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Raising awareness about death

mmKelley Edwards

Kelley Edwards is a freelance writer based out of Halifax Nova Scotia. She has a love of bad cats and good coffee.

Emily Reiner: A conversation with the other family doctor

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Our animal companions mean the world to us. They are part of our family and our support system. Letting them go is never easy, but it is necessary.
Veterinarian Dr. Emily Reiner knows that compassion for pets at their end of life is crucial, for them and for their humans. She operates Forever Loved, a vet service that focuses on end-of-life care and euthanasia. For Dr Reiner, it is an honour to help animals at the end of their journey, and to ensure that their end is peaceful and in their own homes.

Grieving While Estranged

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“It’s simply not true that blood is the ultimate bond; some families have become so damaged by trauma that time together is harmful for all involved.”   Those who have experienced lifelong estrangements know there is no “Hollywood ending”; fractured relationships can’t be magically “fixed” at the end of life. But there can be profound … Read more

Messages on the Wind

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Telephone of the Wind by Alexander McBride Wilson

It started with Itaru Sasaki in Otsuchi, Japan. Devastated by the loss of his cousin and a strong desire to talk with him once again, a thought stirred in his mind. Just pick up the phone. Symbolically, Saski constructed a telephone booth in his garden. The phone booth housed a disconnected rotary phone that is … Read more

Grieving During Passover

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Passover is the most family- centered Jewish Holiday. Those who have lost a loved one are living with their sadness when others are celebrating a festive meal.  Although this Holiday is heavy in tradition, it could be the time for you to evaluate what you do and don’t want at your seder this year, and … Read more

It’s OK That You’re Not Ok: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand

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In It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides―as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner―Megan writes with deep … Read more

Dianne Gray: Advocacy at End of Life

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When we talk about the role of end of life doulas we primarily think that they offer support to prepare for death, provide comfort, help with grief. But there’s an aspect that we don’t often realize is necessary and that is  advocacy within the health care system. When facing death, many feel helpless and unsure of what steps to take. In her work, Dianne Gray focuses on advocating for patients, facilitating conversation between physicians and families and communicating options so that they can make informed decisions together. 

When Ignoring the Holidays Is Not an Option

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As the Holidays approach, excitement and anticipation come with it. But not for everyone. For those grieving it can come with dread and sadness. So many times we hear “it’s okay to ignore the Holidays” and while that is certainly true, not everyone can allow the days to pass without acknowledgement. For some, there are … Read more

How to Be Helpful When Someone Dies (Besides Bringing Food)

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When we hear that someone has died, we think of ways to help and one of those things is to drop off food at the home of the grieving family. The idea is to nourish the mourners to whom the last thing they are thinking of is food. But also knowing that many people are dropping by and rather than burden the … Read more

Jill MacFarlane – The Sharing Place where kids and their families cope with grief and loss

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Since 1993, The Sharing Place in Salt Lake City has had a mission to “provide a safe and caring environment for grieving children, teens, and their families to share their feelings while healing themselves.”
Program director Jill MacFarlane talks to us about the value of this process and how telling the truth is the most important thing you can do when helping kids deal with their grief

The When You Die Project is created in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. May it be helpful to the world.
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