What's New in the New Year Newsletter!
May the New Year Bring Your Peace & Comfort!
From the Board and Team at Learning Through Loss we wish you and yours all the best in 2022. We recognize that the Holidays are a difficult time for those who have faced loss. Whether its the first Christmas without a beloved friend or family or years after they have passed, the Holidays can be a time sadness.
May this New Year release the pain of your loss and grief and bring your peace and comfort.
Here are some ways that you can keep your memories alive that would make them smile...
Visit a special place
Share a meal and happy memories
Commit to accomplishing a healthy and uplifting goal in their honour.
Be well, be safe and take care of yourself and each other. We're here if you need support or know someone who does.
Introducing Learning Through Loss New Executive Director
The Board of Learning Through Loss (LTL) is excited to introduce its new Executive Director, Kathryn Dafos, who joined the team in December. Kathryn is a skilled strategist, public relations and organizational development professional with more than two decades of experience in the non-profit sector. She has an established track record of working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to successfully achieve goals. Kathryn’s life experiences have uniquely shaped her ability to understand the profound impact of loss and grief, especially on young people.
As Executive Director, Kathryn will focus on strategic partnerships and building organizational systems to expand and enhance LTL’s ability to deliver services in support of one of Victoria’s important community organizations; ensuring that youth who are experiencing loss and bereavement have easy and barrier free access to grief supports.
“Kathryn’s expertise and growth mindset well position LTL to respond to the opportunities of the future”, says James Amarelo, LTL’s Board Chair. “Since the pandemic, we have been evolving the ways we connect to young people, who are facing a myriad of different losses. Kathryn’s experience in communications and well-rounded strategic approach supports our changing delivery models and mission to reach more youth who are experiencing loss and grief”.
Learning Through Loss Invites New Candidates to Join Our Board of Directors
We are seeking four Board Members who will serve a minimum two-year term to assist LTL to achieve its Vision of “A community where all youth, and those that support them, have access to education, support, and resources relating to grief, loss and healthy strategies for healing.” [Read more]
The Board meets monthly to govern and oversee the management of the organization. All Board Members are
expected to participate in Committee activities and attend meetings as required. We are currently looking to fill the following roles:
Vice Chair (to eventually replace Chair)
Secretary
Directors with related experience in non-profit governance, counselling, education, law, finance and/or social media/communications
If you're interested in applying for the role of Board member, please complete our Board of Directors Expression of Interest Form outlining your experience and send to: info@learningthroughloss.org
Mark Your Calendars – Upcoming Events
Join us at the Tapestry Conference from 10:15 AM – 2:15 PM on Friday, February 18th.
Learning Through Loss will be presenting a full-day workshop on Supporting Grieving Youth and will also have an Exhibitor space to answer your questions and book sessions for your classroom.
Stay tuned. We look forward to following up with details about other upcoming events.
Book a Good Grief Workshop for Your School
2021 was a difficult year. To ensure that we are continuing the meet the needs of young people who are experiencing the impacts of loss and grief during COVID 19, Learning Through Loss has expanded our interactive, educational explorations on grief and loss beyond Greater Victoria, to across Vancouver Island and Province-wide.
Our Good Grief workshops are customized to suit the needs of different age groups. In addition to our classroom workshops for middle and high school students, LTL added a new program in 2021, specifically for elementary school children, age 8 and up,
Learning Through Loss Good Grief Workshops run 60-90 minutes in length, depending on classroom schedules. Workshops are delivered by Registered Counsellors and trained facilitators who guide conversations about what grief is, what it feels like and how it can impact so many facets of life. Through interactive discussion, experiential activities, and personal reflection, youth gain greater understanding about different types of losses that they may experience, how everyone responds to grief in different ways, and coping strategies for healing.
Click here to learn more about and to book a session for your classroom or email us at info@learningthroughloss.org with your preferred dates and times.
Thanks to the generosity of our funders, Learning Through Loss Programs provides most programs for schools at no charge.
Short-Term Grief Counselling
Do you know a young person struggling with the impact of loss and grief? Learning Through Loss short-term one-to-one grief counselling support is provided by experienced registered clinical counsellors and available to eligible youth between the ages of 12-24 for no charge. Counselling provides one on one support to youth experiencing grief and loss who can benefit from individual counselling. Youth who are 18 or older can self-refer. Please note LTL does not provide complex trauma services. Click here to learn more and complete a referral form.
Thank You to Our Funders
Learning Through Loss is a non-profit Charitable organization that relies on grants and your donations to finance the work we do to support young people who
are experience the impacts of loss and grief. In the last year we’ve seen an increased need for our one-to-one counselling services due COVID 19.
Despite individual counselling being one of our most costly services to deliver, our funders have empowered us to deliver and expand our services without charge. Thanks to them, if a youth dealing with grief and loss is in need, we’re there to help.
Provincial Employees Community Services Fund
Victoria Foundation
Harbour Side Rotary Club
TELUS
City of Victoria
United Way
Sisters of St Ann
Victoria Foundation
Thanks to the generosity of our funders and contributors, Learning Through Loss is able to provide most loss and grief programs at no charge. Please click here to donate
About Learning Through Loss
Sandra Elder, Ph.D., was a respected academic researcher in the field of grief and loss and a hospice practitioner when she realized the need for accessible supportive programs for youth experiencing loss. In 1988, she created a group program for young people, creating Friends of Living and Learning Through Loss (LTL) which became a registered Canadian charity in 1994. Since then, Learning Through Loss have become the community experts at helping youth through grief and loss and bereavement while teaching others about the impact of grief on youth and how to better help them through.