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HOSPICE RENFREW INC.

Hospice Renfrew Inc. provides compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement support, helping individuals and families navigate grief and loss with dignity, empathy, and understanding through education, workshops, and community outreach.

Books, Brews &amp; Bereavement 📚☕ join us for coffee, tea, baked treats and good conversation as local author Jackie Lee Agnew discusses her book&nbsp;Ashes, Grace and the Women I Became: A Guide to Healing from Trauma and Grief. Jackie Lee Agnew is a mother, grandmother, and devoted community volunteer from Eastern Ontario.Shaped by profond personal loss and an unwavering determination to heal, Jackie writes with honesty, compassion, and a heart for those navigating their own dark seasons. Her journey has made her a gentle source of strength within her community and an authentic voice for anyone learning to rebuild a life they never expected to live. Jackie also works as a life celebrant and loves helping others craft beautiful ceremonies to celebrate significant milestones and loved ones. &nbsp; Together, we&rsquo;ll explore grief, connection, and hope, supported by Hospice Renfrew&rsquo;s commitment to care, comfort, and compassion. Please use this form to register so we can welcome you comfortably.

Books, Brews & Bereavement

<p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:justify;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit">Hospice Renfrew invites you to an evening where David Kennedy will lead the talk about what we don’t like to talk about!- GRIEF!- Why does it hurt so much and why does it last so long! <p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:justify;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit">Guest Speaker: David Kennedy will explore and explain why grief happens and the need to see grief as a normal healthy response to loss. This will be a practical seminar for both grievers and those who are connected to grievers and want to understand how best to be there with them. Grief and loss are inevitable parts of life, and what you are experiencing normal. Becoming more informed will help you feel less confused and alone. Come, join us for this important event.<p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:justify;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit"> David Kennedy lives in Peterborough Ont. He is an accomplished facilitator and presenter who brings a wonderful combination of theory, skilled knowledge and life experience. David has worked professionally in various fields including Health Care, Education, Grief Counselling and Hospice. David served for 16 years as faculty for the Canadian Centre for Bereavement Education and Counselling as part of programs offered by the University of Toronto and taught several courses including:  Cultural, Philosophical and Spiritual Issues in Death and Dying, Complicated Grief, and Special Losses.  In 2008, after being in private practice for several years, David joined Hospice Peterborough as Bereavement Coordinator to develop and supervise the Grief programing. In 2018 David joined the Palliative Care Community Team at Hospice Peterborough as a Supportive Care Counsellor and provided support for those actively dying and their families both in the community as well as in the 10 bed Hospice Care Center in Peterborough. In 2021 David retired from Hospice and offers seminars and education in grief and dying along with being a co-host of the successful podcast What Now: On the Threshold of Life Death and Grief.

Grief Out Loud - Why Does It Hurt So Much

<span fr-original-style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Loss is a guarantee for all of us. Part of being human involves living through loss. Sometimes those losses involve things we have time to prepare for, but sometimes losses come suddenly and accompanied with trauma. &nbsp;Here we find the challenge of not only trying to work through and understand the grief but trying to do this with trauma present. This seminar is meant to assist those working with individuals who have experienced traumatic grief. How do we understand the differences of traumatic grief and where do we begin to offer support. Far too often, trauma and grief, are looked at independently, however new research has helped traumatic grievers find ways to work through both in integrated ways. &nbsp; <p fr-original-style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.2em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;' style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.2em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; width: 100%;'><span fr-original-style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong fr-original-style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font-weight: 700;" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font-weight: 700;"><em fr-original-style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font-style: italic;" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font-style: italic;">David Kennedy is an accomplished facilitator and presenter who brings a wonderful combination of theory, skilled knowledge and life experience. David has worked professionally in various fields including Health Care, Education, Grief Counselling and Hospice.&nbsp;

Where Trauma and Grief Meet

&nbsp;This workshop is designed to equip professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to support individuals who have experienced grief and traumatic grief. Attendees will leave equipped with practical skills to assist those in need and foster resilience in the face of profound loss.Traumatic grief combines the intense sorrow of loss with the distress of trauma, making it a complex challenge to navigate. The workshop will also cover the importance of empathy, active listening, and creating a safe space for individuals to express their emotions.Loss is a guarantee for all of us. Part of being human involves living through loss. Sometimes those losses involve things we have time to prepare for, but sometimes losses come suddenly and accompanied with trauma. &nbsp;Here we find the challenge of not only trying to work through and understand the grief but trying to do this with trauma present.&nbsp;How do we understand the differences of traumatic grief and where do we begin to offer support. Far too often, trauma and grief, are looked at independently, however new research has helped traumatic grievers find ways to work through both in integrated ways. &nbsp; David Kennedy&nbsp;lives in Peterborough Ont. He is an accomplished facilitator and presenter who brings a wonderful combination of theory, skilled knowledge and life experience. David has worked professionally in various fields including Health Care, Education, Grief Counselling and Hospice. David served for 16 years as faculty for the Canadian Centre for Bereavement Education and Counselling as part of programs offered by the University of Toronto and taught several courses including: &nbsp;Cultural, Philosophical and Spiritual Issues in Death and Dying, Complicated Grief, and Special Losses.&nbsp; In 2008, after being in private practice for several years, David joined Hospice Peterborough as Bereavement Coordinator to develop and supervise the Grief programing. In 2018 David joined the Palliative Care Community Team at Hospice Peterborough as a Supportive Care Counsellor and provided support for those actively dying and their families both in the community as well as in the 10 bed Hospice Care Center in Peterborough. In 2021 David retired from Hospice and offers seminars and education in grief and dying along with being a co-host of the successful podcast&nbsp;What Now: On the Threshold of Life Death and Grief. &nbsp;

Where Trauma & Grief Meet

🌟 Annual Hike for Hospice Renfrew - Sunday, May 3rd rain or shine🌟Our annual hike is a major fundraiser for Hospice Renfrew, and it is a wonderful opportunity to bring together hundreds of like-minded people, individuals who appreciate why Hospice Renfrew was established: to provide Care, Comfort and Compassion to those who are nearing their end-of-life journey.New and returning teams made up of family and friends walking in memory of a loved one are welcomed each year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🌟 Annual Hike for Hospice Renfrew - Sunday, May 3rd rain or shine🌟Our annual hike is a major fundraiser for Hospice Renfrew, and it is a wonderful opportunity to bring together hundreds of like-minded people, individuals who appreciate why Hospice Renfrew was established: to provide Care, Comfort and Compassion to those who are nearing their end-of-life journey.New and returning teams made up of family and friends walking in memory of a loved one are welcomed each year.

Annual Hike for Hospice Renfrew

Handbags for Hospice brings our community together to support compassionate, end-of-life care at Hospice Renfrew 👜. Your participation helps ensure individuals and families receive comfort, dignity, and personalized care when they need it most. Every ticket, bid, and donation directly supports our hospice programs and grief support services. Thank you for standing with Hospice Renfrew and the families we walk alongside 🌟.

Handbags for Hospice

Join Hospice Renfrew for a special community gathering in recognition of National Grief &amp; Bereavement Day 2026.&nbsp;Featuring bestselling author and speaker Yvonne Heath, whose inspiring message reminds us that we don&#39;t need perfect words&mdash;we simply need to Just Show Up.Following the presentation, guests are invited to enjoy a candlelit walk through our hospice gardens, where a pathway of glowing ice lanterns will light the way to the hospice Wind Phone, providing a space to remember, reflect, and honour those we love.Attendees will enjoy refreshments, a complimentary dessert charcuterie box and be invited to light a candle in honour of a loved one.Event is free but spaces are limited, reserve your seat today!

Shine a Light on Grief Support - An Evening of Contemplation, Connection & Remembrance

Hospice Renfrew invites you to join us for a gentle and supportive grief workshop, Navigating the Holidays.&nbsp;Together, we will explore why the holidays can be particularly challenging when we are grieving, ways to navigate difficult emotions and unexpected grief triggers, and the importance of offering ourselves compassion, understanding, and permission to experience the season in our own way.We will begin our time together with a meaningful ritual of remembrance, creating space to honour and remember the special people we carry in our hearts. Following the workshop, guests are warmly invited to stay and enjoy a light lunch together.We welcome you to join us, just as you are.

HOSPICE RENFREW INC.

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Handbags for Hospice

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Shine a Light on Grief Support - An Evening of Contemplation, Connection & Remembrance

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Navigating The Holidays

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Annual Hike for Hospice Renfrew

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