The Lighthouse Beacon Podcast

Episode #17: A Multigenerational Perspective on the Impact of Genocide, Trauma, and Grief Within Armenia Peoples

On April 24th we commemorate a time of unspeakable horror, trauma, and grief, the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Joining us on this podcast is an individual with deep wisdom and insight into the multigenerational impact of such historical trauma and grief. Deacon Yervant shares his comprehensive knowledge and experience of Armenian traditions and customs, as relates to today's demographics of children, youth, and teens, within multigenerational family systems.

Join us for a wonderfully introspective podcast! 

Episode #16: Grief Dreams and Children’s Grief Support

Within the field of children's grief, the subject of diversity asks to be inclusive of the measures with which children, teens, youth, and their families are supported. One of those measures is the vast domain of 'Grief Dreams', or dreams of the deceased. Joining us on this podcast is a progressive and exceptionally knowledgeable academic who brings his doctoral research, as well as a deeply personal experience, to exploring how dreams of the deceased can help support the journey through the experience of grief. 

Join us for this fascinating and transformative subject! 

Episode #15: Children’s Grief Support for Individuals Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Clinical Perspective

The resource gaps within the sector of grief and bereavement support are extensive, and are typically dependent on geography, i.e. postal codes of service recipients. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the support of people living with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). Individuals living with such exceptionalities often fall through the cracks of supports, especially when it involves loss, including those that are death related. 

In this podcast we are joined by an exceptionally experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable team of clinicians,Tracey Human, Adrienne Carmichael, and Cara Grosset. Collectively the form the 'Intellectual and Developmental Disability Palliative Care Committee' in creating a great awareness surrounding the needs of such individuals, as well as the resources available. They also speak to the challenges of inappropriate referrals to children's grief supports due to an infantilization and marginalization of people living with IDD. 

This podcast is dedicated to Claire Staniforth, who suddenly and tragically died a few days before she was to join us to share her thoughts and insights. Her work within the IDD sector, and on the palliative care committee, was invaluable in its contribution. 

Join us to hear from these champions and leaders of their respective fields of service! 

Episode #14: Applying a Harm Reduction Paradigm to Children’s Grief Processes

In this episode we are joined by an individual who intimately shares their personal and professional experience of the death of a parent from suicide. Juno Zavitz's profound story through unimaginable grief and trauma. while engaging in drug use to cope and literally survive the loss, is one of immense awareness building of the importance of a Harm Reduction approach to children's grief.

Join us for this groundbreaking and exceptionally progressive podcast! 

Episode #13: A Family From Africa - A Journey of Profound Child Loss, Hope, and Healing

It goes without saying that the death of a child is one of the most traumatizing, challenging, and painful experiences imaginable. The ensuing grief and suffering often serves to break families apart and leave an indelible absence within a community. 

Joining us on this episode of the Lighthouse Beacon podcast is an African Canadian immigrated from Sierra Leone, a businessman, a community leader, and a bereaved father and husband. Edward intimately shares his, and his family's journey through the death and grief of their young daughter. With a depth of vulnerability, explains how culture and immigration impacted their story of hope, and healing, and what transpired after they attended the Lighthouse Peer Supported Children's Grief Support programming.

Join us for a deeply intimate podcast with an individual who can speak as a service recipient, and an invaluable member of our organization!

Episode #12: Children, Youth, and Teens’ Grief Through the Lens of Poverty

The marginalization experienced by children living in poverty is immeasurable. Coupled with a death related loss, this double vulnerability often leads to a loss of hope, and coping mechanisms that further alienates and isolates such children. 

In this episode we are joined by the inimitable Asante Haughton as he shares his life story out of poverty and discrimination. His deep wisdom reflects on the power of love, presence, and truly listening to children, youth, and teens growing up in poverty while experiencing grief due to a death related loss. 

Join us for a deeply reflective and inspiring podcast!

 

Episode #11: Inequitable Access to Grief Support for Children/Youth/Teens with Down Syndrome

People with Down Syndrome are valued members of our communities. However, they are often marginalized in accessibility to supportive social services. In this episode Nancy Howson, Community Relations Director for the Down Syndrome Society of York Region, joins us to share her insights and experiences on how to break down barriers for people living with Down Syndrome. We discuss the inequitable access to grief support for children, youth and teens living with Down Syndrome, and how more inclusive and informed models could be implemented. Nancy also graciously shares her knowledge on how people with Down Syndrome may grieve or express their state of bereavement, and how grief support can be individualized and tailored to meet their unique needs.

Join us for an engaging and educational session! 

Episode #10: Exploring Inequitable Access to Children’s Grief Support During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has served to highlight and exacerbate the lack of accessibility to Children’s Grief Support. COVID-19 has also disproportionality affected marginalized and racialized communities. In this episode we have the privilege of hearing from a very well-respected professional in the field of children’s grief, Andrea Warnick, as she graciously shares her extensive knowledge and counsel. Andrea speaks to the creative measures she utilizes to support children, youth, and teens through their experiences of loss and grieving. In addition, she brings a greater awareness and understanding to the application of a Culturally Humble approach in the provision of grief support to the diverse populations hosted within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario.

Join us for an exceptional episode!

Episode #9: Supporting Children’s Grief Through Mindfulness, Compassionate Care, and Buddhist Philosophy

In this episode we are joined by Andrew Blake, Director of Program Development at the Sarana Institute, who shares his own firsthand experiences with a death related loss in his childhood. As an ordained Buddhist Chaplain, as well as a counselling psychotherapist, and educator on mindfulness meditation, Andrew speaks when he was a young child how the death of his father influenced and shaped his journey into his present-day life and work. Andrews brings a unique perspective on the importance of diversifying the supports available to children and youth who are grieving, as well as educating those professionals who are providing the support.

Join us for an enlightening and intimate discussion with Andrew!

Episode #8: Barriers to Children’s Grief Within Large Urban Centres

With the COVID-19 pandemic still upon us and schools closed with children engaging in online learning, it is assumed that this is an accessible way to continue the learning. Unfortunately this model does not take into account the accessibility challenges with ‘online learning’ for many children and families within the Greater Toronto Area. These issues with accessibility extend to children’s grief support programs that have also resorted to online formats. This has further challenged those demographics of peoples seeking support who do not have the space, technology, privacy, or cultural appropriateness to align with this medium of support.

Joining us in this episode is Tory Hagerman of Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto, who speaks to such challenges within a large urban centre such as Toronto, as well as possible solutions in an effort to adapt and be more accessible to the diversity of peoples within its catchments. 

 

Join us for an informative and enlightening episode!