The Lighthouse Beacon Podcast

In this episode we are joined by an incredible advocate for mental health, wellness, mindfulness, and grief support. Sharing her journey through deeply traumatic loss, Nina Purewal speaks to us on this podcast of how she reclaimed her life, experienced transformational healing, and launch an international best-selling book, ‘Let That Sh*t Go’, with her co-author Kate Petriw. Her wisdom, garnered t...

In this episode we are joined by an inspirational and transformative 'grief thriver', as he shares how he navigated his life following the death of both his parents by suicide. Through thoughtful reflection and powerful delivery, Joe Lyons-Rising speaks to what it was like to be a young child learning to survive trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. He speaks about the many challenges that lay b...

The ancient practices of grief and bereavement support are well documented and storied throughout Jewish history. Throughout Judaism, there are numerous examples of how grief and loss was shared in a communal sense with practices that are considered today 'progressive' and yet have been conducted for generations.  In this podcast we are joined by an incredible advocate and knowledgeable champion o...

How we children and youth in their grief can have a lasting impact on their mental, emotional, even physical health. Joining us on this podcast is an individual who draws on her knowledge and experiences as an educator, a clinician in private practice, and a mother, in sharing how to hold what she calls, 'exquisite presence,' when supporting children and youth who are grieving. Her approach, garne...

The diversity of demographics of peoples accessing children's grief support is ever expanding. As the awareness of the importance of supporting children and youth who are grieving grows so does the need for appropriate and person-centred grief support. Joining us on this podcast is Corrie Sirota who shares her personal and professional knowledge and experience within grief support. She speaks to w...

Stemming from her thesis, ‘Black Bereavement: An Exploration to Black Grief and Grief Support Organization’, Delaney Jordana Holness joins us on this podcast to share her research which speaks to the intersections of social services and Black grief. Delaney’s life experiences and education help to frame her deep insights and knowledge into that gaps and barriers that hinder access to children’s gr...

Immigration, refugee status, multigenerational homes, are experiences facing many newcomers to Canada. Often accompanying these circumstances is loss, and the resultant feelings of grief. On this podcast we are excited to host members of the family services team from the progressive organization of Indus Community Services. They generously share their knowledge and expertise in serving the very di...

On April 24th we commemorate a time of unspeakable horror, trauma, and grief, the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Joining us on this podcast is an individual with deep wisdom and insight into the multigenerational impact of such historical trauma and grief. Deacon Yervant shares his comprehensive knowledge and experience of Armenian traditions and customs, as relates to today's demographics of children...

Within the field of children's grief, the subject of diversity asks to be inclusive of the measures with which children, teens, youth, and their families are supported. One of those measures is the vast domain of 'Grief Dreams', or dreams of the deceased. Joining us on this podcast is a progressive and exceptionally knowledgeable academic who brings his doctoral research, as well as a deeply perso...

The resource gaps within the sector of grief and bereavement support are extensive, and are typically dependent on geography, i.e. postal codes of service recipients. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the support of people living with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). Individuals living with such exceptionalities often fall through the cracks of supports, especially when it invo...

It goes without saying that the death of a child is one of the most traumatizing, challenging, and painful experiences imaginable. The ensuing grief and suffering often serves to break families apart and leave an indelible absence within a community.  Joining us on this episode of the Lighthouse Beacon podcast is an African Canadian immigrated from Sierra Leone, a businessman, a community leader,...

The marginalization experienced by children living in poverty is immeasurable. Coupled with a death related loss, this double vulnerability often leads to a loss of hope, and coping mechanisms that further alienates and isolates such children.  In this episode we are joined by the inimitable Asante Haughton as he shares his life story out of poverty and discrimination. His deep wisdom reflects on...

People with Down Syndrome are valued members of our communities. However, they are often marginalized in accessibility to supportive social services. In this episode Nancy Howson, Community Relations Director for the Down Syndrome Society of York Region, joins us to share her insights and experiences on how to break down barriers for people living with Down Syndrome. We discuss the inequitable acc...

The COVID-19 pandemic has served to highlight and exacerbate the lack of accessibility to Children’s Grief Support. COVID-19 has also disproportionality affected marginalized and racialized communities. In this episode we have the privilege of hearing from a very well-respected professional in the field of children’s grief, Andrea Warnick, as she graciously shares her extensive knowledge and couns...

In this episode we are joined by Andrew Blake, Director of Program Development at the Sarana Institute, who shares his own firsthand experiences with a death related loss in his childhood. As an ordained Buddhist Chaplain, as well as a counselling psychotherapist, and educator on mindfulness meditation, Andrew speaks when he was a young child how the death of his father influenced and shaped his j...

With the COVID-19 pandemic still upon us and schools closed with children engaging in online learning, it is assumed that this is an accessible way to continue the learning. Unfortunately this model does not take into account the accessibility challenges with ‘online learning’ for many children and families within the Greater Toronto Area. These issues with accessibility extend to children’s grief...

A tragic element of the history of Canada is the systemic neglect of Indigenous, Metis, First Nation, and Inuit peoples. This traumatic truth has been painfully exemplified with the uncovering of thousands of Indigenous children at Canadian Residential Schools. Joining us on this podcast is the Award-Winning Actor, Media Personality, and Public Educator of Mi'kmaw First Nation Bear clan with Canad...

The domains of diversity are extensive within children's grief support. However, they are not always inclusive or exhaustive. One aspect of children's grief that is often overlooked and underrepresented is that of children with complex care needs. Joining us on this podcast is Amanda Maragos, the Director of Client Services & Volunteer Programs for Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care & Emily's Hou...

Southern Ontario has become one of the most multiculturally diverse regions in the world, due in part to populations of immigrants and refugees choosing to make this geographical area their home. In this episode we are honoured to be joined by Ms. Margarita Cardona, who is the Community Settlement Program Coordinator for the Halton Multicultural Council as she shares with us her knowledge and insi...

The Islamic communities of Southern Ontario are amongst the largest and fastest growing demographics. With rich heritages that span across 72 sects, Muslims are exceptionally diverse within their own communities. Joining us on this podcast is Asif Khan, a very involved leader within his Ahmadiyya Muslim community, who shares his experiences and wisdom beginning as a bereaved child of 6 years old,...

Southern Ontario is thought to host the most diverse demographic of peoples in the world. However, within this geography culturally humble grief services, especially for children and youth, are sparse, and in most cases not aligned with the personal culture of those seeking support. In this podcast we are joined by Danielle Francesca Lobo, who is the founder of The Healing Boat Inc., and is curren...

Equitable access to children's grief is an imperative across all domains of diversity. However there is still much apprehension, discrimination, and lack of appropriate services within grief support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. In this episode we are joined by Ian Hopkins, a Lighthouse Group Facilitator, and Marcus Logan, a queer married man with two beautiful sons who shares his early experiences...

Welcome to the Lighthouse Beacon Podcast. In this our very first episode, our Executive Director, Deirdre Thomas, speaks to Lighthouse's programs and services, the peer support model it utilizes, and the outreach it has conducted into our Multicultural communities within the Greater Toronto Area. Deirdre also speaks to aspects of diversity and the associated barriers that may exist within children...