Community Conversations: Living Well Dying Well

Sundays, 2 – 4:30 p.m., monthly sessions January to May 2018

Doors Open 1:30 p.m. (street parking)

1600 Cook St., corner of Cook & Mason

Free Registration online: Eventbrite: Community Conversations

The world’s faith traditions offer a veritable mountain of wisdom on this theme, their teachings enshrining eternal truths and reinforcing each other’s strengths and unique insights into the spiritual nature of living well and dying with dignity.

The Victoria Multifaith Society launched the Living Well Dying Well project at its 2017 Annual General Meeting and will hold 5 monthly sessions between January and May 2018. The idea arose in collaboration with Kim Holl of the Centre for Earth and Spirit.

“In many communities and families, aging, death and dying are often topics we avoid.  In the absence of these meaningful conversations, there is a good chance that we will face end of life issues in crisis, with fear, anxiety and isolation.  What if we could talk openly about aging, death and dying as part of living vibrantly?”

FORMAT

Kim Holl will act as project leader and facilitator for the sessions, which will feature keynote speakers for each theme and small table “community conversations”, followed by refreshments and time to socialize.

1:30 p.m.      Doors open

2 p.m.           Welcome, Sacred Opening

2:20 p.m.      Keynote by guest speaker

2:30 p.m.      Small table conversations

3:45 p.m.      Sharing highlights

4:00 p.m.      Sacred Closing, Social, refreshments

SCHEDULE

21 Jan.         Entering the Forbidden Conversation  

Normalizing the conversation around aging, death and dying

18 Feb.         Aging in our Culture – Role of the Elder

Wisdom from our culture & beliefs that offer a gift for navigating aging, death & dying

25 Mar.         Transforming Grief

 Exploring creative ways to transform grief, honour emerging wisdom, and affirm life

22 Apr.          Life Beyond Life

What do we believe?  What is our experience?

27 May         Legacy—Living Well Giving Well

What is our Legacy? How do we move towards it?

FACILITATOR KIM HOLL

As a storyteller, social entrepreneur and compassionate communicator, Kim spent a decade and a half in the USA working with a diverse group of non-profits leading social change initiatives. She has worked with urban, rural, inner-city and First Nations communities, facilitating innovative, arts- and adventure-based programs that focus on bullying prevention and anti-violence, restorative practices, community engagement, and using philanthropy to inspire social change.

SPECIAL THANKS

The VMS board would like to thank the planning team: Kim Holl, Rev. Terri Woolgar, Cathy Nilson and Sheila Flood. We would also like to thank the Open Door Sanctuary Spiritualist community for offering their beautiful and very comfortable space on Cook St. to host the series.

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