The Compassionate Friends – Annual General Meeting – June 5th

(This message originally distributed May 9th 2012)

Hi everyone:

A reminder that our AGM #13 will be held on Tuesday June 5th at The Olde Forge starting at 6:30pm. This is not a Sharing Circle but an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes and perhaps contribute your time and talents to help other parents on their grief journey.

Several positions are up for bi-annual election, including Chapter Leader, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications, as well as volunteers to assist with planning events such as the annual Candle Lighting Celebration.

We hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Andy Bond
The Compassionate Friends, Ottawa Chapter
www.tcfottawa.net
Kevin’s Dad

The Compassionate Friends – Upcoming Events

(This message was originally distributed on April 7th, 2012)

Hi everyone:

Spring is definitely here and the longer, brighter days help to lift our spirits as we see new life returning around us. Please note the following events in your calendar.

1. Sharing Circles – 3rd Tuesday

Our regular monthly meetings continue on the third Tuesday of each month from 7pm to 9pm at The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, 2730 Richmond Road (at Carling Avenue). The next meetings will be on April 17th, May 15th and June 19th and will continue through the summer. Detailed directions and a map are on our website www.tcfottawa.net.

2. The Butterfly Garden Spring Clean-up – May

We are planning to spring clean in May, date to be confirmed. If you are interested in helping, please reply to this e-mail or call 613-692-4521. This is a great opportunity to get your “green thumb” back in shape with some light outdoor work and as well as a pleasant social activity.

3. Annual General Meeting – June 5th

Our AGM #13 will be held on Tuesday, June 5th at 6:30pm at The Olde Forge. All parents are welcome to come and see what happens “behind the scenes” and perhaps offer your own talents and expertise to help others in need.

4. Balloon Release – June 16th

The annual Balloon Release in cooperation with CHEO will take place at 2pm on Saturday June 16th at The Butterfly Garden (on the CHEO campus). All family and friends are welcome to join in remembering those children who have left us to soon. Balloons will be provided.

5. Summer Pot Luck Social – July 7th

Eileen and I will be hosting our annual get-together on Saturday July 7th starting at 4:30pm. We will send a reminder nearer the date.

Best wishes,

Andy Bond
The Compassionate Friends, Ottawa Chapter
www.tcfottawa.net
Kevin’s Dad

Balloon Release, Saturday, June 16

The annual Balloon Release in cooperation with CHEO will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 16th, at The Butterfly Garden (on the CHEO grounds). All family and friends are welcome to join in remembering those children who have left us too soon.  Balloons will be provided.

The Butterfly Garden is easy to find. It is on the east side of the CHEO building, not far from the entrance to the CHEO Emergency Department.

Please visit our web pages – The Butterfly Garden or Balloon Release – for additional information.

 

Weekend Retreat for Bereaved Mothers

Some of you may be interested in this weekend retreat being offered by Facilitator/Hostess Kimberly Ryan:

Weekend Retreat for Bereaved Mothers
April 27-29, 2012
at the
Lynedoch Lyceum Retreat, B&B and Special Events Centre
295 Charlton Street, R.R. #1, Delhi, ON N4B 2W4

Kimberly says “This retreat is a beginning to take care of ourselves by learning new ways to nurture our health and well being. It is also a time to be with other mothers whose child has died.  I have set the intention for the weekend as a time for healing and nurturing as we continue on the journey of grieving.  Family and friends do their best to be helpful and supportive, but there is something to be said about being with other mothers who have suffered such a blow and are doing their best to live through the unimaginable, the death of their child.  It is my hope that the time spent together will not only be a ‘respite’ to nurture our spirits but also a beginning step to taking care of ourselves each and every day and especially on those difficult days that we know lie ahead.”

For further information, contact:
Kimberly Ryan, Facilitator/Hostess, BA, RSSW
email: kryan4relaxation@yahoo.ca

www.lynedochlyceum.com

The Compassionate Friends – Updates and Reminders

The clocks have gone back and the evenings are drawing in but our activities continue on schedule. Please mark your calendars and we hope you will plan to join us.

1. Sharing Circles
Our regular meetings continue to be held from 7pm to 9pm on the third Tuesday if every month year round. We meet at The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, 2730 Carling Avenue (at Richmond Road). The next meetings will be on November 15th, December 20th, January 17th and February 21st. For directions and a map, please visit our website at www.tcfottawa.net and select “Monthly Meetings”.

2. Grandparent’s Group
The Grandparent’s Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at St Matthew’s Anglican Church, 217 First Avenue in the Glebe. The next meeting is December 1st. For more information, or if you would like to help with this group, please contact Barry at nomad54@gmail.com

3. Worldwide Candle Lighting Celebration
Once again, we will be remembering our children who left us too soon with our annual Candle Lighting Celebration on Sunday December 11th at at St Pauls Presbyterian Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue. Please bring a picture of your child for the photo table and arrive by 6:45pm for a prompt 7:00pm start. All family and friends are welcome to attend. Please forward the attached poster to anyone you feel may like to join us, or print and post it in your workplace, doctors office, community centre or place of worship. For more information, please contact Marlene at cameronm@xplornet.com, or Janice at nomad54@gmail.com

4. Weekend Retreat for Bereaved Mothers
Kimberly Ryan has provided information on a weekend retreat to be held November 25th, 26th and 27th at the Lynedoch Lyceum Retreat in Delphi Ontario. For details, please contact Kimberly at 519-582-8679, www.lynedochlyceum.com or kryan4relaxation@yahoo.ca.

5. Chapter Website
Our Chapter website now includes some audio elements. Please update your favourite bookmarks and let us know if there is any information or feature that you would like to see on the website. Also, look for us on Facebook as “The Compassionate Friends Ottawa Chapter”.

Best wishes,

Andy Bond
The Compassionate Friends, Ottawa Chapter
www.tcfottawa.net
Kevin’s Dad

The Compassionate Friends – Updates and Reminders

Hello everyone:

The warm fall weather can still lift our spirits even as the days grow shorter. Here are some events to mark on your calendar.

1. Sharing Circles

Our monthly meetings continue year-round on the third Tuesday of every month from 7pm to 9pm at The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, Carling Avenue at Richmond Road. The next meetings will be on September 20th, October 17th, November 15th and December 19th. Please visit our website (www.tcfottawa.net) for directions and a map.

2. Grandparent’s Support Group

The next meeting of the Grandparent’s Group will be on Thursday, October 6th from 7pm to 9pm at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, 217 First Avenue in the Glebe. Due to roadwork on Bank Street, access to First Avenue is from Lyon Street. For more information, please contact Barry at nomad54@gmail.com.

3. Visitors from Australia

We will be hosting John Bradley and Sandra Green from TCF Victoria for a pot luck supper at Eileen and Andy’s house on Saturday, September 24th starting at 5pm. They have each lost a child to suicide, and recently posted a video to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day in which John is a featured speaker. We hope that you will join us to share experiences and ideas from our two groups. Please RSVP so we can coordinate dishes.

Here is the link to the video: http://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/pieces_video.htm

4. World-wide Candle Lighting Celebration

Please mark your calendar for our annual celebration which will take place on Sunday, December 11th starting at 7pm at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue. All family and friends are welcome to attend. Please forward the attached poster to anyone you feel may like to join us, or print and post it in your workplace, doctor’s office, community centre or place of worship. More details will be forwarded nearer the date.

5. New website / Facebook page

Our team has been working on a new look for our Chapter website which will be launched in the next couple of weeks. We would appreciate your feedback and suggestions for information or features that you would like to see on this site. And don’t forget to visit us on Facebook (“The Compassionate Friends, Ottawa Chapter”) and include yourself in our growing list of friends.

Best wishes,

Andy Bond
The Compassionate Friends, Ottawa Chapter
www.tcfottawa.net
Kevin’s Dad

Candle Lighting Poster 2011.pdf