Schedule
One-Day Event:
Saturday, October 19th
9:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Welcome:
9:30 — 9:45 a.m.
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the sanctuary on the main floor
Morning Keynote:
9:45 — 10:45 a.m.
”Navigating Life, Grief and Everything in Between... With Heart and Humour!” — Yvonne Heath
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the sanctuary on the main floor
“In my 27 year nursing career and personal life, I learned — the hard way — how ill-prepared we are for grief, death, transitions and all the messiness in between. I suffered and I am sure you have too.
What if we normalized hard conversations, became proactive and navigated life with heart, humour and humanness?
Can we allow Grief AND Joy?... Yes we can! Let’s Talk!”
— Yvonne Heath
For more information, visit loveyourlifetodeath.com and check out her TEDx Talk.
Break:
10:45 — 11 a.m.
2nd Morning Session:
11:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Choose One of Two Options
Option One:
“Dying is Normal”
— Patti Haskell & Lynn Weimer
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the chapel on the main floor
“The problem with not talking about death and dying is that we now have no idea what to say or what to do, or how to act when this inevitable part of our lives approaches, whether for ourselves or someone we love.”
— Katie Duncan, Nurse Practitioner
In this session, we will explore the idea that dying is a normal part of living, and it will impact us all. We describe, in very gentle and understandable terms, the dying process. We clear up common myths that surround symptom management and the dying process. Most importantly, we give participants tips and strategies to provide comfort and support to a person who is dying, as well as their caregivers, so that if/when you are faced with this situation in the future, you will feel safe and comfortable providing support.
Canadian research shows that a person who is unwell spends less than 20 per cent of their time in front of a health care provider and over 80% with family friends, colleagues and neighbours. Caring for the dying and grieving is everyone’s responsibility and we believe that opening up this conversation and providing correct information can help us be better prepared to support each other.
Trigger warning: this session will explain the dying process and may not be suitable for individuals who are recently bereaved.
Option Two:
”What’s a DNR-C and why everyone needs to know.”
— Emily Cooper, Community Paramedicine
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the sanctuary on the main floor
This session will allow us to focus on what YOU need to know and understand about the “DNR-C” (Do Not Resuscitate Confirmation Form). Emily will lead us through a discussion to help us better understand:
the role of the paramedics in emergencies,
what a DNR-C (Do Not Resucitate Confirmation Form) is, the importance of a correctly completed DNR-C form and how it may be necessary in honouring a person’s wishes.
We invite you to join Emily as she brings her first hand experience and knowledge to a topic that is both relevant and thought provoking for all of us. The conversation is never dull!
Lunch:
12 — 1 p.m.
Afternoon Keynote:
1 — 2:30 p.m.
How do we talk about dying?
— Dr. Kathryn Mannix
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the sanctuary on the main floor
We’re all going to die… but we don’t like to talk about it, and that poses a problem when we need to talk about our preferences and wishes about treatment and care options towards the end of our lives, whether that is with our medical advisors or our dearest people.
After a 30-year career as a palliative care doctor and psychotherapist, I’ve learned a thing or several about those necessary and tender conversations. How do we begin a conversation with our beloveds about their end of life wishes? What actually happens during dying? What might children see and hear if they are allowed to visit, and what might they imagine if visiting is forbidden?
Join us to think about how to manage those important conversations, how to be someone’s companion as they think through their worries and concerns, and how to understand and accompany the process of dying.
Break:
2:30 — 2:45 p.m.
2nd Afternoon Session:
2:45 — 3:45 p.m.
Choose One of Two Options
Option One:
Dr. Kathryn Mannix and Yvonne Heath
Meet & Greet + Book Signing
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the sanctuary on the main floor
Kathryn trained in general internal medicine and then moved sideways from training in medical oncology to develop her interest in palliative care. Kathryn took early retirement in 2016 to campaign for better public understanding of dying. Her first book With The End In Mind was shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize, became a Sunday Times best-seller, and has been translated into 16 languages so far. Her second book, Listen: how to find the words for Tender Conversations, was published to critical acclaim in 2021.
Kathryn writes, broadcasts, podcasts and lectures across the UK and around the world, both for public information (e.g. BBC, CBC, New Zealand Broadcasting Company) and for medical audiences (e.g. Royal College of Emergency Medicine 2019 and 2024; McGill Palliative Care Institute 2023; Intensive Care Society 2023; UK Palliative Care Congress 2019 and 2022; New Zealand Palliative Care Nurses Association 2024). She has been a friend and supporter of Hospice Waterloo volunteers for several years and is delighted to be coming back to visit in 2024.
In her 27 year nursing career, Yvonne Heath worked in the United States and Canada in many areas including emergency, chemotherapy, palliative care and hospice. She became disheartened by our society’s reluctance to talk about, plan and prepare for grief, transitions and end of life — causing excessive suffering. She suffered too, not knowing how to do it differently.
In 2015 she blazed a new trail to create social change and founded Love Your Life to Death and the I Just Showed Up Movement.
She shares her message with heart and humour. In 2019, she delivered her TEDx Talk — Transforming our Grief, by Just Showing Up.
Yvonne is most passionate about Supporting the Supporters and Creating Compassionate Communities. When they are not traveling, Yvonne and her husband Geordie (pronounced Jordy!) can be found wearing socks and sandals in their happy place in Huntsville with their cats, Calvin and Hobbes.
Option Two:
Dr. Erica Dickie — Veterinarian
”Knowing When It’s Time to Say Goodbye”
St. Andrew’s Kitchener, in the chapel on the main floor
This talk is designed to equip pet lovers and caregivers with practical tools and a solid framework for making one of the most challenging decisions: knowing when the time is right to say goodbye to your beloved pet. We'll delve into key pet factors such as understanding signs of pain, quality of life indicators and assessment tools, and how individual pet preferences should also be considered. Additionally, we'll explore human considerations including personal beliefs and values, caregiver stress, and the ability to provide proper care for ailing pets.
After attending this talk, you will have more resources to draw upon to make informed choices for your pet and feel more confident about your decision-making process. You’ll walk away with some key ideas for self-reflection and feel empowered to walk the path of least regrets throughout your pet’s end-of-life journey. This talk aims to support you in approaching a euthanasia decision with compassion and clarity.
