5 Areas of Care
Below is a brief overview of our programs. Keep reading for a more in-depth look at why we believe these programs matter.
Research, Awareness, and Education
We create awareness campaigns that fight the stigma surrounding grief, while simultaneously educating the public on what grief is and why our province needs to do better in supporting its people on their grief journey. We will provide research grants to better understand Alberta's current grief network.
Rural Resource Development
Alberta is known for its beautiful rural communities, each with their own unique histories and identities. However, the resources available in these communities are often limited or non-existent.
Every community has a fire-hall and police. Providing grief support is just as much a civic responsibility. However, while grief affects 100% of people in their lifetime, Albertans are not afforded the same safety-net of resources when they experience grief.
First Nations Empowerment
The world was shocked when the unmarked graves of countless indigenous children were discovered at residential schools across the country. Yet, there has been no government action to address significant cultural grief our first nations communities have been facing for decades. In the spirit of reconciliation and need, we will support our first nations communities in healing from the cultural grief that affects them today.
Vulnerable Individuals Empowerment
We believe that when someone needs help with their grief, the answer should be “yes.” No Albertan should have to forgo the help they need because they cannot afford or access it.
We will remove financial barriers for vulnerable individuals, period.
While grief support groups are very effective at helping individuals, one-on-one therapy can be a lifeline to many.
Seniors Acknowledgement and Support
Countless senior citizens have gone through significant loss of health, home, identity, and loved ones. Often times, they are without the mobility to get access support. The Seniors Acknowledgement and Support wing focuses solely on bringing grief support resources to seniors. We will offer free group therapy sessions, provide them with an outlet to speak about their losses, and to create a network that provides them with a dignified, supportive environment to heal.
Rural Resource Development
650,000 Reasons
According to Stats Canada, in 2021, there were 650,000 Albertans living in rural areas.
These are communities filled with hard-working Albertans, often in the agricultural sector, that are already facing higher prices on goods and services due to their locations outside of urban hubs. A lack of funding for social programs (see point 4) only adds to the financial strain placed on our rural communities.
Source: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/statcan/98-200-x2021002-eng.pdf
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Fewer Services
The number of Health Services providers per capita is lower. For Therapy & Assessment professionals, on average in small towns, there are 1000 people relying on one provider. In urban centres, it averages 500 people relying on each provider.
This means that small towns have twice as many people relying on providers, stretching resources farther than what they should be.
Source: https://open.alberta.ca/opendata/per-capita-health-service-providers-rural-and-small-town-alberta
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Maintaining Rural Culture
Albertan culture is one of bustling cities backed by the work-horse regions of our province. Rural Alberta is responsible for around 50% of goods and service output for the province. Simply put, we need rural Albertans.
That said, rural populations are declining. In a 2012 report presented to the department of Alberta Agriculture and rural Development, it states:
"Any plans to ensure prosperity for rural Alberta must include the attraction and retention of people as a top priority. . . But it will take more than jobs to attract people. Communities that also offer a high quality of life will be the most successful."
Source: Alberta’s Rural Communities Their Economic Contribution to Alberta and Canada , March 2012
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Equal Opportunity
A Position Statement from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta explains that provincial funding for Family and Social Services has not increased sufficiently since 2015.
"Provincial funding and support for FCSS programming is often piecemeal and short-term, with a lack of attention given to program sustainability in the face of unreliable funding. "
The need for private funding of social programs like grief recovery is clear.
Source: Rural Municipalities of Alberta, Position Statement, Volume 1, 2025
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Our solution
We will work with rural communities to assess their needs, train locals to increase resource availability, and provide continuing support and funding to establish sustainable grief support programs.
Seniors Acknowledgement & Support
Tackling Isolation
A study by Stats Canada looking into social isolation in seniors states that "research shows that an estimated 30% of Canadian seniors are at risk of becoming socially isolated." Some risk factors for social isolation in seniors are:
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being age 80 or older
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having compromised health status
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having no children or contact with family
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lacking access to transportation
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living with low income
Many of these risk factors are also recognized causes of grief, including loss of health, loss of social ties, loss of financial stability, loss of independence, and more.
It is therefore crucial that we develop and fund group grief support programs that can meet seniors where they're at, literally and figuratively, to provide care.
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End of Life Grief
The loss of a loved one, especially the loss of a spouse, is commonly accepted as a particular challenging form of loss. In 2021, a startling 44% of women of 65+ were widowed. And in 2023, there were approximately 83,365 seniors who had lost their spouses. Needless to say, this age group is particularly hard hit with losses caused by death.
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Accessibility
Stats Canada shows that in 2020/2021, seniors (65+) are significantly less likely to access community mental health programs.
We can directly improve accessibility issues by developing grief support programs that run in senior living communities and facilities, encouraging socialization and connection through group support programs.
Source: Zone versus Alberta Community Mental Health Access by Age Group and Gender, 2020/2021
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Filling a Need
Too few seniors' housing facilities and communities are offered regular grief support programs to help seniors address the mix of emotions that come with aging and life changes. It's important that we take steps towards grief support programs becoming commonplace.
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Our solution
We will work with seniors advocates, senior housing administrators, and senior enrichment & wellbeing specialists to ensure grief support programs and resources are available directly to seniors at their place of residence - at no cost to them. We will also emphasize education and the provision of language, space, and tools for identifying and expressing grief among senior populations.
First Nations Empowerment & Support
Cultural Loss
First Nations communities in Alberta have been suffering from cultural grief for decades, with few substantial initiatives in place to support them in their healing efforts.
"To date there have been no studies examining complicated grief (CG) in Aboriginal populations. Although this research gap exists, it can be hypothesized that Aboriginal populations may be at increased risk for CG, given a variety of factors, including increased rates of all-cause mortality and death by suicide. Aboriginal people also have a past history of multiple stressors resulting from the effects of colonization and forced assimilation, a significant example being residential school placement. This loss of culture and high rates of traumatic events may place Aboriginal individuals at increased risk for suicide, as well as CG resulting from traumatic loss and suicide bereavement."
Source: Complicated grief in Aboriginal populations, National Library of Medicine, web.
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Daily Death
The Opioid Crisis in Alberta has been particularly devastating for First Nations communities. Death has become a daily part of the lives of countless communities.
"While First Nations Peoples represent 3.4% of the Alberta population, they represent 20% of all apparent unintentional opioid poisoning deaths between 2016 and 2022 "
Source: Alberta opioid response surveillance report : First Nations Peoples in Alberta [2024]
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Redefining Reconciliation
Reconciliation is defined as "the restoration of friendly relations." Alcohol and addictive substances have wreaked havoc on First Nations communities in Alberta. This damaging cycle is directly tied to the effects of long-standing racism, the direct harm caused by residential schools, and the generational trauma that resulted.
We believe it is our responsibility to support First Nations communities in healing from historical and contemporary harm.
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Supporting, not Saving
We reject the notion that Alberta's First Nations need to be 'saved.'
The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states: "Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture. "
We do not know what's "right" or what will work for each individual community - only the community members will know what works for them, in the framework of their traditional means of healing.
What we do know, is that we are prepared to encourage and support them in developing culturally appropriate practices to address grief in a contemporary manner.
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Our solution
We will engage with tribal members and administration to explore the unique grief resource needs of each tribe. We will extend our resources and support to aid in the development of grief recovery programs that align with traditional ways of knowing and healing. We emphasize traditional language, practice, and experience as keystone aspects of the work of healing from grief.