Care for Life is a community education program that supports people in navigating serious illness, caregiving, dying, and grief. Delivered in partnership with the Ethnocultural Seniors Network of the Social Planning Council of Ottawa, the program offers culturally responsive courses that build knowledge, confidence, and connection.

Care for Life works by partnering with leaders from ethnocultural communities, who are trained to deliver community-based education and facilitate conversations within their own communities in ways that reflect their language, culture, and lived experience. The courses are adapted, with permission, from the PalliLearn program, through collaboration with Covenant Health.

At its core, Care for Life is about strengthening compassionate communities—ensuring no one faces life’s most difficult moments alone.

Course topics:

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is more than you think. Learn what palliative care is and why it’s important in clear language that you can share with the people around you.

Your Role in a Compassionate Community

Compassionate Communities are networks of support around people experiencing serious illness, death and grief. Gain information and ideas about how to nurture Compassionate Communities near you.

How to have Conversations about Dying and Grief

Conversations about dying and grief are important but can be hard. This course provides practical tips on how to have caring and compassionate conversations on these topics with friends, family, co-workers and neighbours.

What Matters Most?

Knowing what matters most helps us live well now and in the future. Learn how to identify and share what matters to you in your life and in your care, as well as how to find out and support what matters to the people close to you.

More information and resources will be added soon—please check back.

Join our mailing list to stay up to date

By subscribing to this mailing list you agree to receive periodic updates about events and activities from Compassionate Ottawa.

Your contribution will help us to continue with our existing programs, introduce new ones, and reach all parts of our community.