Schedule a meeting with the Executive Director to discuss workshop bookings and community partnerships
Easy and secure counselling and group referral forms
Useful loss and grief resources
Learn about our community impact
Discover ways to get involved: donating, estate giving, volunteering and fund-raising partnerships
Join our distribution list to learn about upcoming programs and events
Art & Loss: Register now for our new Peer Support Group Program!
Youth, aged 14-17 are invited to join this online group to create art and explore the meaning of our loss. Through this 6-week program, we hope to renew the relationship to our loved ones and explore aspects of the meaning of the loss in our lives and connect with others in a meaningful way.
In this Peer Support Program we will use our creativity and common materials to remake objects to connect with our loss and with others who have also experienced their own unique losses. Through this artistic exploration, we aim to support individual and collective healing journeys.
When: 4:00 - 6:00 PM Thursdays for six (6) weeks:
January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2
Costs: There is no cost to join this group. (Donations are welcome: If you are able, we appreciate contributions to your child's participation)
Space is limited to a maximum of 12 youth aged 14-17.
We'll start following up the week of December 19th
If this group is full registrants will be given the opportunity to be wait-listed for the next program.
Accepting reservations for 2023 Good Grief & Supporting Youth Workshops!
Living and Learning Through Loss (LTL) is looking forward to returning to your classrooms, both in-person and virtually! We're now accepting
expressions of interest for winter and spring workshops!
Good Grief for Students (Grades 8-12)
Supporting Youth Through Loss & Grief for Parents, Teachers & Counsellors
While Good Grief Workshops for Youth are provided at no-charge, we very much welcome and appreciate your donations to help us help adolescents and young adults in your community
Making things a bit easier for grieving children (and yourself) this Holiday Season
The Holiday Season is a particularly difficult time for those who are grieving.
This is particularly true for youth who have faced a loss. Whether this is the first Holiday after the loss or it's been several years, it can be challenging time.
Avoid making assumptions. Ask kids about how they want to observe Holiday traditions
You may be surprised by your children’s ability to find comfort in the season even when a loss is still fresh. Let them know that it's okay to enjoy the holidays and doing so doesn't diminish their love or grief for the person they've lost.
Say their Name
Acknowledge the person who has been lost by saying their name and talking about who they were. Saying a person's honours their life. It keeps that person present in your life. It preserves remembrance and empowers youth to maintain that connection.
Create remembering traditions
Provide comfortable space for young people to remember and connect to those they've lost. Share stories, make a decoration, prepare a favourite meal, play a favourite song or game, set a place at the table, lift a toast, light a candle, make a donation or volunteer for an cause that is significant to you, your family and the one they've lost.
It's okay to say "No" "We're just not up to it this year" is a perfectly acceptable response to invitations. Go, if you and your children feel up to it, but don't feel guilty if the idea of gathering with others doesn't feel right for you and your family.
It's okay to feel and talk about it
Encourage your children to express their feeling and emotions. Let them know it's okay not to feel okay. Observe and listen. Let them talk about their loss and the person their missing. Avoid changing the subject. Let visitors know that all feelings are okay in your home.
Expect and make space for grief bursts
There is no time limit on grief. Holiday's are often a trigger for grief bursts - strong feelings of grief and mourning that can emerge years after a loss. The sudden realization that the person has been gone for 3, 5 or even 10 years can be a jolt. Watching those around them who appear to adapted to loss can make it feel like that special person has been forgotten. Even after years have passed, take time to consciously and openly remember.
Ask for help
If your child is struggling, reach out for help. We're here to be your child's friend as they live and learn through loss.
Welcoming new members to our Team!
Nichola Watson Registered Clinical Counsellor
Macayla Yan Registered Clinical Counsellor
Ruva Gatsi Student Operations Assistant.
Welcoming a new Chair to our Board of Directors!
Welcome Back Samantha!
After a few years away, Board of Directors, LTL is thrilled to welcome Samantha Magnus back as our new Chair. Samantha's experience with youth serving organizations includes volunteering for the Canadian Unitarian Council Youth Group and terms as President and Vice President of a not-for-profit childcare centre. Samantha is a data management professional and a certified project management professional. She holds Master's degrees in both Public Health and Business Administration.
Samantha spends most of her spare time with family, cheering on her children (aged 9-12) at their hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball games, and building her e-commerce side hustle.
Thank you for your service and commitment, James and Brendan
We at LTL extend our most heartfelt thank you James Amarelo, who has served as Chair and Director for 5 Years! James has worked tirelessly to support LTL bringing his skills in management, finance and technology to the organization. James will remain with the LTL in the role of Past Chair for 2023.
We also send out a big thank you to Brendan Wright, Board Director for his commitment to the Board and support of LTL. Both James and Brendan have brought is a unending caring for supporting Youth who are experiencing loss and grief and we are glad to know they will continue to be Friends of Living and Learning Through Loss.
Holiday Giving
The Holiday Season is especially difficult for Youth who are dealing with loss and grief. Help us help bereaved youth in Greater Victoria!
This year we received more than 40 referrals for our no charge loss and grief counselling program for adolescent and young adults 13-24 years of age.
Young people who have who have come to us for support have lost parents, siblings, grand-parents, caregivers, and friends. They have faced tragic losses due to illness, accidents, suicide and the opioid crisis.
Grief doesn't do well in isolation. It takes a community to support bereaved youth. Please help.
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Thank you to our funders for making our important work possible
