The holidays can be a difficult time for those who grieve. Acknowledging this may help us to accept our reactions and tap into ways that make it easier to
manage.

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When someone dies, it’s natural to worry about losing the memories you have of when they were alive. For this reason, it can be very helpful to find concrete ways to pay them tribute.

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Grief is how we respond when we experience loss. Everyone experiences grief and many people associate grief with the death of someone close to them. Grief is also a common reaction when someone in their lives is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Grief is complicated.

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All Children’s Grief Centre counsellors have graduate degrees in counselling, social work and psychology and are certified through the Collage of Alberta Psychologists, the Alberta College of Social Workers, and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Our professional counsellors are bound by their professional codes of ethics and our policies.

For any questions or inquiries, please reach out to our Events Coordinator at 403-263-4525 ext. 205 or by email.

All donations will receive a tax receipt. Online donations receive an immediate receipt via e-mail. Please be sure to print it off for your records. Offline donations (cash or cheque) will get a tax receipt mailed to them.

Hospice Calgary is a not-for-profit organization and fundraising allows us to offer services at both Sage Centre and Rosedale Hospice. We count on donors and supporters like you to help raise $100,000 each year during the Hike for Hospice Calgary. Click here to explore a few examples of how your gift of impact helps our clients and patients.

No! You are encouraged to be creative in the type of activities you do such as walking outdoors, going for a walk at your local park or venturing out to the mountains (while practicing safe social distancing), or you can opt to stay indoors and use home exercising equipment such as treadmills, or following a YouTube walking video! Make it a family activity with the kids and your pets, or head out solo. The choice is up to you. Just be sure to be mindful and do your part in keeping our community safe.

Supporting Teens

• Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
• Children’s Grief Centre Brochure
• Child & Teen Grief after a Suicide
• How Teens Grieve and Ways We Can Help
• Informing a Child of a Death
• Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
• Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
• Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
• Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
• Sleep Disturbances
• Talking To Teens about Life-Threatening Illness
• When Bad Things Happen
• When Grief Goes to School
• When the Holidays Hurt

Suggested Books for Teens

• Someone I Loved Died by Suicide by Doreen T. Cammarata
• The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and their Friends by Helen Fitzgerald
• The Invisible String by Patricia Karst
• The Next Place by Warren Hanson
• When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens about Grieving and Healing by Marilyn Grootman
• Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

View the full bibliography

Supporting Children

• Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
• Children’s Grief Centre Brochure
• Child & Teen Grief after a Suicide
• How Children Grieve and Ways We Can Help
• Informing a Child of a Death
• Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
• Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
• Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
• Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
• Sleep Disturbances
• Talking To Children about Life-Threatening Illness
• When Bad Things Happen
• When Grief Goes to School
• When the Holidays Hurt
• Lost for Words – Advice for Children About How to Cope with Grief

Suggested Books for Children

• Ida, Always by Caron Levis
• In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
• Life is Like the Wild by Shona Innes
• Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert, Chuck DeKlyen
• The Invisible String by Patricia Karst  
• The Next Place by Warren Hanson
• Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

View the full bibliography