Edmonton Resources

AHS Programs

Regional Bereavement Coordinator

The coordinator provides bereavement support to individuals and families who have experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or neonatal death. Ongoing individual and/or couples support is available at no cost. The coordinator also manages the May Memorial Service and hospital burial program.

780-735-4506 | patti.walker@ahs.ca

Early Pregnancy Loss Program

The program provides support and treatment for women with a confirmed pregnancy loss at less than 20 weeks gestation.

Grey Nuns: 780-735-9712 | Royal Alexandra/Lois Hole: 780-735-6653

Reproductive Mental Health Support Program

This program provides support to women in their reproductive years who are experiencing emotional issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) along with their physical reproductive issues. Short-term individual support with a Mental Health Therapist or Psychologist is available.

This program currently isn’t accepting any new referrals due to COVID-19.

780-735-6785 | michelle.brandenburg@ahs.ca 

Spiritual Care

Hospital chaplains provide emotional and grief support related to the traditions, values, and faith of those cared for. Care includes ceremonies like baptisms, namings, and blessings. To reach a chaplain, contact your local hospital and ask for Spiritual Care Services.

Bereavement Photography

A bereavement photographer from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep can take photos of you, your partner, and your baby. This service is available on request at no charge at the Fort Saskatchewan, Grey Nuns, Misericordia, Royal Alexandra/Lois Hole, Sturgeon, and University of Alberta hospitals, based on the photographer’s schedule. 

If a professional isn’t available, your nurse can also take photos. Royal Alexandra/Lois Hole also has a hospital photographer on staff.

Cultural Support Services

Cultural support services include interpretive services and Indigenous Cultural Helpers. These services vary from location to location. To access them, contact your local hospital and ask for Cultural Support Services.

Burial Services

The following are participants in Edmonton’s Hospital Burial Program. You can also contact the city’s Municipal Cemeteries department at 780-442-0974 or cemetery@edmonton.ca.

Hospitals

  • Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital 
  • Grey Nuns Community Hospital
  • Misericordia Community Hospital 
  • Royal Alexandra Hospital/Lois Hole Hospital for Women 
  • Sturgeon Community Hospital 
  • University of Alberta Hospital/Stollery Children’s Hospital 
  • WestView Health Centre 

Funeral Homes

  • Connelly-McKinley Ltd.: 780-422-2222 
  • Evergreen Funeral Chapel: 780-472-9019
  • Hainstocks Funeral Home and Crematorium: 780-440-2999 
  • Memories Funeral Home and Crematorium: 780-454-9111 
  • Park Memorial Ltd.: 780-426-0050 

Cemeteries

Edmonton Support Groups

This list isn’t all inclusive; there may be other support groups in your area. You can contact individual groups or organizations for more information.

ParentCare

This group is made up of parents who support each other through miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Meetings are at 7:30pm on the third Thursday of every month, located at Mother Rosalie Health Services Centre at Misericordia Hospital (16930 87 Avenue). Contact 780-989-5040 or parentcareyeg@gmail.com, or visit parent-care.ca for more details.

H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Empty Arms Recover Through Sharing)

H.E.A.R.T.S. is for anyone touched by the loss of a precious baby during pregnancy or any time after birth. Programming includes individual and family counselling, pregnancy after loss support, sibling support, community resources, and community events.

Meetings are held at the BriarPatch Family Life Education Centre. Contact the facilitators for the meeting location, as there are two grief meeting spaces in the complex. Contact 780-464-3217 or heartsbabyloss@shaw.ca, or visit heartsbabyloss.com for more details.

Angel Whispers

This group is for families grieving pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month. To register, email angelwhispersbabyloss@gmail.com or visit angelwhispersbabyloss.com for more details.

Baby’s Breath

This group provides emotional support for people dealing with stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC). Contact 1-800-363-7437(END-SIDS) or info@babysbreathcanada.ca, or visit babysbreathcanada.ca for more details.

The Compassionate Friends

This group is for families dealing with the death of a child at any age. The group also offers the Annual Candle Light Memorial Service on the second Sunday of each December, which coincides with the Annual World Wide Candle Light Memorial Service.

Currently meetings are held every other Tuesday night online due to COVID-19; however, when in-person meetings are back in place, the group will meet at the BriarPatch Family Life Education Centre. Ask the facilitators for the meeting location, as there are two grief meeting spaces in the complex. Contact 780-464-3217 or briarpatchkids@shaw.ca for more details.

Grieving Parents Society

This group is for parents grieving their child’s death at any age. Meetings are at 7:30pm on the third Thursday of every month, located in the second-floor boardroom at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Building (16214 118 Avenue). Contact 780-451-5381 or gpchair@grievingparents.ca, or visit grievingparents.ca for more details.