Thinking about death – our own as well as that of our loved ones – is something most of us go out of our way to avoid. What this means is that we often don’t have these important conversations until we find ourselves in emotionally trying circumstances, or perhaps not all, and are instead left to guess what our loved ones may have wanted.

In contrast, when we prepare in advance, we give both ourselves and our loved ones the gift of time – time to think things through with a clear mind – and clarity, taking the stress of guesswork out of the equation.

We believe that changing the conversation about death starts with education and planning, which is why Burnaby Hospice Society is committed to fostering a culture of learning through our community education programs.