$180,400 OTF Grant from the Ontario Government Helping Bereaved Families of Ontario – York Region

Aurora, ON – On Saturday, MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy was at the Bereaved Families of Ontario-York Region (the Grief Healing Support Centre) hear more about the impact that a $180,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant is having since receiving last year from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The two-year long grant is helping the group increase its recruitment and training to continue supporting additional adult grief support groups, individual grief supports as well as to expand and develop new children and youth outreach initiatives with community partners.   

“Our government is committed to ensuring that organizations like Bereaved Families of Ontario – York Region have the resources they need to provide essential services to our community members,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket—Aurora. “This two-year grant is enabling the Grief Support and Healing Centre to expand their new children and youth programs. I am thankful that individuals and families will have greater access to services to assist them in navigating the grieving process.”

“This OTF grant has significantly supported the recruitment and training of new volunteers and increasing staffing capacity for the development and delivery of additional online and community-based grief healing support groups for adults and seniors,” said Barbara Bathurst, Executive Director of Bereaved Families of Ontario – York Region.”This being in response to the growing need for timely and accessible grief healing supports including new education and awareness workshops across York Region and surrounding areas. In addition, the grant has significantly impacted its ability to develop new outreach grief healing program supports for children and youth in response to the requests for collaborations with various youth-based community partner organizations across York Region. We are “Where Hope & Healing Begins …. And Loving Memories Keep Us Connected Forever,” added Bathurst.

Bereaved Families of Ontario-York Region (also known as ‘The Grief Healing Support Centre’) is located in Newmarket Ontario, providing FREE grief healing supports across York Region and surrounding areas.  Originally, this organization was created to provide support to grieving Mother’s after the loss of a child.  Today, celebrating their 32nd year of service delivery, they remain committed to ensuring timely, accessible grief healing support to all members of the community who have experienced loss after the death of a loved one. 

For more information about our grief healing support services, please contact the Grief Healing Support Team at: www.bfoyr.com / 905-898-6265. 

“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:

Barbara Bathurst, Executive Director

Bereaved Families of Ontario – York Region / The Grief Healing Support Centre

ed@bfoyr.com / 905-898-6265