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Understanding Grief ›
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Understanding grief ›
- Truths about grief
- What grief looks and feels like
- Common challenges with grief
- Grieving before the loss
- Ideas for living with loss
- Grief triggers
- How long grief lasts
- How the loss affects families and others
- When life starts to get better
- Special dates
- Rituals, funerals, and memorials
- Do I need more help?
- Prolonged grief
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Grief, roles, and identity ›
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Grieving a Death ›
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Your relationship ›
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The situation ›
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Non-death Loss ›
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Supporting Someone ›
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Professionals & Volunteers ›
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Resources & More ›
Programs and Services
Click on the map below to see programs and services in your province or territory.
Search
Click on one of the listings below and you will get their full details
Showing results in Canada
National
Click on listing for details.
Advocacy
Adults
Canadian Grief Alliance
The Canadian Grief Alliance, is a group of leading grief specialists and 160 national and regional health organizations that was founded by the Canadian Virtual Hospice. The CGA actively advocates for improved access to grief support, expanded public education on grief, and dedicated funding for grief research.
Children and Teens
Canadian Alliance for Children's Grief
The Canadian Alliance for Children's Grief (CACG) is a national group of professionals working together to ensure the accessibility of bereavement support and information to grieving children and their families. CACG seeks to address the barriers experienced by organizations providing services to grieving children and youth and strengthen the support offered to local communities.
Online Resources
Adults
Canadian Virtual Hospice
The Canadian Virtual Hospice provides support and personalized information about advanced illness, palliative care, loss and grief, to people living with illness, family members, people working in healthcare, educators, and researchers. The website includes discussion forums and an Ask a Professional feature.
KidsGrief.ca
KidsGrief.ca is a free online resource that helps parents support their children when someone in their life is dying or has died. It equips parents with the words and confidence needed to help children grieve life’s losses in healthy ways.
MyGrief.ca
MyGrief.ca is an online and free resource to help people move through their grief from the comfort of their own home, at their own pace. It can help you understand your grief and approach some of the most difficult questions that may arise. It was developed by people who have experienced the death of someone important to them and grief specialists. It complements existing community resources and helps address barriers to grief services.
Children and Teens
YouthGrief.ca
YouthGrief.ca has been developed — from content to art to design — by grieving youth, for grieving youth. It shares wisdom, experiences, and advice from more than 30 young people who’ve been there, and know what it’s like to grieve when someone you care about has died.
Business/Corporate
Adults
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association - Canadian Compassionate Companies
M332 – 1554 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1Z 7M4
1 613 241-3663
Companies can apply for CHPCA's Canadian Compassionate Companies certification to demonstrate to the public, their partners, and to current and future employees, that they provide a compassionate work environment for their teams, particularly for employee caregivers and those experiencing grief.
Pallium - Compassionate Workplace Campaign
The Compassionate Workplace Campaign offers a practical facilitated workshop to help companies improve their ‘care culture’ by proactively supporting working caregivers and those among us who are grieving.
Counselling
Adults
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services
1 800 268-7708
The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services is a 24/7, bilingual telephone service that offers professional counselling to a parent, a spouse, children/step children, a fiancé(e), and any other person of significance to the CAF member who has died while serving. An appointment will be arranged within a maximum of 48 hours. Short and long term counselling options are available and are free of charge.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Family Information Line (FIL)
1 800 866-4546
The Family Information Line (FIL) is a 24/7, confidential, bilingual service offering information, support, referrals, reassurance, and crisis management by professional counsellors to Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families. FIL hosts a moderated forum where teens can connect and support one another as only peers can, and will also schedule live chats just for teens.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Shoulder to Shoulder
1 800 866-4546
The Shoulder to Shoulder website provides information and links to services and supports for families of Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have died while serving. Services include professional and peer support, help with navigating systems, information about available benefits/entitlements, and resources for children and youth.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Children and Teens
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services
1 800 268-7708
The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services is a 24/7, bilingual telephone service that offers professional counselling to a parent, a spouse, children/step children, a fiancé(e), and any other person of significance to the CAF member who has died while serving. An appointment will be arranged within a maximum of 48 hours. Short and long term counselling options are available and are free of charge.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Family Information Line (FIL)
1 800 866-4546
The Family Information Line (FIL) is a 24/7, confidential, bilingual service offering information, support, referrals, reassurance, and crisis management by professional counsellors to Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families. FIL hosts a moderated forum where teens can connect and support one another as only peers can, and will also schedule live chats just for teens.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Shoulder to Shoulder
1 800 866-4546
The Shoulder to Shoulder website provides information and links to services and supports for families of Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have died while serving. Services include professional and peer support, help with navigating systems, information about available benefits/entitlements, and resources for children and youth.
Indigenous
Hope for Wellness Helpline
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Crisis Lines
Adults
Canadian Mental Health Association Distress Line – 24 hour support
Crisis Services Canada
National Suicide Crisis Line
9-8-8 provides a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you call or text 9-8-8, you will reach a responder at one of nearly 40 local, provincial and territorial, and national crisis lines, who co-deliver the service.
Children and Teens
Crisis Services Canada
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Education
Adults
Alzheimer Society of Canada
The Alzheimer Society of Canada provides general information and resources on living with dementia and caring for a person living with dementia. Province specific societies are linked from their website.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - HOPE
1 800 883-6094
The HOPE (Helping Our Peers by Providing Empathy) Program offers continuous peer support and education on grief to help bereaved military families better understand grief process and learn coping strategies. Services are available to adult family members in the military and Veteran community at any point in time, and the death does not have to be attributed to military service.
Canadian Mental Health Association
The Canadian Mental Health Association provides general information and resources on mental health. Use the finder to locate a CMHA branch in your area.
Pallium - Compassionate Workplace Campaign
The Compassionate Workplace Campaign offers a practical facilitated workshop to help companies improve their ‘care culture’ by proactively supporting working caregivers and those among us who are grieving.
Other
Adults
Association Parents Orphelins
4545, Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue
Montreal, QC
H1V 0B2
1 514 686-4880
Association Parents Orphelins' mission is to help other parents through this difficult ordeal by breaking the isolation, by documenting, by informing and by educating the population of Québec on the subject of pregnancy and infant grief. The Association encourages mutual assistance among bereaved parents in Québec, health care professionals and supporters to the cause.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - HOPE
1 800 883-6094
The HOPE (Helping Our Peers by Providing Empathy) Program offers continuous peer support and education on grief to help bereaved military families better understand grief process and learn coping strategies. Services are available to adult family members in the military and Veteran community at any point in time, and the death does not have to be attributed to military service.
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) provides support, research, and education to survivors of serious crime and stakeholders in Canada. All services are free of charge and confidential. Bilingual assistance and advocacy is offered. Offers a monthly homicide support group.
Grief Matters
Works to help Canadians better understand and make room for grief, through creative, community-based activities. Can help plan and promote grief literacy events.
Phone Support
Adults
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services
1 800 268-7708
The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services is a 24/7, bilingual telephone service that offers professional counselling to a parent, a spouse, children/step children, a fiancé(e), and any other person of significance to the CAF member who has died while serving. An appointment will be arranged within a maximum of 48 hours. Short and long term counselling options are available and are free of charge.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Family Information Line (FIL)
1 800 866-4546
The Family Information Line (FIL) is a 24/7, confidential, bilingual service offering information, support, referrals, reassurance, and crisis management by professional counsellors to Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families. FIL hosts a moderated forum where teens can connect and support one another as only peers can, and will also schedule live chats just for teens.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National Suicide Crisis Line
9-8-8 provides a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you call or text 9-8-8, you will reach a responder at one of nearly 40 local, provincial and territorial, and national crisis lines, who co-deliver the service.
Children and Teens
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services
1 800 268-7708
The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) and Bereavement Services is a 24/7, bilingual telephone service that offers professional counselling to a parent, a spouse, children/step children, a fiancé(e), and any other person of significance to the CAF member who has died while serving. An appointment will be arranged within a maximum of 48 hours. Short and long term counselling options are available and are free of charge.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Family Information Line (FIL)
1 800 866-4546
The Family Information Line (FIL) is a 24/7, confidential, bilingual service offering information, support, referrals, reassurance, and crisis management by professional counsellors to Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families. FIL hosts a moderated forum where teens can connect and support one another as only peers can, and will also schedule live chats just for teens.
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Indigenous
Hope for Wellness Helpline
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Support Groups
Adults
Association Parents Orphelins
4545, Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue
Montreal, QC
H1V 0B2
1 514 686-4880
Association Parents Orphelins' mission is to help other parents through this difficult ordeal by breaking the isolation, by documenting, by informing and by educating the population of Québec on the subject of pregnancy and infant grief. The Association encourages mutual assistance among bereaved parents in Québec, health care professionals and supporters to the cause.
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Shoulder to Shoulder
1 800 866-4546
The Shoulder to Shoulder website provides information and links to services and supports for families of Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have died while serving. Services include professional and peer support, help with navigating systems, information about available benefits/entitlements, and resources for children and youth.
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) provides support, research, and education to survivors of serious crime and stakeholders in Canada. All services are free of charge and confidential. Bilingual assistance and advocacy is offered. Offers a monthly homicide support group.
Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP)
Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP) is a US-based organization created to offer understanding, compassion, and support for those who have lost someone they love through addiction and overdose. Services include a mailing list, local meetings (AB, BC, ON, QC), and resources. Links are provided to search for a local chapter.
Grief Share
Healing Hearts
Healing Hearts is a monthly peer support group for anyone aged 18 or over who is grieving a death due to substance use. There are chapters across Canada, including virtual groups. Contact information for chapters appears on this page.
Moms Stop The Harm
PO Box 24033, RPO Broadmead
Victoria, BC
V8X 0B2
Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths that advocates for the change of failed drug policies, provides peer support to grieving families, and assists those with loved ones who use or have used substances. Support groups include Holding Hope for those supporting someone struggling with substance use and the Healing Hearts Grief Support Group.
Soaring Spirits Canada
110-1101 Prince of Wales Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2C 3W7
1 877 671-4071 ext. 716
The Compassionate Friends of Canada
Threads of Life
Offer medium- and long-term family support services for individuals and families who have been affected by a workplace tragedy.
Children and Teens
Canadian Forces Morale & Wellness Services - Shoulder to Shoulder
1 800 866-4546
The Shoulder to Shoulder website provides information and links to services and supports for families of Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have died while serving. Services include professional and peer support, help with navigating systems, information about available benefits/entitlements, and resources for children and youth.
Rainbows Canada
The Compassionate Friends of Canada