Compassionate Ottawa

Advance Care Planning - National Association of Federal Retirees
2024-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom – Open to public
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

Atelier sur le deuil et la perte - La fondation du cancer d’Ottawa
2024-01-18 13:30 - 15:00 | Ottawa Community Cancer Hub, 1500 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3Y9, Canada
Bereavement can be a complex and difficult subject. Everyone experiences it, regardless of age, health or background, including people with a serious illness or health problem, such as cancer. People living with or affected by cancer can face many forms of grief, including complicated grief and anticipatory grief.
Many of us are not comfortable with grief. To better support you and your community, Compassionate Ottawa, in partnership with the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, invites you to attend a free workshop on grief and bereavement, entitled “In the Heart of the Matter”. During this workshop, qualified facilitators will guide you through an interactive session to increase your knowledge and comfort on the subject. You’ll also receive tools and techniques for talking with those around you who are grieving, including those affected by serious illness, so you can better support them and yourself.
Free for people affected by cancer and their caregivers.
This workshop will be led by facilitators Lise Beauchemin and Lucie Morin of Compassionate Ottawa.
REGISTER HERE** Workshop offered in French only.

Advance Care Planning - RBC Preston
2024-01-24 13:30 - 15:00
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

REGISTER HEREWant to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

Advance Care Planning and Wills - Arabic Speaking Community Members
2024-02-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Southeast Ottawa Community Health Center, 1355 Bank St. 7th floor at the Heatherington Room, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8K7, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

** For Arabic speaking community members

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!
REGISTER HERE

Advance Care Planning - National Association of Federal Retirees
2024-02-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

**Workshop offered in French only.

Conversations With Leaders - Are you ready for unexpected life transitions?
2024-03-21 10:00 - 11:15 | Zoom – Open to public
Our speaker, Marc Séguin, is the author of “Advocacy in Aging”, which focuses on wealth management and health care planning for the end-of-life years. The author was inspired by real-life stories.
We’re all living longer, which increases the likelihood of living with reduced abilities, due to natural aging, events or illness. By planning for the unexpected and building a support team, it is possible to ensure continuity and consistency in the management of financial, physical and mental affairs.
The concepts described in Advocacy in Aging apply to all those planning for their own or a relative’s aging, whatever their financial means or context. There’s no denying that we’re all living longer, and that many of us will see our abilities diminish.
Author Marc Séguin defines five pillars of planning that bring together fundamental concepts: financial planning, powers of attorney, downsizing, living wills and gradual transitions.
How do we plan for the future?
How can we facilitate transitions?
How do you ensure that the people who represent you respect your wishes, your values and your wisdom?
The discussion will be followed by questions and comments.
REGISTER HERE**Conversation offered in French only.
Click the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Marc Séguin is the author of Advocacy in Aging (www.AdvocacyInAging.com), a book on wealth management and health care planning for the senior years. After a career in the introduction of new technologies, Marc turned his attention to the challenges of financial management and personal care for seniors. He has helped many families, including his own, plan for and cope with the inevitable life changes that come with aging. These experiences have enabled him to crystallize an approach, in common parlance, to maintaining continuity in financial affairs and personal care. Marc, father of 3 boys and grandfather of 2, lives in Ottawa with his wife. He is an avid skier and loves the outdoors.
Michelle de Courville Nicol was a member of the Board of Directors of Hôpital Montfort from 1990 to 2001 and its President from 1995 to 2001, as well as President of Montfort Renaissance, a French-language community organization active in the fields of addiction, mental health, housing and seniors, from 2006 to 2020.
Conversations with Leaders is proudly sponsored by Zapior Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities.

Advance Care Planning - United Churches of Canada
2024-03-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom – Private Event

Grief and Bereavement – United Churches of Canada
2024-04-08 16:00 - 18:30 | Zoom – Private Event
Grief can be complicated and challenging. It is experienced by everyone, regardless of age and many in our community still express that they are not comfortable addressing it. In particular, seniors and older adults can be acutely impacted by grief.
To help support you and your community, Compassionate Ottawa invites you to join a free virtual workshop. It will be hosted by our experienced and trained facilitators.
In this workshop, you will be guided through an interactive session by our facilitators to increase your knowledge and comfort on the topic. You will also be provided with tools and techniques to have conversations with those around you experiencing grief to be able to better support them, which is especially important during these challenging times.

Follow-Up Advance Care Planning - United Churches of Canada
2024-04-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom – Private Event

Advance Care Planning Workshop - South East Ottawa Community Health Centre
2024-04-30 10:00 - 11:30 | South East Ottawa Community Health Centre, 1355 Bank St #600, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8K7, Canada

How Can We HELP?
2024-05-05 14:00 - 17:00 | Orleans United Church, 1111 Orléans Boulevard, Orleans, Ontario, K1C 7C8, Canada
Tips and Tricks for Creating a Compassionate Community
What: Open house about end of life care and faith communities
Who: Open to all faith community members and leaders
“Should I offer to drop off food?”
“Will she want to talk about her loved one who just died?”
“How can I tell my friends I need ….“
When someone you know is living with advance illness, caregiving or grieving it can be hard to know how to respond. The Healthy End of Life Project (HELP) is a research project between Carleton University and Orleans United Church. HELP is working to break down the barriers around asking for and offering help. Come to OUC on May 5th and learn how your faith community can build a compassionate community and support people who are near the end of the life, caregiving, or grieving.
We will host an open house to share our insights on what works and what doesn’t.
Snacks, information, and encouragement provided!
Please register by April 24th.
REGISTER HERE

Follow-Up Grief and Bereavement – United Churches of Canada
2024-05-06 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom – Private Event

Conversations with Leaders - Exploring Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
2024-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live virtual event, facilitated by Compassionate Ottawa volunteer Mary Lou Kelley, will feature a conversation with Sue Garvey and Vince DePaul. Together, they will discuss the fast-growing pan-Canadian Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) movement and will spotlight Ottawa’s own Oasis pilot project as an exemplary case. Oasis is an older adult-driven model of aging in place, located within NORCs, and stems from an Aging at Home collaboration with Queens University. Vince serves as co-Principal Investigator for this collaboration, while Sue plays a key role as an active volunteer. Following the discussion, there will be time for questions and comments.
REGISTER HEREClick the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Sue Garvey Sue Garvey, a graduate of Carleton University’s Masters in Social Work program, retired in 2019 after 23 years with the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa as Executive Director of Cornerstone Housing for Women. She is recognized for her contributions to women’s issues, homelessness, and affordable housing, receiving awards such as the Governor General’s Jubilee Medal, the Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good Award, and the Key to the City of Ottawa. Currently, Sue serves part-time as a policy advisor to Ottawa City Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, focusing on women’s and gender equity, affordable housing, and age-friendly cities. Additionally, she volunteers her efforts toward advocating for and implementing Ottawa’s first Oasis pilot project, an Aging at Home collaboration with Queen’s University.
Vince DePaulVince DePaul is a Physiotherapist and Associate Professor at Queen’s University. He co-leads the Oasis Project with his colleague Dr. Catherine Donnelly. The Oasis Project is a community-based participatory study that aims to co-develop, implement and evaluate the Oasis Program to promote healthy aging in naturally occurring retirement communities. Vince completed his Physiotherapy Degree at McMaster University, and worked in Hamilton for many years as a clinician before earning his PhD in Rehabilitation Science. He has lived in Kingston since 2015 but frequently comes to Ottawa to visit two of his adult children, as well as his new Oasis friends and collaborators in Ottawa.
Mary Lou KelleyMary Lou Kelley MSW, PhD has been engaged in practice, teaching and research in gerontology and palliative care since 1972. Major contributions involved co-creating strategies to provide palliative care in rural and First Nations communities and long-term care homes. She was the recipient of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Award of Excellence (2011), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Visionary award (2015) in recognition of her career contribution to Canadian palliative care practice, education, and research. After 35 years as a professor at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, she retired in 2015 and relocated to Ottawa to be with family. Mary Lou has been a volunteer with Compassionate Ottawa since 2016 where she works with multicultural communities to support developing community care networks.

Conversations with Leaders is proudly sponsored by Zapior Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities.

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Southeast Ottawa Community Health Centre
2024-05-22 12:30 - 14:00 | South East Ottawa Community Health Centre, 1355 Bank St #600, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8K7, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

** This workshop is offered in Arabic language

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Kanata Chinese Seniors
2024-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 | S.S. #1 Community Centre, 400 Goldridge Dr, Kanata, Ontario, K2T 1A8, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

** This workshop is offered with translation support

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Greystone Village
2024-06-05 13:30 - 15:00 | Greystone Village, 530 DeMazenod Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1S 1C4, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

REGISTER HERE

Grief and Bereavement Workshop - Kanata Chinese Seniors
2024-06-20 10:00 - 12:00 | S.S. #1 Community Centre, 400 Goldridge Dr, Kanata, Ontario, K2T 1A8, Canada
Grief can be complicated and challenging. It is experienced by everyone, regardless of age and many in our community still express that they are not comfortable addressing it. In particular, seniors and older adults can be acutely impacted by grief.
To help support you and your community, Compassionate Ottawa invites you to join a free in-person workshop. It will be hosted by our experienced and trained facilitators.
In this workshop, you will be guided through an interactive session by Compassionate Ottawa’s trained facilitators to increase your knowledge and comfort on the topic. You will also be provided with tools and techniques to have conversations with those around you experiencing grief to be able to better support them.
To register visit www.kcssc.org or call 613 440-3788 or e-mail: kcssc@kcssc.org

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Senior Centre Without Walls
2024-08-13 10:45 - 12:15 | Via Phone, Ontario, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

To register please call 343-600-7647 or email scww@thegoodcompanions.ca

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre
2024-11-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 3A7, Canada

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Primrose Family Health Clinic
2024-11-20 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-11-27 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-12-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Primrose Family Health Clinic, 35 Primrose Ave E, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 0A1, Canada

Grief and Bereavement Workshop - Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d’Ottawa
2024-11-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d’Ottawa, 3349 Navan Road, Orléans, Ontario, K1W 0K7, Canada
Grief can be complicated and challenging. It is experienced by everyone, regardless of age and many in our community still express that they are not comfortable addressing it. In particular, seniors and older adults can be acutely impacted by grief.
To help support you and your community, Compassionate Ottawa invites you to join a free in-person workshop. It will be hosted by our experienced and trained facilitators.
In this workshop, you will be guided through an interactive session by Compassionate Ottawa’s trained facilitators to increase your knowledge and comfort on the topic. You will also be provided with tools and techniques to have conversations with those around you experiencing grief to be able to better support them.

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
2024-11-26 17:00 - 18:30 | Ottawa Community Cancer Hub, 1500 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3Y9, Canada

Grief and Bereavement Workshop - Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
2024-12-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Ottawa Community Cancer Hub, 1500 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3Y9, Canada

Conversations with Leaders - Bridging the Grief Gap
2024-12-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This conversation, featuring Monica Patten, Chair of Compassionate Ottawa, and Paul Adams, Co-Chair of the Canadian Grief Alliance, will delve into the work of the Canadian Grief Alliance—a group of leading grief specialists and over 150 national and provincial organizations advocating for a proposal to address national gaps in grief services that leave many Canadians unsupported. Together, they will explore the consultations on grief undertaken by the Alliance, the insights gained, and their implications for building compassionate communities. There will be time for questions following the conversation.
REGISTER HEREClick the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Paul AdamsPaul Adams is co-chair of the Canadian Grief Alliance. He is an author, former professor of journalism at Carleton University, and a veteran of CBC and the Globe and Mail. He was the primary caregiver to his wife, Suzanne Szukits, a Canadian diplomat, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 at the age of 52. She died of the complications of metastatic breast cancer in September 2016. Since Suzanne’s death, Adams has written about palliative care in publications such as The Walrus, The Ottawa Citizen, Policy Options and Healthy Debate. He has served as a family representative on numerous advisory bodies on palliative and end-of-life issues. He was educated at the University of Manitoba, the University of Oxford and Columbia University and in addition to Carleton has taught at the University of Manitoba and Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.
Monica PattenMonica Patten is the Chair of Compassionate Ottawa. Her career included being Senior Vice President for United Way of Canada, followed by almost 20 years as President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, the national organization supporting local foundations across Canada. Throughout her career, Monica has remained an active community volunteer, especially committed to organizations serving women who live with poverty and in precarious housing. In 2013, Monica was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition for her tireless work to encourage volunteering and generosity. She believes her work with Compassionate Ottawa is a continuation of her commitment to helping build strong communities.

Advance Care Planning - Primrose Family Health Clinic
2024-12-09 14:00 - 15:30 | Primrose Family Health Clinic, 35 Primrose Ave E, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 0A1, Canada

Grief and Bereavement Workshop - Orleans United Church
2025-01-26 11:30 - 13:00 | Orleans United Church, 1111 Orléans Boulevard, Orleans, Ontario, K1C 7C8, Canada

Conversations with Leaders - Preparing for Unexpected Life Transitions
2025-02-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Marc Séguin, author of Advocacy in Aging, and Charles Barrett, Compassionate Ottawa Board member. Together, they will discuss the challenges and opportunities of planning for unexpected life transitions, from aging and reduced abilities to health events and illness. Drawing on real-life stories, Marc will share insights from his book, which outlines five essential pillars of planning: financial preparedness, powers of attorney, downsizing, living wills, and gradual transitions. The conversation will explore how to build a strong support team, ensure continuity in managing your affairs, and make certain that your values and wishes are respected as you age. There will be time for questions after the conversation.
Marc SéguinMarc Séguin is the author of Advocacy in Aging, a book about estate and healthcare planning for the living years. Marc has helped many families, including his own, plan for and deal with the inevitable changes associated with life transitions and aging. These experiences have enabled him to crystallize an approach, in everyday language, to maintaining continuity in financial affairs and personal care. Marc, a father of three, grandfather of two, is married to his wife of 38+ years. He is an avid skier and loves the outdoors.
Charles BarrettCharles Barrett is a retired economist, who was actively involved in policy dialogue in North America, and the Asia-Pacific region in international economic relations, human resources development and capacity building. He has broad research experience and has written extensively on Canadian and international policy issues. Charles volunteers as a Board member at Compassionate Ottawa.
REGISTER HERE
