The New Westminster Hospice Society (NWHS) Walk & Talk Bereavement Group is an eight-week outdoor grief support program for people who are grieving a significant loss in their lives. Each week, participants gather for a gentle walk and a guided conversation about grief, with time for reflection, shared experiences, and quiet moments along the way.

From the beginning, we shared a simple belief: every person’s grief reflects a unique relationship, a unique life, and a unique loss. Each walk explored a different aspect of grief and loss, and participants’ own experiences shaped each conversation in meaningful ways. Some mornings were filled with stories. Others were quieter. Both felt equally meaningful. Walking side by side seemed to make difficult conversations easier to begin, and being outdoors often brought a sense of calm when words were hard to find.

Rather than trying to lead people through grief, our hope was to create a welcoming space where participants could explore their own experiences, listen to one another, and know that whatever they were feeling was welcome.

One of the things we will remember most from this program is hearing the stories of the people who continue to be deeply loved and remembered. Every person whose name was spoken had left an imprint on someone’s life. Over the weeks, participants who had arrived as strangers began greeting one another by name, remembering details from previous conversations, and quietly checking in with each other before the walk had even begun.

Some of the most meaningful moments were never part of the plan. A shared memory that made everyone smile. Comfortable silence. Gentle laughter that arrived unexpectedly. Those moments stayed with us. They reminded us that even in grief, people find strength in being heard, remembered, and walking alongside one another.

If you are thinking about joining the fall session, we invite you to come exactly as you are. There is no expectation that you speak or share your story before you’re ready. Some people find comfort in talking. Others simply appreciate walking with people who understand.

Whether your grief is new or has been with you for many years, you will be welcomed with warmth, respect, and understanding. We would be honoured to welcome you.

Registration for the Fall session will begin in August.

-Walk & Talk facilitators: Jen, Donna and Yasmin