We inspire hope and healing for people who are grieving
BFO Ottawa is an organization made up of people who have each experienced their own grief
"Our ongoing commitment to all those involved with BFO Ottawa is to listen and learn and then lead through our actions in order to build and support an organization that is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all".
At BFO Ottawa, our commitment lies in nurturing a community that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion across all facets of our mission. We endeavour to establish a safe and inclusive environment where individuals from diverse cultural, sexual, gender, and other backgrounds feel embraced and supported as they navigate their unique journeys through grief.
Our Mandate:
Volunteer Run
We are a volunteer-run organization that appreciates the commitment we each share to supporting others. While we have each experienced our own grief, we recognize that people grieve in deeply personal ways that are unique to them. We draw on our own experiences and our professional training.
Peer Support
We follow a peer support model, where trained facilitators work with group participants. We offer a safe and supportive environment, where people can express themselves freely. We know that this often leads to new friendships, as people connect with each other in expressing their grief on a personal level.
Respect
We treat every person with kindness, dignity, professionalism, and respect. We believe in the importance of community and in creating space in our society for people who are grieving. We believe that no one should have to grieve alone.
Community
We create partnerships within our own community. We believe in inviting others in, and in creating open and collaborative environments where we are united in supporting people who are grieving.
Our office situated in Ottawa, resides on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the
Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, whose presence here extends back to time immemorial.
As an organization that supports individuals with navigating their grief journeys, we
acknowledge the profound impact of colonization, which has inflicted deep wounds on the land
and its peoples, including grief and loss stemming from the disruption and destruction of
Indigenous communities and ways of life.
We recognize that grief and mourning are interwoven into the fabric of Indigenous experiences, and we hold space for the collective grief and healing journey of Indigenous Peoples.