Upcoming Events
Candlelight Remembrance Event 2024
The 2024 Candlelight Remembrance Event will be held on November 24th at 3:00PM.
This 32nd annual Candlelight Remembrance Event is an afternoon for people to be supported by a circle of community to honour their grief and commemorate the people in their lives who have died.
Join us as we spend meaningful time together to cherish, remember and celebrate our person through ceremony, hope and inspiration.
The afternoon includes:
- Slideshow photo tribute of your person
- Speaker, Storytelling & Musical accompaniment
- Candlelight remembrance ceremony
- Personalize a memory ornament to take home
- Reception and light refreshments to follow
Our guest speaker this year is Michelline Lepage and she will be speaking about her grief journey on the 10th death anniversary of her son Bruce.
Micheline participated in the BFO programs in 2015 after the loss of her son in 2014. She is a trained facilitator who supports others who have lost a child and parents. Micheline joined the BFO Board in January 2021 and took on the Board Chair position in November 2022. She has held various positions with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) among other companies. She retired in 2019 from a career in information technology and is now dedicating her time to BFO Ottawa which is near and dear to her heart.
This meaningful event raises funds for BFO Ottawa. 100% of your registration goes towards our unfunded grief support programs.
There is an opportunity for you to donate to assist those who cannot pay for registration (no one is turned away).
For more information, to register offline or if you would like assistance to attend, contact us at 613-567-4278 or office@bfo-ottawa.org
Our heartfelt thank you to our sponsor, Beechwood Cemetery Foundation, for graciously hosting this event.
Click the button below to register!
Butterfly Puzzle Fundraiser - $30.00
This puzzle was created exclusively for BFO Ottawa. The puzzle has 1000 pieces and there are 33 global species of butterflies that represent Hope and Transformation. To purchase a puzzle and make arrangements for pickup in various parts of the city, please contact Micheline Lepage at michelinel@bfo-ottawa.org or call (613) 791-1261
Purchase can be made by e-transfer to the email office@bfo-ottawa.org, or via the secure website Canada Helps by credit card.
Past Events
Butterfly Memorial Event 2024
2024 Butterfly Memorial Event was held on Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at Beechwood Cemeteries.
Join us for a meaningful afternoon as we come together in community to remember our special person.
The event begins with a indoor remembrance ceremony to honour our person. It includes live music, a guest speaker and slideshow photo tribute.
Then, we move outside to the beautiful Beechwood gardens to release our own live butterfly in their memory.
Light refreshments to follow.
Our guest speaker is Julia Sneyd. Julia is a former elementary and adult educator and a community activist. She has two adult sons and was married to the late Paul Dewar, educator and NDP Member of Parliament for Ottawa Center. Paul was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2018 and died a year later. Julia was pivotal in his public ‘living through dying’ and continues to reflect and share that experience with the community. She is a volunteer with Compassionate Ottawa and Youth Action Now. Over the last five years, she has ridden the waves of grief alone and with the support of others, including her BFO group. Julia remains grateful for the lessons she has learned about trust, living in the moment and community support.
Jack Ferguson Memorial Golf Tournament
We would like to give a big thank you to Hugh and Vallena Ferguson for selecting BFO Ottawa as their charity donation recipient at this year's Jack Ferguson Memorial Golf Tournament of July 21, 2024! It was an honour for our BFO community to be included in this day of fun, sharing of memories, golf and refreshments. Funds raised will help BFO Ottawa to continue to offer peer support programs in the Ottawa region. Again, a heartfelt thank you!
