Grief Counselling & Additional Support In Our Community
Good News For Our Region
We are pleased to share this exciting announcement from the bereavement services sector in our community.
Two Trusted Organizations Unite to Strengthen Grief and Bereavement Services Across Waterloo Region
The Boards of Directors of Hospice of Waterloo Region (HWR) and Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region (BFOMR) have voted to integrate their grief and bereavement services, combining decades of compassion, experience, and community connection to better support individuals and families experiencing death and grief across the region.
Effective January 1, 2026, BFOMR’s programs and operations will integrate with Hospice of Waterloo Region, forming a comprehensive and expanded Grief and Bereavement Program that will offer a full range of supports — from general information and peer-led groups to specialized programming for children and professional counselling.
This integration marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter — one that brings both organizations’ proud legacies together to create a more coordinated, accessible, and innovative approach to grief support.
“Simply put, we know that we can accomplish more together and are proud to build on Waterloo Region's tradition of innovation and compassion,” said Bruce Rodrigues, Chair of the Board of Directors, Hospice of Waterloo Region.
“Our shared vision is to make peer and professional grief support and grief literacy education more accessible to those we serve. This new path will help us to be even more responsive to the diverse needs of our community by sustaining current programming with an eye to future growth,” added Carly Pettinger, Chair of the Board of Directors, Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region. “This integration lays the groundwork for what we’re calling a Grief Hub of Waterloo Region — a central point of connection where anyone navigating loss can find free programming, support and community at the right time.”
Together, the two organizations are aligned in their commitment to:
- Expanding access to grief and bereavement services across Waterloo Region, including rural Townships;
- Continuing specialized programs for children and youth experiencing death and grief;
- Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in grief care; and
- Extending compassionate supports to underserved populations, including unhoused and marginalized community members.
This integration builds on Waterloo Region’s strong reputation for innovation and collaboration in health and social care. By creating a unified approach to grief support, HWR and BFOMR are setting a new standard for how communities can come together to care for one another through loss.
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About Hospice of Waterloo Region
Hospice of Waterloo Region is a community-based organization providing compassionate care and support to people living with life-limiting illness, their families, and those experiencing grief and loss. Through programs, counselling, education, and residential care, HWR empowers individuals to live fully until end of life and to find support through bereavement.
About Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region has been a trusted source of peer-based grief support for more than 30 years. Its programs have helped countless individuals and families find connection, understanding, and healing after the death of a loved one.
REGIONAL RESOURCES
Individual Grief Counselling by Donna Faus, M.A. Counselling, RSW
As a social worker, Donna is committed to offering a 'safe pasture' environment while counselling those who are hurting, grieving the loss of a loved one or just need someone to talk to and help. She has over 20 years of experience counselling people through a variety of challenges and losses, both professionally and personally and would be honoured to journey with you. Virtual appointments offered.
Phone: 519-580-7278
Email: donna@safepasture.ca
Website: www.safepasture.ca
Shalom Counselling Services
Shalom is a community counselling agency providing counselling and consultation services since 1983. Staffed by registered counselling professionals, Shalom provides counselling services for a broad range of concerns, to people from all walks of life, backgrounds and belief systems. Thanks to many generous donors, Shalom makes counselling affordable and accessible with fees that are calculated on a sliding scale according to family income.
Phone: 519-886-9690
Website: www.shalomcounselling.org
The Coping Centre
COPING was founded in 1990 by Glenn and Roslyn Crichton eight years after the loss of their five-year-old daughter, Rachele. Five days after being diagnosed with leukemia, Rachele died in the Children's Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. As a result of their own grief journey the Crichton's quickly realized that support was needed for the whole family at such difficult times. A passion to companion grieving people grew in the Crichton's hearts and seven years after the death of Rachele, COPING Bereavement Support Groups of Ontario, Inc. was birthed. A Board of Directors was formed and the work, already begun, continued with vigor. COPING (Caring for Other People in Grief) is a registered, nonprofit, charitable organization, offering help and encouragement to everyone at no cost to the participants.
Phone: 519-650-0852
Website: www.copingcentre.com
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region
BFAO’s mission is to build an empathetic community of peer support and education for individuals and families who are grieving: the bereaved helping the bereaved so that no one has to walk alone through their journey of grief. Grief support programs, grieving the death of an infant, grieving the death of a child, mixed loss group, death by substance use, support for kids and teens.
Phone: 519-603-0196
Website: www.bfomidwest.org
St. Michael Catholic Church Support Groups
Grief support provides companionship on the long journey through the grief process. St. Michael Parish offers a 6-week grief support program that follows the process developed by Dr. Bill Webster, an experienced leader in grief counselling. This group provides fellowship for the journey through loss and grief. All who have suffered a loss are welcome, regardless of how much time has passed since your loss.
This program is offered every Spring and Fall.
We cover a new topic every week, watch a short video and have discussion. The topics consist of:
Week 1 – The Experience of Grief
Week 2 – What is Grief
Week 3 – Understanding the Process of Grief Avoidance
Week 4 – Confronting the Reality – Grief Attacks, Guilt, and Anger
Week 5 – Confronting Adjustments, Including Loneliness
Week 6 – Reorganization
Phone: 519-884-9311
Email: parish@stmichaelw.ca
Website: www.stmichaelw.ca/grief-support
Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
Making Moments Matter - We provide exceptional compassionate end-of-life care and supports in the Region of Waterloo.
Phone: 519-208-5055 x253
Website: https://lisaardandinnisfree.com/
Holy Cross Lutheran Church Grief Share Program
A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way.
Phone: 519-742-5812
Website: https://www.griefshare.org/groups/266750
Hospice of Waterloo Region
Hospice Waterloo Region holds as a core value that death is a natural conclusion of life and that hospice palliative care neither prolongs nor hastens a natural death. The model of care that is delivered by Hospice Waterloo Region is based on recognition that hospice palliative care is “Whole Person” care focused on supporting and improving the quality of life for persons who are living with or dying from advanced illness, and for those who are bereaved by the loss of a loved one.
Phone: 519-743-4114
Website: https://www.hospicewaterloo.ca/
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