Each year, Children’s Grief Awareness Month is recognized around the world throughout the month of November. Specifically, Children’s Grief Awareness Day (November 16, 2023) is designed to help us all become more aware of the needs of grieving children — and of the benefits, they obtain through the support of others. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is an opportunity to make sure that grieving children receive the support they need and have the opportunity to know that they are never alone in their grief.

Gilda’s Toronto invites all bereaved family members with children and youth under the age of 18 for this special virtual workshop to recognize grieving children and honour their person in their life who has died.

During this event for bereaved families, children, and youth will have the opportunity to meet other families who have experienced a significant loss from cancer. After a person dies, there is a sense in which life feels darker, as if some light and colour are drained from the world. This can be especially true for children and youth who feel alone in their grief. During this special virtual workshop, families will be invited to help shine a light of hope so all grieving children and youth can recognize they are not alone. Families will participate in making their own illuminating hope lanterns. Supplies will be mailed to your home prior to the event.

Registration for this event closes on Friday, October 27 2023.

Facilitator: Tory Hagerman (she/her), CCLS, BA., has been the facilitator at GCGT for six years. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, Tory focuses on supporting children, youth and families in psychosocial oncology within the clinical, community and home settings. Tory is passionate about providing family-centred care while supporting the health equity and psychosocial needs of children, youth & families to be included and informed through life experiences such as illness, dying and death.