What We Do

We are a local charitable organization whose cause is to support a person, family or group dealing with grief from the death of a loved one.

Our Team
Our Board

Our Core Beliefs

We believe that mutual, peer support programs, led by experienced volunteer facilitators, play a significant role in the relief of grief by:

  • Providing hope and coping skills though mutual support

  • Authentically relating to one another

  • Creating a safe and reliable space in which to grieve

  • Respecting that every person learns to live with grief in their own way

  • Building and sustaining mutually beneficial connections

  • Embracing the richness of unique and diverse life experiences

Our Responsibility

We also believe that BFO-Toronto through its staff and volunteers has the responsibility to be:

Compassionate

Providing hope for one another in a confidential, safe, supportive and nurturing environment. No one can understand the bereaved like another bereaved person.

Authentic

Authentically relating to one another with caring, empathy, openness and acceptance.

Understanding

Respecting that while there are common threads that weave themselves among the bereaved, every person learns to live with grief in their own way.

Inclusive

Celebrating and embracing the richness of unique and diverse life experiences. Our work must be framed within a context of equity and inclusion.

Transparent and accountable

Creating a safe and reliable space in which to grieve, through honesty and transparency. Our organization must be built on a foundation of integrity.

Well governed

Building and sustaining mutually beneficial connections with members, volunteers, donors and community partners. Always putting the community first.

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns please consider connecting with one of the following confidential services:

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 for a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Gerstein Crisis Centre: Call 416-929-5200 for telephone support, an in-person mobile crisis team, community support referrals, substance use crisis management, follow-up and access to short-term crisis beds.
Kids Help Phone: People ages 5 to 29 can call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868 to connect with a trained crisis responder.