The Death Dialogues: Non-Traditional Losses or Living Losses

Join us on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre for a thoughtful evening exploring a type of grief that is often misunderstood and rarely discussed: living loss. Part of Beechwood’s Death Dialogues series, this conversation continues our commitment to strengthening death and loss literacy in our community. These gatherings create a respectful space where difficult topics surrounding grief, loss, and the human experience can be explored openly. The evening will feature Dina Bell-Laroche, a Certified Thanatologist, bereavement educator, author, and grief doula whose work focuses on helping individuals and communities better understand the many forms grief can take. While many people associate grief with death, loss can also occur in ways that are less visible. Changes in health, estranged relationships, identity shifts, life transitions, or the gradual loss that accompanies aging and illness can create profound grief, even though no death has occurred. During this engaging discussion, Dina will explore the concept of non-traditional or living losses, the quiet and often unrecognized forms of grief that people carry. Through practical insights and personal reflection, she will examine how acknowledging these losses can help individuals move toward understanding, resilience, and renewed meaning. At Beechwood, these conversations are part of a broader effort to normalize dialogue about grief and to strengthen our ability to support one another through life’s most difficult transitions. Whether you are navigating change in your own life, supporting someone through a difficult period, or simply seeking to better understand the many dimensions of grief, this Death Dialogue offers a meaningful opportunity to learn and reflect. Event Details Tuesday, September 22, 2026 6:30 p.m. Beechwood National Memorial Centre 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa Join us for an evening that reminds us that grief does not only follow death, it also accompanies the many changes that shape our lives.