
12/23/2020
We will be closed and taking some offline time from Thursday, December 24th until the 4th of January. We’re wishing you all a peaceful and safe holiday season, see you in the new year!
Bereaved helping the bereaved learn to live with grief. We can help the healing begin. Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto is a local charitable organization that seeks to inspire hope and transformation in people who are grieving the death of a loved one.
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We are a community who has the courage to share and explore grief, and be a beacon of hope for the future.
We are a community who has the courage to share and explore grief, and be a beacon of hope for the future.
Mission: Our mission is to inspire hope and healing in grieving individuals so they may better process and cope with the death of a loved one.
Operating as usual
We will be closed and taking some offline time from Thursday, December 24th until the 4th of January. We’re wishing you all a peaceful and safe holiday season, see you in the new year!
Maxxine Rattner and Marney Thompson: There is no vaccine for grief
A national grief strategy will help to prevent the serious mental health outcomes that can occur when there are factors that complicate a grief process.
Art by @tristamateer
Via @griefuncovered
Via @refugeingrief
Reminder for you on this grey + rainy Saturday. Art by @revelatori
Via @griefuncovered
Art by @theimaginarylibrary
Every year, we adorn trees with tags that hold the names of our loved ones and put them on display in Toronto City Hall’s rotunda. While Trees of Light will not occur in-person at City Hall this year, we invite you to join us for a virtual celebration of our loved ones. For more information, and to register: https://www.bfotoronto.ca/trees-of-light/
The holidays can be a very lonely time for those who are grieving. At this time of year, those empty seats at the table can be particularly painful. We hope you are able to connect either virtually, or safely in person with loved ones this month and take time to remember those who are no longer here. Art by @theimaginarylibrary
Via @thegriefcase
Andrea Warnick Consulting
#Repost @nytopinion
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Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, spoke publicly for the first time about the miscarriage she experienced this summer. "Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few," she writes. This year has brought loss and pain to every one of us, and we're embarking on a holiday where many of us are away from family, some are "alone, sick, scared, divided and perhaps struggling to find something, anything, to be grateful for." In this new normal, Meghan suggests committing to asking one another a question: "Are you OK?" Click the link in our bio to read Meghan Markle's full Op-Ed. 📷 Pool photo by Ian Volger. #miscarriage #pregnancyloss #nytopinion
Art by @comfydarkme
It’s #ChildrensGriefAwarenessDay! Keep an eye out for the CN tower all lit up in blue tonight.
Via @brenebrown
A vulnerable piece of writing about loss in the time of covid. Via @thegriefcase
Do you ever dream about your loved one? It can be pleasant, or sometimes quite distressing. Swipe through for some great info from @grief_guide
By @birthbossco
Art by @peopleiveloved
c/o: @optionb
c/o: @griefuncovered
Does this sound like you or someone you know? Email [email protected] to apply.
“We are riding scooters in tutus in memory of Thomas Hollick. Tom would have found the choices entertaining!
Tom died at 16 from brain cancer. He was a light that burnt brightly and was taken way too soon. He was full of love and laughter. And a good measure of mischief too. His resilience and positivity through his cancer journey was quite unbelievable. He attended school every single day he possibly could. He played sports for as long as possible. He maintained his wonderful sense of humor to the last and never stopped being an amazing friend to many. Tom left a very big hole in many people's hearts. 18 months after Tom's death, his Dad joined him, also from cancer. Nigel too was full of1 laughter and mischief and would have found the tutus entertaining.
Harriet and Emily haven't had the support of an organisation like the BFO and that makes me feel even more passionate about fundraising to help as many people as possible through their grief journey.”
“As we approach the two year anniversary of my dear brother's death, we continually look for ways to remember and honour the bright and colourful soul that he was. Jeff was passionate, beautiful, spirited and kind. He was taken from us long before his time and our hearts will never stop hurting.
This weekend, Duncan, Kaiya, Crew, Beckett and I will all ride in memory of our beloved Jeffers - who loved everything rainbow.”
“We are running to honour our eldest son and Leo’s big brother, August who was stillborn at 36 weeks in 2016.
My partner and I had difficulty finding support as a couple when we lost our son. BFO was the first to provide us with much needed 1 on 1 support. Speaking with a volunteer who also experienced loss made the wait for professional help easier to bear during the early days of our bereavement. We also attend the Trees of Light every year. We run for BFO so they can continue to provide the type of support we benefitted from in 2016 and continue to find meaning in today.” #BFOT5KMemorial
Due to the COVID crisis, we’ve had a 35% increase in demand for youth and adult grief support.
Thanks so much to Councillor @bradfordgrams for helping us get the word out about our #BFOT5KMemorial We’re excited for a great day of outdoor activity!
BFO-T 5K Memorial Kickoff!
c/o: @optionb
We are just over one week away from our Virtual 5K Memorial and we 3/4 of the way to meeting our fundraising goal of $25,000! But we need your help to get there!
BFO-Toronto has experienced a 35% surge in demand for grief support for youth and adult programming as a result of COVID-19.
A donation of $50, $100, $350, $1000 or another amount of your choice will help raise much-needed funds for our additional programming and services.
Pandemic restrictions and the loss of mourning rituals impact the grieving process and when left unaddressed, can result in complex mental health issues. Help BFO-Toronto raise much-needed funds to meet demands for programming by registering for the 5K Memorial OR donating.
$50 will send one individual to a support group (one session).
$100 will pay for an online community event (e.g. writing workshop).
$350 pays for one full session for all attendees in a support group.
$1,000 pays for a volunteer facilitator to be trained.
Every dollar makes a difference!
Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. At 7PM, consider lighting a candle for all the moms, dads, caregivers, brothers and sisters who have lost a little one in their lives. #WaveOfLight #WaveOfLight2020
A big thank you to LEANSQUAD who have kindly donated a 30 day LEANSQUAD challenge as a prize for our 5K Memorial.
Phil Mackenzie (a former professional rugby player who represented Canada in two rugby world cups) will take the winner through daily 30 minute workouts and stretch/recovery sessions.
Sign up for the #BFOT5KMemorial now for your chance to become a Lean Squaddie (link in bio).
Check out some of the LEANSQUAD before and after photos here:
https://lean-squad.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PhilMackenzie11
https://www.instagram.com/leansquad/
There is just over one week left to race day, October 24. Have you registered for the #BFOT5KMemorial? It’s not too late! Art by @lilacmoondesign
Suite 202, 250 Merton Street
Toronto, ON
M4S 1B1
Monday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
Tuesday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
Wednesday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
Thursday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
Friday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
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Overdose Awareness Day is on August 31st, 2020. Our friends at Twenty Twenty Arts are organizing a campaign to honour loved ones who have lost their lives to an overdose. To submit a photograph to be included in the Weathered campaign, please e-mail the following to [email protected] + A high-quality photograph of your loved ones shoes and important mementos as a .jpeg + A written description about the image, your loved one, your favourite story about them, anything you want us to know We encourage participants to only share information they feel comfortable being included in the fundraising campaign and on a public digital platform.
Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care
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