The Lighthouse Beacon Podcast

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! 

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!

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!

 

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! 

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!

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!

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! 

A tragic element of the history of Canada is the systemic neglect of Indigenous, Metis, First Nation, and Inuit peoples. This traumatic truth has been painfully exemplified with the uncovering of thousands of Indigenous children at Canadian Residential Schools.

Joining us on this podcast is the Award-Winning Actor, Media Personality, and Public Educator of Mi'kmaw First Nation Bear clan with Canadian Decent, Nadia Thunder Woman George. In this episode she speaks to the systemic neglect of Indigenous peoples in Canada as she eloquently articulates how to dismantle harmful narrative, especially as they relate to children's grief support. She generously shares her passion, experiences, and insightful wisdom in graciously creating space for First Nation, Metis, and Inuit voices while championing advocacy against environmental racism through her partnership with the WATER FIRST organization.  

Joining us for an incredibly powerful and barrier breaking episode!

The domains of diversity are extensive within children's grief support. However, they are not always inclusive or exhaustive. One aspect of children's grief that is often overlooked and underrepresented is that of children with complex care needs. Joining us on this podcast is Amanda Maragos, the Director of Client Services & Volunteer Programs for Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care & Emily's House Children's Hospice. In this episode she shares with us her experiences, wisdom, stories regarding anticipatory loss, and post death grief support of children with complex care needs, and their families. 

Join us for a very enlightening podcast! 

Southern Ontario has become one of the most multiculturally diverse regions in the world, due in part to populations of immigrants and refugees choosing to make this geographical area their home. In this episode we are honoured to be joined by Ms. Margarita Cardona, who is the Community Settlement Program Coordinator for the Halton Multicultural Council as she shares with us her knowledge and insights into some of the challenges such demographics of people face when navigating a loss while trying to settle in this great land.

Join us to hear Ms. Cardona’s wisdom and wealth of experience!