Victoria Hospice

Cultural Humility at the End of Life Program - Online Modules
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-06 | British Columbia
Although death and dying is a universal part of life, the ways people understand and respond to these experiences are shaped by the attitudes and beliefs of their particular ethnicity and culture. This blended course is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of volunteers and staff (nurses, physicians, social workers, counsellors, health care aides) who care for diverse people with life-limiting illnesses.

Participants will learn about the role of cultural humility in palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care through to bereavement. They’ll learn to facilitate culturally safe strategies for establishing partnerships and shared decision-making, and how to apply the life-long self-reflective practice of cultural humility throughout both their personal and professional lives.

Through cohort-based learning, attendees will be able to enhance their interdisciplinary collaborative practice skills and develop new interprofessional relationships that support the delivery of culturally safe care. The course consists of 11 online modules over a period of six weeks, followed by a 1.5 hour live, synchronous session.

Course content includes an introduction to:

culture, identity, and worldviews
various theories on culture
social determinants of health, structural determinants of health and intersectionality
power dynamics and privilege
race, racism, and anti-racism
care and communication approaches

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Identify and discuss implicit biases and preferences at an individual/group/organization level that may negatively impact practice
Apply current approaches and tools to continually improve future culturally safe care at end of life
Apply the lens of intersectionality, power dynamics and social determinants of health to challenge societal inequities
Identify communication issues/challenges and barriers that are faced by diverse patients, families and the care team
Identify and acknowledge how social and historical contexts can impact diverse people in the provision of care with an understanding that groups are nonhomogeneous, and identities are intersectional and shaped by gender, sexual orientation, race, ability, housing, class, education, language, immigration status and other identities.
Construct a personal repository of available services and resources to support the continuity of culturally appropriate care

Exploring Grief through Creativity: Celebrate a Life theme (morning workshop)
2022-08-23 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver)
A creative workshop from Victoria Hospice Bereavement Services provides a supportive way for people in bereavement to explore their experiences of grief through various art media.

Exploring Grief through Creativity workshops are open to anyone who is grieving and may be inspired by art and creativity. No art experience is required, just a willingness to try something creative.

Facilitated by a Victoria Hospice Bereavement Counsellor with Expressive Arts training, the workshops include mixed media art techniques, creative exploration, guided visualization, personal reflection, and optional group sharing.

When: Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 9 am – 12 pm

Where: In-person, with COVID-19 protocols in place, at the Victoria Hospice Community Support Centre located at 102-4450 Chatterton Way.

Cost: The workshop fee of $20 and includes all materials. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; bursaries are available.

Registration: Please register no later than one week before the workshop date by contacting Bereavement Services at Hospice.Bereavement@islandhealth.ca or 250-519-3040.

Room to Grieve, Space to Heal Support Group
2022-08-11 - 2022-09-22
In response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis in our communities, we are offering a 7-week support group for adults who are grieving someone who has died by a toxic drug death.

Facilitated by a bereavement counsellor, the group incorporates grief education, sharing and support, therapeutic activities and exploration. The group aims to enhance one’s sense of community and belonging, explore unique features of grief in response to a substance-related death, and support the healing process of grief.

Location: We will meet in a quiet outdoor area close to the Victoria Hospice Community Support Centre, weather permitting. If the weather is poor on any group date, the group will meet virtually via Zoom. (If unfamiliar with using Zoom, our staff can assist you to become comfortable with this technology.)

Runs 4:30-6:30 pm from Wednesday, August 11 to Wednesday, September 22. Runs every Wednesday except the week of Aug 29-Sept 3 will be on Thursday, September 2.

Group Size: Limited number of participants to enhance comfort. (Commitment to attend all sessions enhances the value of the group experience.)

Fee: $120 (A limited number of bursaries is available. Please speak to us if the fee is a barrier to your participation.)

To register or to obtain more information: Please call 250-519-3040 or email Hospice.Bereavement@viha.ca

** A pre-group interview with a counsellor is required to discuss your needs, answer any questions you may have, and determine whether the group is a good fit for you at this time.

If you have further questions, please call Bereavement Services at 250-519-3040 or email Hospice.Bereavement@viha.ca

Exploring Grief through Creativity Workshop: Self Care Theme
2022-07-26 13:00 - 16:00
A new workshop from Victoria Hospice Bereavement Services provides a supportive, creative way for people in bereavement to explore their experiences of grief through various art media.

Exploring Grief through Creativity workshops are open to anyone who is grieving and may be inspired by art and creativity. No art experience is required, just a willingness to try something creative.

Facilitated by a Victoria Hospice Bereavement Counsellor with Expressive Arts training, the workshops include mixed media art techniques, creative exploration, guided visualization, personal reflection, and optional group sharing.

When: Tuesday July 26, 2022, 1 – 4 pm

Where: In-person, with COVID-19 protocols in place, at the Victoria Hospice Community Support Centre located at 102-4450 Chatterton Way.

Cost: The workshop fee of $30 and includes all materials. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; bursaries are available.

Registration: Please register no later than one week before the workshop date by contacting Bereavement Services at Hospice.Bereavement@islandhealth.ca or 250-519-3040.

Jaguars On The Island
2022-07-23 09:00 - 15:00
Victoria Hospice volunteer Olga at the 2019 event

The 17th Annual Jaguars On The Island returns to an in-person event at Windsor Park in Oak Bay Saturday, July 23 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Hosted by the Jaguar Car Club of Victoria, it is the largest Jaguar car show in North America. Event proceeds support Victoria Hospice. We are so grateful to be their charity-of-choice.

Make a donation today to support their fundraising efforts!

Victoria Hospice is looking for volunteers to assist us on the day of the event from either 8:30 AM – 12:15 PM or 12:15 – 3:30 PM. If you’re interested in volunteering for the Jaguar’s On The Island event, please contact Raisa Frenette rfrenette@victoriahospice.org or 250-519-1744.

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Summer Journal Group (online)
2022-07-22 - 2022-09-02
July 22 – Sept 2 – Fridays from 10am – 12pm

Did you know that the writing process, specifically journaling, can be a very effective tool for working through grief? This Summer Journal Group is a 7-week support group focused on bereavement following the death of a loved one, facilitated by a Victoria Hospice Bereavement Counsellor.

If you are someone who is grieving and you have an interest in learning more about journal writing, you may be interested in our Summer Journal Group. We provide a safe space for participants to access and explore their experience with grief. No writing experience is required to participate – just an interest in writing.

When: Fridays, July 22 to Sept 2 inclusive, from 10am – 12pm (the first week will run until 12:15pm)Where: On ZoomCost: $140 for 7 sessions. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; bursaries are available.

Registration: There is a limited number of participants. Please register no later than July 15 at noon to reserve your spot. A commitment to attend all the sessions will enhance the value gained from the group. Register by emailing Hospice.Bereavement@islandhealth.ca or calling 250-519-3040.

Living with Grief: Adjusting to Life After Loss (online)
2022-07-20 16:30 - 18:30
Have you recently lost someone important to you? Are you surprised by your grief and wondering what is normal and how best to cope? This free one-time interactive online workshop, developed by the grief counsellors at Victoria Hospice, will help you understand your grief. The workshop encourages sharing from participants while learning about different ideas around grief and mourning.

Join us as we:

• Share and support one another in your grieving experiences

• Explore the many ways that grief can impact our lives

• Explain how grieving naturally works to help us live with our losses

• Identify ways to support healthy adjustment to loss

Where: Online using Zoom platform (must have access to a device that can have a Zoom account and has a microphone and camera).

When: Wednesday, July 20th from 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Who: Limited number of registered participants who are bereaved following the loss of a loved one.

Register: Use this Eventbrite link or contact us at Hospice.Bereavement@islandhealth.ca or call 250-519-3040.

Thanks to generous donations from our community, we are pleased to offer this workshop free of charge.

Cycle of Life Tour 2022
2022-07-16 - 2022-07-17
The Cycle of Life Tour returns in-person July 16-17 to support hospices on Vancouver Island.

It’s an epic two-day cycling tour of the South Island with an overnight stay on Salt Spring Island, and an incredible demonstration of commitment to the cause of compassionate end-of-life care by riders, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers.

Teams and individual riders train and fundraise for months in advance of the event to support their local hospice. Show the riders your support – and support hospice care – by making a donation on their fundraising page.

Cycle of Life Tour riders represent nine hospices across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Teams and individual riders supporting Victoria Hospice are:

Acacia Health Krebs Cyclers

Arun Vadhavooran

Breaking Wind

Country Grocer Spinners

Dignity Memorial

Kicking Ashphalt

Kurien Samuel

Matt Williams

Saibishkumar Elantholi Parameswaran

The Q and Zone

Them Thinkers for Hospice

Victoria Hospice Handlebars

Huge thanks to all the riders, sponsors, and supporters! Learn more about the Cycle of Life Tour.

Silk Art by Irm Houle at Esquimalt Gallery Splash
2022-05-31 - 2022-07-05
Artist Irm Houle brings her silk paintings to the Esquimalt Township Community Arts Council’s Gallery Splash event in support of Victoria Hospice May 31-July 5, 2022.

Previously a watercolour artist, Irm Houle has been creating silk paintings for nearly 40 years.

“I look at the beauty of nature that surrounds us on our lovely island,” she says “I am inspired by the hummingbird that comes to my feeder, by the flowers and trees and the ocean that I observe on my morning walks, by the smiles on people’s faces when we greet each other. We have so much to be thankful for! Life is good and beautiful! Let’s enjoy each moment!”

The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 4:30 pm. You can meet the artist on Saturday, July 2 from 2 to 4 pm.

100% of sale proceeds will be donated by the artist to Victoria Hospice.
