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Ceremony being held for one hour at 7 p.m. local time around the world
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Fort McMurray ceremony this Sunday at Dr. Clark School
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Some Other Solutions organizing and reminding those suffering a loss of their bereaved parents support group the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
No parent expects to outlive their child and when they do the loss and grief can be overwhelming.
In recognition of that terrible loss a worldwide candle lighting ceremony is taking place on Sunday at and Some Other Solutions is helping to plan the lighting here in Fort McMurray.
The event begins in Australia and takes place at 7 p.m. everywhere as it makes its way across the globe. Here in Fort McMurray the gathering begins at 6:30 at Dr. Clark School with the lighting beginning at 7 p.m. and the event ending at 8 p.m. You’re invited to bring along photos or remembrances to help you honour the life you are remembering.
“Candles are lit in honour and memory of families and loved ones who have lost a child. It’s very specific grief. It’s not just a general bereavement, it’s specific grief for families who have lost a child, whether the child is three months, three years, or thirty years. The age is irrelevant. It’s that if you have lost a child this night is in memory of those children,” said Linda Sovdi, Health and Wellness Manager at Some Other Solutions, Fort McMurray, who works in grief and loss support and is helping to organize the event.
She said the event is for any parents who has lost a child of any age at any time, regardless of whether it was this year or 50 years ago.
Sovdi said it’s very important to allow families time to continue to grieve this loss because it is very severe and something many people do not understand unless they themselves have experienced a difficult loss.
“The memories that families have are now officially the only memories they are ever going to have with that loved one as far as them increasing. They won’t be having, if it was that they died very young, the loss of a dream, the loss of a future. So, they don’t get to see them graduate, or get their license, or get a job, or be a grandparent. So, the future, their whole dreams have changed,” she said.
“The fact of honouring and remembering, one of the greatest fears is they don’t want anybody including family, to forget that that loved one existed and lived and has put a permanent imprint on their hearts. So, it’s a time of honour and remembering and other people remembering with them,” she said.
Sovdi is planning to honour the memories of each child by reading their names aloud in the ceremony Sunday so she is asking if you would like your loved one’s name included you be in touch before end of business Tuesday, December 8, to allow her time to incorporate the appropriate details. You can reach her at 780-743-8605 extension 2 or by email at griefandloss@someothersolutions.ca.
If you are unable to attend you are invited to light a candle at home to remember a lost child alongside family and friends.
Some Other Solutions offers counselling services and hosts a support group for bereaved parents on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at their location at 9908 Manning Avenue.
