Advance Care Planning Workshop - Southeast Ottawa Community Health Centre
2024-05-22 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | 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
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!

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

Conversations with Leaders - Bridging the Gap in Palliative Care for Francophones
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Benoît Hubert, Chair of the Board of Hospice Care Ottawa, and Marc Séguin, Compassionate Ottawa volunteer. Together, they will explore the need for palliative care services for Francophones in the Ottawa region, discussing the current gaps in services and the importance of ensuring equitable access. The discussion will be conducted in French, and there will be time for questions following the conversation.
Benoît Hubert
Benoît Hubert has led PGF Consultants since 2013, specializing in strategic planning, facilitation, and capacity-building. With over 20 years of experience, he has supported organizations in Canada and internationally, including in West and Central Africa. A certified facilitator, he emphasizes effective dialogue and strategic questioning.
Benoît has worked with governments at all levels and holds degrees from the University of Ottawa and the University of Sussex. He is Chair of Hospice Care Ottawa and has served on the boards of Montfort Hospital, the University of Ottawa, and various francophone organizations.
Marc Séguin
Marc 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.
REGISTER HERE**Conversation offered in French only

Conversations with Leaders – The Power of Community Connection
2025-05-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Dr. Julian Abel, palliative care physician and international leader in the compassionate communities movement, and Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, Canadian researcher, advocate for community-based approaches to aging and end-of-life care, and a dedicated Compassionate Ottawa volunteer. Together, they will explore Talk, Learn, Connect (TLC)—a community connector program developed in the UK that helps strengthen neighbourhood relationships and support people through life’s challenges.
The conversation will highlight how this grassroots initiative enables more social connection, cultivates mutual support, and builds compassionate communities from the ground up. Julian will share insights from the UK experience, and Mary Lou will reflect on how the model could be adapted and implemented in Canada. There will be time for questions after the conversation.
Dr. Julian AbelJulian Abel is a physician and international lead in the field of compassionate communities and palliative care. He is the Director of Compassionate Communities UK, which is a charity that was formed to develop the broader roll out of compassionate communities in both primary care and end of life care. For the past several years, Julian has been working with Frome Medical Practice in Somerset, and advising many other communities around the world about developing a new model of primary care combined with compassionate communities.
Dr. Mary Lou KelleyDr. Mary 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.
REGISTER HERE

Advance Care Planning Workshop - African Caribbean Black
2025-05-28 13:00 - 14:30 | African, Caribbean & Black Wellness Resource Centre, 610 Donald Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 1L4, Canada

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Bayshore Hub
2025-06-03 10:00 - 11:30 | Bayshore Community Building, 175 Woodridge Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, K2B 7T2, Canada

Conversations with Leaders – Working Together in Palliative Care
2025-11-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation with Dr. Hsien Seow and Dr. Samantha Winemaker, co-hosts of The Waiting Room Revolution podcast and authors of the book Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest. In discussion with Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, Compassionate Ottawa volunteer, we will hear Dr. Seow and Dr. Winemaker’s real-life stories, their 7 keys for navigating a serious illness, how patients and their caregivers can be hopeful and prepared at every step of their journey, and how much it matters that we all work together.
Dr. Hsien Seow Dr. Hsien Seow is the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation and a Professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He publishes health care research focused on improving the patient and family experience for those facing serious illness. He is the co-author of The Tao of Innovation: Nine Questions Every Innovator Must Answer.
Dr. Samantha Winemaker Dr. Samantha Winemaker is a palliative care physician who cares for patients with serious illness and their families in the home. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Family Medicine, Division of Palliative Care. She has won numerous awards for her leadership and contributions to palliative care education for health care professionals.
Dr. Mary Lou Kelley Dr. Mary Lou Kelley is a Social Worker, and was engaged in practice, teaching, and research in gerontology and palliative care at Lakehead University for 35 years. 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. She has been volunteering with Compassionate Ottawa since 2018.
REGISTER HERE

Conversations With Leaders: Rites of Passage: Changing Ways of Marking Death and Dying in Our Communities
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
Conversations about death and dying are shaped by faith, culture, and community – and they are changing. In this live Conversations with Leaders event, we bring together voices from diverse religious traditions and the funeral profession to reflect on how end-of-life rites, practices, and attitudes have evolved in recent years. Speakers will explore the impacts of COVID-19, shifting family and community structures, and emerging conversations. Together, they will reflect on how communities mark the end of life, care for one another in times of loss, and seek meaning, dignity, and connection in the face of death.
The Rev. Canon Gary van der MeerInterfaith Officer, Anglican Diocese of OttawaRabbi Daniel MikelbergTemple Israel OttawaImam Sikander HashmiCanadian Council of ImamsNicholas BrownFuneral Home Manager, Capital Funeral Home & CemeteryCharles BarrettDirector, Compassionate OttawaREGISTER HERE
