When: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Where: Western Research Park – 999 Collip Circle, London, ON
Time: Start at 09:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
The Ontario Association for Grief, Bereavement and Loss is a community-focused organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating grief, loss, caregiving, and life transitions.
We recognize that grief is not one-size-fits-all. It can follow the loss of a loved one, a change in health, a shift in identity, or the quiet unraveling of the life we once knew. Our work is rooted in the understanding that no one should have to navigate these experiences alone.
Our current focus is on reaching those who cannot access traditional supports bringing compassionate, peer-based connection directly into the community through in home visits for caregivers and individuals facing life-altering circumstances.
Alongside this, we are committed to developing accessible education and resources that help individuals, families, and communities better understand and respond to grief. Through workshops, training, and shared knowledge, we aim to gently shift the way grief is understood and supported.
As we grow, we hope to expand our offerings to include the Porchlight Program an after-hours support initiative designed to provide connection during the times grief can feel the heaviest. With sustainable funding, this program will offer a steady, compassionate presence for those navigating the long nights.
At every stage, our goal remains the same: to meet people where they are, with care, understanding, and the reminder that they are not alone.
The Exhibition is a free, public, daytime event focused on education, awareness, support of aging adults, caregivers, families and professionals. This event brings together over 20 guest speakers & community vendors and door prizes.
When: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Where: Western Research Park – 999 Collip Circle, London, ON
Time: Start at 09:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hosted by This Thing Called Grief
For more information, please reach out to
Kim Vander Schelde - thisthingcalledgrief@gmail.com
Roberta MacNeil - care@tvcs.ca (Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc.)
It is believed that within the next five years, nearly 23% of London’s population will be made up of seniors.
This isn’t a distant reality it’s one that is already beginning to shape our community.
So what does this mean for all of us?
• It means increased pressure on our healthcare system.
• It means more families stepping into caregiving roles often unexpectedly.
• It means greater demand for housing, support services, and end-of-life care.
• And it means more individuals facing important decisions without always having the information or guidance they need.
But perhaps most importantly it means that conversations we’ve long avoided can no longer wait.
This is where the Aging With Autonomy Exhibition comes in.
This exhibition is not just an event—it is a proactive response to a growing need within our community.
By bringing together trusted professionals, resources, and services all in one space, we are creating an opportunity for individuals and families to become informed, ask questions, and begin planning on their own terms.
It allows people to:
• Understand what options exist before they are in crisis
• Have meaningful conversations with loved ones
• Make decisions that reflect their values, wishes, and dignity
• Feel less alone in navigating the realities of aging
For caregivers, it offers guidance and support in roles they may not have chosen, but carry with deep love.
For seniors, it reinforces something incredibly important, that their voice matters, their choices matter, and their autonomy matters.
As our community changes, we have a responsibility to change with it thoughtfully, compassionately, and proactively.
The Aging With Autonomy Exhibition is one way we begin that shift.
Because aging is inevitable…
but how we experience it and how we support one another through it is something we can shape together.
Porchlight is an evening and overnight peer support initiative currently in its foundational phase through the establishment of the This Thing Called Grief Foundation. The program is designed to provide accessible, non-clinical support to individuals navigating grief, anticipatory loss, caregiving strain, and significant life transitions during hours when traditional services are often unavailable.
In addition to after-hours support, Porchlight includes a rural outreach component that aims to connect trained volunteers with elderly caregivers who are unable to leave their homes due to caregiving responsibilities. These visits will offer compassionate presence, grief-informed listening, and connection to resources when requested, helping reduce isolation and supporting caregivers experiencing ongoing and anticipatory loss.
Net proceeds from Aging with Autonomy, after event expenses are paid, along with any additional voluntary donations, will support the launch and infrastructure of the Porchlight initiative through the establishment of the Ontario Association For Grief, Bereavement and Loss.
