
WALKING THROUGH GRIEF
Trained hospice volunteers facilitate a grief walking group on Thursday mornings in Oliver. We walk along the Oliver Hike and Bike Path. Bereavement walks provide an opportunity to gather with other Oliver residents who have lost a loved one and are experiencing grief. Groups offer a supportive space to walk, talk, and share, while receiving fresh air and gentle exercise.
There is no charge to participate. Registration is required.
Walkers may join at any time. Attendance at all walks is not required.
For more information or to register contact:
Oliver Group: Fiona Wood at 250-498-3122
Interest in an Osoyoos group: Donna Gordan at 250-495-1590 ext.102
Trained hospice volunteers facilitate a grief walking group on Thursday mornings in Oliver. We walk along the Oliver Hike and Bike Path. Bereavement walks provide an opportunity to gather with other Oliver residents who have lost a loved one and are experiencing grief. Groups offer a supportive space to walk, talk, and share, while receiving fresh air and gentle exercise.
There is no charge to participate. Registration is required.
Walkers may join at any time. Attendance at all walks is not required.
For more information or to register contact:
Oliver Group: Fiona Wood at 250-498-3122
Interest in an Osoyoos group: Donna Gordan at 250-495-1590 ext.102
grief and bereavement support

Our Grief Support program provides you and/or your family with one-to-one support from our
specially trained Hospice Volunteers. Visits take place at our Supportive Care Centre in Osoyoos at a time most convenient for you.
All services are free of charge and your confidentiality is assured. We have a resource list of additional professional support, if needed.
In addition, Desert Valley Hospice Society offers a telephone Bereavement Call program.
Our Grief Support line is 250-495-1590 ext. 103
You may leave a confidential message and your call will be returned.
specially trained Hospice Volunteers. Visits take place at our Supportive Care Centre in Osoyoos at a time most convenient for you.
All services are free of charge and your confidentiality is assured. We have a resource list of additional professional support, if needed.
In addition, Desert Valley Hospice Society offers a telephone Bereavement Call program.
Our Grief Support line is 250-495-1590 ext. 103
You may leave a confidential message and your call will be returned.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: To mitigate the risks associated with in-person gatherings, Desert Valley follows BC Health Orders and the COVID-19 Safety Plans. The Walking Through Grief program is based on these health orders and safety plans and include mask requirements, physical distancing, and smaller groupings. Desert Valley proposes to offer post-walk coffee gatherings at a later date, pending the BC Health Order restrictions.
Other Resources:
The BC Bereavement Helpline 1-877-779-2223
A free, anonymous, and secure helpline answered by caring individuals who are there to just listen or to help you find support in your community. With access to over 250 grief support groups in the province at their fingertips, our staff and volunteers can give you information that will connect you with the type of support best suited to your needs.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: 1 800-784-2433
For more information call DVHS Volunteer Program Director at 250-495-1590 ext 103
The BC Bereavement Helpline 1-877-779-2223
A free, anonymous, and secure helpline answered by caring individuals who are there to just listen or to help you find support in your community. With access to over 250 grief support groups in the province at their fingertips, our staff and volunteers can give you information that will connect you with the type of support best suited to your needs.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: 1 800-784-2433
For more information call DVHS Volunteer Program Director at 250-495-1590 ext 103
Click here for 10 Things to Know About Grief
A brochure provided by DVHS Grief and Bereavement Support Program
A brochure provided by DVHS Grief and Bereavement Support Program

You can expect that:
• Your grief will take longer than most people think it should
• Your grief will take more energy that you can imagine
• Your grief will involve continual changes
• Your grief will show itself in all spheres of your life and who you are. It will affect your
social relationships, your health, thoughts, feelings and spiritual beliefs
• Your grief will depend upon how you perceive the loss
• You will grieve for many things (both symbolic and tangible), not just the death itself
• You will grieve for what you have lost already as well as for the future; for the hopes, dreams
and unfulfilled expectations you held for and with that person
• Your grief will involve a wide variety of feelings and reactions: some expected and some not
• This loss will resurrect old losses, feelings and unfinished business from the past
• You may have some confusion about who you are; this is due to the intensity and unfamiliarity of the grieving experience and uncertainty about your new role in the world
• You may have a combination of anger and depression: irritability, frustration, intolerance
• You may feel guilt in some form
• You may have a poor sense of self-worth
• You may experience spasms, waves or acute upsurges of grief that occur without warning
• You will have trouble thinking and making decisions: poor memory and organization
• You may feel like you are going crazy
• You may be obsessed with the death or preoccupied with thoughts of the dead person
• You will search for meaning in your life and question your beliefs
• You may find yourself acting differently
• Society has unrealistic expectations about your mourning and responds inappropriately
• You will have a number of physical reactions
• Certain dates, events, seasons and reminders will bring upsurges in your grief
• Certain experiences later in life may resurrect intense grief feelings for you
Adapted from: Grieving: How to go on Living When Someone you Love Dies., T. Rando.
• Your grief will take longer than most people think it should
• Your grief will take more energy that you can imagine
• Your grief will involve continual changes
• Your grief will show itself in all spheres of your life and who you are. It will affect your
social relationships, your health, thoughts, feelings and spiritual beliefs
• Your grief will depend upon how you perceive the loss
• You will grieve for many things (both symbolic and tangible), not just the death itself
• You will grieve for what you have lost already as well as for the future; for the hopes, dreams
and unfulfilled expectations you held for and with that person
• Your grief will involve a wide variety of feelings and reactions: some expected and some not
• This loss will resurrect old losses, feelings and unfinished business from the past
• You may have some confusion about who you are; this is due to the intensity and unfamiliarity of the grieving experience and uncertainty about your new role in the world
• You may have a combination of anger and depression: irritability, frustration, intolerance
• You may feel guilt in some form
• You may have a poor sense of self-worth
• You may experience spasms, waves or acute upsurges of grief that occur without warning
• You will have trouble thinking and making decisions: poor memory and organization
• You may feel like you are going crazy
• You may be obsessed with the death or preoccupied with thoughts of the dead person
• You will search for meaning in your life and question your beliefs
• You may find yourself acting differently
• Society has unrealistic expectations about your mourning and responds inappropriately
• You will have a number of physical reactions
• Certain dates, events, seasons and reminders will bring upsurges in your grief
• Certain experiences later in life may resurrect intense grief feelings for you
Adapted from: Grieving: How to go on Living When Someone you Love Dies., T. Rando.