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Local Hospice & Grief Societies
Hospice societies across the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver run free grief programs, and you don’t need to have had a loved one in hospice care to use them. It doesn’t matter whether the death was expected or sudden, recent or years ago, and you can usually reach out yourself — no referral needed. Many also support people who are caring for someone who is seriously ill, before a death has happened. There are programs for every age: one-on-one support, groups and walking groups for adults and seniors, and dedicated programs, camps and school support for children and teens.
How to get started: phone or email the society in your community. Most begin with a short conversation about what you need, then suggest a program that fits.
Hospice societies we’re proud to support
Langley Hospice Society
Serving Langley City, Langley Township, Fort Langley & Aldergrove
Support for anyone affected by the death of someone important to them, whatever the cause — including suicide, substance use and sudden loss — and for people anticipating an expected death. Drop-in coffee groups meet in Walnut Grove, Aldergrove and Langley, alongside a 10-week support group, a walking group, a men’s coffee group and groups for bereaved parents. Children and teens have their own one-on-one support, groups, day camps and school outreach.
How to get started: Call or email the grief support team. A short intake conversation comes first, then they’ll suggest the right program.
Abbotsford Hospice & Grief Support Society
Serving Abbotsford & surrounding area
Eight free one-on-one sessions with a trained grief companion, plus groups that include Walk with Grief, a group for widowers, a grieving wives group and pregnancy & infant loss support. Children and youth aged 3 to 18 have one-on-one companioning, day camps and an equine therapy camp, and Care for the Caregiver supports people looking after someone who is dying.
How to get started: Call or email to book an intake. One-on-one support is available at any time; groups need registration.
Peace Arch Hospice Society
Serving White Rock & South Surrey
Free counselling with registered clinical counsellors and trained volunteers for people of every age, from children to seniors — in person, by phone or by video — and support can begin before a death. There is an adult support group, a men’s drop-in, a weekly walking group, and art, mindfulness and yoga groups, with teen support for ages 13 and up and day camps for ages 6 to 12.
How to get started: Phone or email to make an appointment. Anyone can make a referral, including you.
Chilliwack Hospice Society
Serving Chilliwack
Chilliwack’s Centre for Grief Support welcomes anyone experiencing the dying process or death of a loved one — no referral or diagnosis needed. Adults can join the 8-week First Step group, an ongoing Second Step group, a monthly coffee drop-in, a walking group, or groups for MAiD, pet loss and 2SLGBTQ+ grief. Children and teens aged 3 to 18 have one-on-one support, groups, a teen adventure group and camps, and there is a support circle for caregivers.
How to get started: No referral is needed — just call or email. Teens are welcome to reach out themselves.
More hospice & grief societies near you
Burnaby Hospice Society
Serving Burnaby
Free support for Burnaby residents, regardless of where their person passed away, and no referral is needed. Short-term grief counselling, expressive art therapy, one-on-one volunteer support, groups and workshops (including for parents who have lost an adult child), a weekly walking group and a drop-in grief coffee hour, with grief counselling for youth aged 13 to 18.
How to get started: Fill in the request form on their website or give them a call.
Heron Hospice Society of Delta
Serving Ladner, Tsawwassen, North Delta & Tsawwassen First Nation
Up to eight free counselling sessions for people who have lost a loved one or are living with a life-limiting diagnosis, and trained grief companions by phone, online or in person. Groups meet in Ladner and North Delta: a grief group, a traumatic loss group, a Grief Café, a drop-in coffee group, a walking group at Deas Island, yoga and cooking together.
How to get started: Call or email, or register for a group on their website.
Fraser Canyon Hospice Society
Serving Hope, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Boston Bar & Yale
A monthly grief coffee group, weekly “Comfort Calls” by phone or Zoom for anyone not ready for a group, a bereavement circle, a nature walking group and a memory book group — plus Camp Skylark, a day camp for children aged 7 to 12.
How to get started: Space is limited in some programs, so pre-register by phone or email.
Ridge Meadows Hospice Society
Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows
Grief support for anyone grieving after a loved one has died, under any circumstances: one-to-one support, adult groups, a walking group and a relaxation circle that also welcomes people who are ill and their caregivers. Children and youth from preschool to 18 have one-to-one support and age-specific groups, with guidance for their parents and caregivers.
How to get started: Call or email to book a first meeting with the adult or child & youth grief coordinator.
Mission Hospice Society
Serving Mission
Open to everyone in Mission, whatever their age or the circumstances of the loss, and whether it was recent or years ago. Adults can join a group for the loss of a spouse or partner, a suicide & substance-related loss group, a walking group or Cooking for One, and children and youth have one-on-one support and school-based groups.
How to get started: Support begins with a one-on-one conversation — email or call the Adult Bereavement Coordinator.
New West Hospice Society
Serving New Westminster
A small community society offering a free monthly grief support & art drop-in and a seasonal grief walking group in Queen’s Park.
How to get started: The team is part-time, so leave a message or send an email and they’ll get back to you.
Every Day Counts (North Shore)
Serving North Vancouver & West Vancouver
A free program run from the North Shore Hospice building for anyone seeking grief support, as well as people living with a serious illness and their families and caregivers — no doctor’s referral needed. It offers short-term grief counselling in the first year after a loss, a grief walking group and Care for the Caregiver.
How to get started: Refer yourself with the online form and an intake coordinator will call you within a week.
Surrey Hospice Society
Serving Surrey — Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton & Whalley
Free grief programs for children, teens and adults: counselling with registered clinical counsellors, trained grief companions (many speak languages other than English), an online reflective group, an overdose loss group, walking groups, and counselling for children, youth and families.
How to get started: Call, email or use the contact form on their website. Groups are free but need registration.
Crossroads Hospice Society
Serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore & Belcarra
Free grief support for Tri-Cities residents. Adults 30 and over have one-to-one support, up to 12 weekly visits with a volunteer companion, groups (such as loss of a spouse or a parent, or a substance-related death) and a walking group. Youth and young adults aged 13 to 29 have one-to-one support, including at school, and activity groups such as yoga, ceramics, equine wellness and rock climbing.
How to get started: No referral needed — contact them yourself and they’ll reply within a few business days to set up a first meeting.
Call 604-945-0606
Email support@crossroadshospice.org
Website for Crossroads Hospice Society (opens in a new tab)
Youth & young adults (13–29): 604-813-6576 (call or text) or youth@crossroadshospice.org
Vancouver Hospice Society
Serving Vancouver
Up to six free individual or family counselling sessions by phone, video or in person for people in the Vancouver community, plus free six-week bereavement groups and a seasonal walking group. Groups are popular and waitlists can be three months or more, so it is worth getting in touch early.
How to get started: Call the Counselling & Bereavement Program at extension 216, or email.
For children, teens & families
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Serving families anywhere in BC or the Yukon whose child has died
Free grief and bereavement care for any family who has experienced the death of a child under 19 — whether or not Canuck Place cared for their child. Counselling for parents, siblings and grandparents, groups for parents, grandparents, siblings and infant loss, and walking groups for bereaved parents in Vancouver and Abbotsford.
How to get started: Call the Bereavement Care Line and ask for the Bereavement Coordinator, or email. Families are welcome to reach out at any point.
Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society
Serving families across BC — online, and in person in New Westminster
Grief programs for children, teens, young adults and families: a family group for children aged 6 to 12, youth programs for ages 13 to 29, the Camp Kerry family retreat, and online adult groups, including one for pregnancy & infant loss.
Most programs have a modest fee, with subsidies available — no one is turned away because they can’t pay.
How to get started: Register online through their website, or call or email to talk it through.
Programs change through the year, so please check each society’s website for current dates. Last checked October 2026.
