Healing through Grief Conference
Healthy Coping Strategies In Your Journey Through Grief
November 18, 2025 | 9am - 4pm
Superior Inn, 555 Arthur St. West
Thunder Bay, ON
- Registration Fee $60/person
Registration includes all sessions, a registration gift, coffee/tea service in the morning, and lunch.
A Full Day Conference allowing participants to gain healthy coping strategies from local experts in the field.
The conference will include various workshops and a panel discussion on the topic of Seeing Grief Through Different Lenses
with panelists:
- Dr. Holly Prince
- Hannah Albani, Ontario Caregiver Association- Northen Ontario Regional Lead
- Nikita Matichuk, NP Atikokan
Panel Moderator is Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller
Workshop Sessions include:
- 11:15-12:15
Hybrid: Grief Yoga with Kelly McKinnon, Bodymind Centre
Certified Grief Yoga Instructor and End of Life Doula - 1:15-2:15
Concurrent session: Grief and Self Care with Diana Prairie
Hybrid: Understanding Emotions in Grief with Claudia Otto - Concurrent Session: Moving Mindfully Through Grief with Lisa LaitenenEgbuchulamLocal practitioners in alternative therapies will be available in our vendors market.
Registration is required.
This conference would not be possible without the generous support of:
Palliative Carelink
NorWest Community Health Centres
Thunder Bay Community Foundation
CERAH
Panel Discussion: Seeing Grief Through Different Lenses
Panel Moderator: Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller
Kathy Kortes-Miller, MSW, PhD is an Associate professor in the School of Social Work and the Director of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University. Her research is interdisciplinary and collaborative contributing to a broad range of fields of study including: social work, palliative care, end-of-life, MAiD, caregiving and gerontology.
Panelists
The following individuals will participate in the panel discussion:
Lead, Indigenous People's Health & Aging Devision, CERAH
Ontario Caregiver Association - Northern Ontario Regional Lead
Nurse Practioner, Atikokan
Concurrent Morning Sessions
Attendees will have the choice of attending one of these morning sessions. The session will be 60 minutes in length.
Moving Mindfully Through Grief
Grief and Self Care
Understanding Emotions in Grief
Agenda
- 9:00 - 9:30 - Registration, coffee, vendors
- 9:30 - 10:00 - Opening Remarks & Ceremony
Song and Prayer by Elder Beatrice Twance-Hynes - 10:00 - 11:00 - Panel Discussion: Seeing Grief Through Differing Lenses with moderator Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller and panelists:
- Hannah Albani
- Nikita Matichuk
- Dr. Holly Prince
- 11:00 - 11:15 - Break, Visits with Vendors
- Traumatic Loss with Diana Prairie
- Navigating Grief with Kathy Kortes-Miller
- Cultural Perspectives on Grief with Beatrice Twance-Hynes
- 11:15 - 12:15 - Concurrent Workshops (choose one):
A. Grief yoga with Kelly McKinnon
B. Grief & Self Care with Diana Prairie - 12:15 - 1:15 -Lunch Break/Visits with Vendors and Regional Lunch & Learn (VIRTUAL)
- 1:15 - 2:15 - Concurrent Sessions (choose one):
C. Understanding Emotion in Grief with Claudia Otto
B. Moving Mindfully through Grief with Lisa Laitenen-Egbuchulam - 2:15 - 2:30 - Break, Visits with Vendors
- 2:30 - 3:00 - Mindfulness Activity with Edith Gagne
- 3:00 - 4:00 - Closing Remarks, Closing Song and Prayer
Participants receive certificates
Personal Lens on Grief Art Exhibition
November 10 - 30, 2023
In conjunction with the Journey Through Grief Conference, an art exhibition will be held during the month of November. A Personal Lens on Grief is an innovative way to reflect and share your grief journey through using pictures. By sharing our grief experiences and feelings through pictures, we can encourage discussion, collaborate for change and build a community of support.
Alternative Therapy Vendors
We are looking for local practitioners in the following areas to be part of our vendors market:
- Reiki
- Relflexology
- Massage therapy
- Art therapy
- Movement / Dance
- Yoga
- Aromatherapy
- Therapeutic Touch
- Meditation
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Counselling Clinics
Cost of Table: $100, includes lunch for 1 person
