the one-year death anniversary of someone special in their life who died during the pandemic, whether from COVID-19 or another cause. For mos...t, this one-year death anniversary will continue to be experienced alone, isolated from friends, family and community, due to ongoing public health restrictions. The Canadian Grief Alliance (CGA) is marking the anniversary of the first death from COVID-19 in Canada, March 8, by amplifying our message: Canada needs a #NationalGriefStrategy. Canadians who are suffering need access to timely grief support. The time is now. The CGA has released a video series to bring attention to the urgent need for a national, coordinated and comprehensive response to the pandemic of grief. We continue to advocate at all levels and work together to #MakeGriefAPriority. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pklMbW73hV8"

Tomorrow is National Bereavement Day. Grief and bereavement support is an essential element of all care at the end of one’s life. This year, the CHPCA invites Canadians on a shared journey that fosters compassion and encourages them to cope with their grief by supporting each other through living and grieving. We might be physically distant, but grief brings us together. We learn to live with the loss and grief in ways that maintain and honour our bond with the person who die...d but don’t limit our capacity for joy, pleasure and a meaningful life. At this trying time, we might be physically distant, but we are emotionally, spiritually and socially connected through our grief. Check out this link for more information: https://www.chpca.ca/campaigns/bereavementday

We want to give back to the Burnaby community Net proceeds from 2020 merchandise sales to the following 5 charities: Burnaby Hospital Foundation Burnaby... Hospice Society KidSport Burnaby BNH North House & BNH South House The Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society So, buy a T-Shirt. It’s a great way to support an amazing City and look good doing it! Visit tourismburnaby.com/store/ to purchase and find out more! #Burnaby365

The Burnaby Hospice Society will be hosting a Virtual Candlelight Memorial Service on December 12th, 2020. We invite you all to remember your loved one(s) by displaying a memorial card on our tree. Cards are now available at: Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store | 6843 Kingsway... [email protected] 604-520-5087 and on our website at: burnabyhospice.org/tree We hope to see you there!

We recognize that Thanksgiving can be a difficult time when people are grieving. Days of celebration that rekindle amazing memories with those that have passed can be immensely challenging. Use this as a time to reconnect with friends and family members and support one another. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving

For more information, visit: http://burnabyhospice.org/event/tree/

During a time when society emphasizes being thankful, this feeling may not resonate as loudly with youth and families who are grieving Special days and celeb...rations can feel quite different after a person in our life has died. What was once a joyful time of gathering, can feel like a painful reminder of the very thing we are missing most No matter how much time has passed, certain days can feel difficult and stir up feelings of grief As hard as special days can be, they also give us the chance to connect with family members and friends, to remember the person who died, and share memories It can be an invitation to support one another as we feel what we feel today. Be gentle with yourself, there isn’t one way to do special days or occasions. Life has changed and what once made sense on these days, may not make sense now. Not forcing yourself to feel or act a certain way, instead letting it be exactly what is it. We welcome you to be kind to yourself as emotional triggers can come up unexpectedly. A song, a place, or a smell can bring on a flood of emotions and this is normal. Finding things to be grateful for can be done any day of the year, and can be a way to feel more grounded Gratitude doesn’t mean we ignore the parts that feel hard, or pretend that we haven’t experienced pain/loss. It’s about finding moments of appreciation in our life, and creating a space where conflicting feelings can exist and don’t cancel each other out. Feeling grateful doesn’t mean we aren’t grieving or have forgotten our person. Things to ponder Can you feel grateful and feel grief? What is one way you can honour the person in your life who has died? What is something you are grateful for? What is something that feels hard? Decide what makes sense for you and your family as you navigate meaningful days. Perhaps commemorating instead of celebrating feels right for some folks. Getting rid of expectations and letting it be what it is

On Saturday, October 10 2020, something extraordinary is going to happen. People from around the world who have been impacted by a life-limiting illness -- either personally or by supporting a loved one -- will be making their voices heard, asking policy makers to pay attention to prioritize palliative care policies and services. Further, people who have been standing in solidarity with them -- local leaders, volunteers, advocates, clinicians -- will be volunteering their tim...e to amplify this public message: Palliative Care: it's "My Care, My Comfort." Learn more at: http://www.thewhpca.org/about #MyCareMyComfort

Important message from the British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) regarding the work of our amazing volunteers who work so diligently during the pandemic or not. Take a second to read it if you have the chance.

Check out this virtual Good Grief Festival from October 30th to November 1st. So many events and wonderful speakers that touch on such an important topic. Register now to be the first to get access to free tickets! Register at: https://goodgrieffest.com

No Place Like Home Raffle The Burnaby Hospice Society is pleased to announce our No Place Like Home raffle sponsored by Beedie We have a ton of great prizes:... 1st Place - iPad Pro - $1000 Amazon Gift Card & $500 cash 2nd Place - $1000 Real Canadian Superstore Giftcard + $500 Shell Gift card 3rd place - $500 Skip the Dishes Gift card Show your support to the Burnaby Hospice Society by purchasing tickets to the No Place like Home raffle Tickets available at the Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store or for more info: 604-520-5082 or [email protected] Be sure to spread the word

Volunteers Needed We’re in need of some specific volunteers willing to do some ongoing gardening and maintenance at the garden at St. Michael’s. We’re looking for, at a minimum, once a month ongoing 2-4 hours a shift. Times are flexible.... Duties will include: Assist with weeding, trimming, planting, and/or watering of plants and flowers Assist with general maintenance of the Garden If interested, contact us at: [email protected] or message us.

Today, around the world, World Suicide Prevention Day will be recognized. World Suicide Prevention Day has been recognized since 2003 and is a chance for everyone to join in promoting understanding about suicide: those impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, family or friends, charitable organizations, professionals, politicians, volunteers, and community members. You can do your part by lighting a candle in your window at 8:00 pm to recognize all lives impacted by suicide.... #WSPD #CASP #WorldSuicidePreventionDay See more

Cool T-Shirts for a great cause! https://tourismburnaby.com/store/ Explore Burnaby would like to give back to the community that welcomes visitors from all over the world, by giving the net proceeds from all merchandise sales in 2020 to the following 5 charities:... Burnaby Hospice Society KidSport Burnaby Burnaby Firefighters L323 Burnaby Hospital Foundation BNH North House BNH South House Buy a T-Shirt. It’s a great way to support an amazing City and look good doing it!

Happy Wednesday Everyone! The Burnaby Hospice Society recognizes that grief comes in many different forms. We are here to help you and remind you that you are not alone. Residents of Burnaby who are experiencing grief may use our free bereavement support services - registration within the Burnaby Palliative Care Program is not needed.... Our Registered Clinical Counsellor will do a thorough phone screening and intake to ensure that our counselling services and support groups are the best fit for your needs. There are times when it is in your best interest that we refer you to another professional or organization who might be a better fit. Regardless of the outcome, we will inform you about possible next steps to take in order to receive support that is best suited to your concerns. Contact us: 604-520-5024 [email protected]

Burnaby Hospice Society is happy to welcome Min Chi Chen (Violet) to our team for the next 8 months. Violet is completing her practicum at Burnaby Hospice Society while working on a Masters in Counselling Psychology-Art Therapy at Adler University. She will be providing bereavement counselling art therapy to clients. Before entering the field of bereavement counselling, Violet worked as a social worker responsible for domestic violence cases, facilitated art therapy groups f...or a homeless community, and supported refugees and residents at a recovery center for addiction. After experiencing the loss of a significant person in her life, Violet has dedicated herself to supporting people who are grieving. Violet thrives at guiding people by using creative expressions as a way to release the unspoken complex feelings of grief. It is her hope to use the healing power of art to help those grieving to ground in the present moment, be heard and seen no matter where they are at in their own unique experience of grief. Please join us in welcoming Violet to our team! You can reach Violet at [email protected] or for more information on bereavement counselling art therapy sessions, please contact our Registered Clinical Counsellor at 604-520-5024 or [email protected]

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on 31 August each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. https://www.overdoseday.com/

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31st each year that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related death - IOA The Burnaby Hospice Society serves to be there when you need us. We offer many free bereavement support services to residents in Burnaby. Do not hesitate to reach out to us. For more information on International Overdose Awareness Day, go to:... www.overdoseday.com To contact us: [email protected] or 604-520-5024