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The lost art of courtesy
There are many definitions of courtesy. NOUN: Excellence of manners, respectful, or considerate act or expression A courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression Indulgence, consent, or acquiescence: ‘a “colonel” by courtesy rather than by right.’ Favour,...
30 days of awareness – a lifetime of struggle
At Threads of Life we work hard to create awareness: awareness for families affected by workplace tragedy that we are here to help them, and awareness for all of the importance of preventing any further workplace illnesses or injuries. November is a very important...
Occupational Therapy in Workplace Mental Health
The Occupational Therapist worked collaboratively with Freta, her manager and her union representative to develop a suitable return to work plan. The plan included a structured reintegration process, some retraining and use of memory tools and checklists October is...
Our volunteers’ hard work shines through!
Volunteers and participants prepare to set out on the 2017 Steps for Life walk in Toronto Ontario Threads of Life staff feel we are very fortunate to work with such generous family members, passionate volunteers and committed partners. Kimberly Bondame joined...
Finding a path to mental wellness
In honour of World Mental Health Day, October 10, Threads of Life is pleased to publish a reflection first printed in our Threads newsletter, Spring 2017. Mental health has been a long and complicated road for me since the death of my brother, Micheal, in January of...
Oh, how much we have grown!
Oh how much we have grown….not in the sense of size but personally. I first heard the term “post-traumatic growth” a couple of weeks ago at a Global Leadership Summit. I asked Shirley Hickman if she had heard this term before. Shirley replied: “I had not heard this...
Volunteer Profile: Tami Helgeson
Every summer, the gold mine where Tami Helgeson spent her career, hires students and new graduates. Every summer Tami would tell them the story of her son Eric, who died in 1999 at his construction job after a crane tipped over, collapsing the building where Eric was working.
Witnessing mirrors
It’s hard to believe that this weekend will be the Central Family Forum. This forum will be the ninth anniversary of the first one I attended, the year after my husband Robert died. I only stayed one night that year with our then nine-year-old son Andrew. We were both...
How you can pay it forward
"You don't pay love back; you pay it forward." - Lily Hardy Hammond, In the Garden of Delight, 1916 Isn’t it true, sometimes, that the people who’ve faced the most hardship and tragedy in their lives show the most kindness and generosity? Knowing what we’ve lost...
Reflections of loss: Why we share our grief on social media
Social media is now deeply woven into our society’s fabric, and has become one of the primary ways we talk to each other and create our own identities.
Three reasons why stories make health and safety training stick
The learn-to-ride motorcycle course started off with a lecture on a Friday evening, in a small, stuffy college classroom. It was the end of the work week and people were tired, but the instructor was obviously an experienced rider and a practical, straight-talking...
Writing a loss history
Writing, in any form, can provide a powerful catharsis. It brings up memories and rekindles feelings. Writing helps you revisit emotions that are important for healing, and express and release those feelings on paper. One very helpful tool for those dealing with a loss is detailing a personal loss history. A loss history highlights how you and your loved ones have dealt with past losses.
