Camp Widow Toronto
Friday
Block 1 (10:15am - 11:45am)
Block 2 (1:00pm - 2:30pm)
Relationships with friends, family and colleagues can become severely altered after the death of a life partner. Interactions with the people and places who once made us comfortable can now cause anxiety, stress, anger or pain. Join us as we navigate these social changes by eco-mapping our new lives. Through an ecomap, plans can be […] Read More
Focusing on financial matters can be the last thing on a widows mind, but it a critical piece that must be addressed. This talk will discuss ways widows can get organized and focus their attention on what matters from a financial perspective as they move through the grieving process. *Please note this workshop will be […] Read More
Music has played a tremendous role in me stepping forward into this new life of mine. My wife was a musician, and her influence certainly impacted me. Once widowed, and after the last memorial song quieted in my space, I found myself listening to a variety of music, but all due to a strong emotional […] Read More
Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:15pm)
Searching for Love Again Tips, Tales and Triumphs from the 50+ Dating Scene will be entertaining and informative. Laurelea will share how she discovered what she was really looking for in a quality man and how this knowledge dramatically renewed hope and gave her the confidence she never had before. You’ll learn how this process […] Read More
Be moved. Words alone cannot express our experience of grief and so we dance. Movement matters. Shake your soul and explore how the expression of movement can help release some of the pain our bodies hold. We will move solo, as a group, and I’ll introduce you to my favourite partner: a hula hoop Let’s […] Read More
Susan Hannifin-MacNab, author of the “A to Z Healing Toolbox,”states that “reading and verbalizing positive quotes, statements of affirmation, and hope-filled pieces of writing has a direct connection to overall health and well-being.” Using quotes from the works of Jen Sincero’s “You are a Badass”, Brene Brown’s “Daring Greatly”, Tom Zuba’s “Permission to Mourn”, and […] Read More
For those widows and widowers with children, parenting must continue after loss. This workshop will guide participants in identifying their personal strengths and struggles with parenting in the aftermath of their loss. Together we’ll look at some common scenarios of conflict that can arise in families post-loss and examine unique solutions and methods for coping […] Read More
Saturday
Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am)
Block 1 (10:15am - 11:30am)
The holiday season is coming whether we want it to or not! Thanks to the retail industry, this season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Holidays are supposed to be a time of being together, honoring traditions, joy and merriment. When we are grieving this can seem just about impossible. So how do […] Read More
Charting your New Financial Plan: Heal your finances as you heal yourself. Widows face the unique challenge of having to make important financial decisions amid intense grief. This practical talk gently and compassionately provides widows with an overview of how to get organized with their finances and where to focus their attention as they move […] Read More
Everyone has the capacity to be creative. Creativity can mean something different to every individual. We often think of creativity as painting or singing or writing, but creativity can be found in every aspect of our lives... Read More
Block 2 (11:45am - 1:00pm)
The grieving process is very personal and individual as are the outlets we choose to express it. Historically, art has taken on this mantra and the beauty of the depictions help create a catharsis of sorts and an understanding of the griever’s point of view. Exploring different forms of art that allow for tangible outlets […] Read More
This workshop will explore the challenges of cooking and mealtime for widowed men and women. We will discuss our food preferences and memories, the challenges of either being your home chef for the first time or regaining your passion for cooking post-loss. We will share recipes that can be adapted for one or more people […] Read More
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates When it seems all that is left of us is the broken pieces, what do we do? How do we go on? And more importantly, how do we bring them with us […] Read More
Hurt people hurt people, but helped people help people. On the path to healing we can help others help us. This workshop will focus on using vulnerability as a key ingredient of resilience. As we let others know what we need they are better equipped to meet our needs. As we use guarded vulnerable with […] Read More
Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:00pm)
Please join us while we discuss the challenges and opportunities that widowed parents have as we become one of the most pivotal resources for building resilience in our children after loss. Widowed parents regularly list concern for their children’s mental health after the death of a parent, as well as fear of their own ability […] Read More
There are numerous types of mental health practitioners who have specialized skills and training to assist those working toward healing the emotional and psychological effects of grief and trauma. But choosing the right therapist- and the right therapy- can be completing overwhelming! Shall I see a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), […] Read More
I will be providing basic moves and terminology while teaching several ultra beginner line dances. While we learn to dance we will also be learning the importance of self care and good ways of including movement into our daily lives. Read More
Block 4 (4:15pm - 5:30pm)
Believe it or not, grief won’t always feel the way it does today. As we learn to cope, we also learn how to live with it. Grief doesn’t go away; we will carry it always, but it does change over time. During our time together, we will explore how grief continues to impact us after […] Read More
It’s been said that ‘lonely’ is not a powerful enough word to describe widowhood. Loneliness, isolation, social isolation…for many widowed people these are parts of the reality of widowed life. The powerful feeling of emptiness that follows the death of our spouse or partner can be one of the most painful experiences of our widowed […] Read More
Twenty-three years since the homicide of his wife, Tom offers no solutions or answers. Read More