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Putting 2020 behind us – Finding light to move forward
As we move into a new year, it’s important to make time to reflect, to breathe, and to focus on what is most important to you. The thing about a “beginning” of any type is that it usually also signifies the “ending” of something else. While I’m not especially sad to wave goodbye to 2020, I’m also easing my way into 2021. It’s a new year, a new day, and a new chapter, as some may say.
A Decade of Healing
One morning I woke up early, bundled up in my warm layers and headed off to work as an emergency responder, not knowing that it was the last day I would be the “old me”. I had worked all day in an Alberta winter, feeling the cold wind on my face and cursing Mother Nature for the pain of the windchill as it bit my cheeks. I was frustrated that the work day had dragged on and I just wanted to get home. Within hours everyone on that site would feel lucky that we would be able to make it home eventually. I could feel in my gut that something wasn’t right. I knew something bad was going to happen. I was unsure of what; I just knew. I would say nothing. I would regret my silence for years to come.
A Funeral in Place of a Wedding
Sean was a truck driver: it was his passion. If there was a vehicle with a motor, he would want to drive it. As soon as Sean was finished school, he got his class 1 licence and never looked back. He hauled gravel, rock, asphalt, water, and liquid sulphur just to name a few.
Vision 2020, and envisioning 2021
Vision 2020: a term to express visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision). In 2019 our staff team thought the theme of ‘2020’ would be a fun one for the coming year. Our staff meeting in January 2020 held out all kinds of possibilities, including fun activities as we finalized our plans for the year. Our over-arching theme was the challenge: how do we reach 300 new family members each year? Steps for Life was ready to launch in another week. Little did we know the storm that was about to challenge us.
International Volunteer Day 2020: Together We Can Through Volunteering
On this International Volunteer Day, all of us at Threads of Life celebrate our volunteers, and express our heartfelt thanks for all you do to support the delivery of our programs, services and events. Threads of Life volunteers have always shown that Together We Can Through Volunteering, and contribute enormously to our growth and success.
That’s a wrap on the National Virtual Family Forum! Where do we go from here?
The National Virtual Family Forum was a huge learning curve for all of us! Threads of Life staff learned how to coordinate a big online event, with sessions spread over weeks. Facilitators learned how to engage participants virtually. Family members learned how to connect at a distance. And we all learned a lot about technology – good and bad.
Volunteer profile: Elisa Kilbourne
She is a traveler. She is a helper. She is a lover of people. Elisa is also a mother. One of her children, her son, Jeremy Bowley, died Aug. 1, 2013. He was working with a crew setting up a wedding tent on the rain-soaked lawn of a farmhouse, when a pole for the tent...
Giving Gratitude and Finding Your Hope in Loss
“Gratitude is like a supplement; it is a balm for the heart and soul.” Johanna LeRoux presented this idea as a facilitator for the “Giving Gratitude & Finding Hope in Loss” Zoom session during the National Virtual Family Forum. Johanna, a fellow family member and...
The Challenges of Grief and Loss
Loss is never a simple matter. Each person’s experience of grief and loss is different, and understanding our own responses makes us better able to cope and maintain mental wellness.
Diving into Grief and Loss
When you throw a boomerang, it comes right back to you every time. “Boomerang grief” comes back to you too, and it’s one of the types of grief very common to those who’ve experienced a serious injury, illness or a death related to work.
Families Gather Online to Reflect and Honour Lives Lost or Forever Changed at Work
Candles were glowing across the country as Threads of Life’s first virtual Reflections Ceremony joined hearts and memories on an October afternoon. You could almost feel the warmth from all those flames on kitchen tables, desks, mantels and window sills from coast to coast.
Distance brings heartbreak and gratitude
On Friday, March 14, 2014, the most terrible thing happened to my beautiful family. My 21-yearold son Jordan Gahan died in a workplace accident in Firebag, Alberta. He left behind three brothers, mom and dad, grandparents, family, and friends. Most of these people lived in Fredericton, NB, over 3,000 kilometres away.
