HISTORY OF THE LOWER MAINLAND GRIEF RECOVERY SOCIETY (LMGRS) Charity #89121 8596 RR0001
In 1984 hospice and palliative care programs were in their infancy. These programs supported those who were dying; however, there were virtually no resources to support those who were grieving. The Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Programs began with a pilot project in Burquitlam in 1983. The initial project was very successful and well received. The Burquitlam program then formed a society. The dream was then to expand the program to other areas of greater Vancouver so individuals could receive the bereavement support they needed in their local community.
By the late ’80s and early ’90s the programs were expanded to the North Shore, Kerrisdale, Downtown Vancouver and Richmond. The Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society was formed under the Society’s Act in 1990. The Society was constituted to be the supportive and fundraising organization for these community based programs. The Burquitlam Grief Recovery Society closed when the local hospice organizations developed their own bereavement components.
Early in the development of the programs, the need for ongoing education and recruitment of facilitators was identified. The first of the educational workshops was held in 1986. The LMGRS continues this commitment to the education of facilitators and the general public.
The LMGRS programs were originally based on the content of Larry Yeagley’s Grief Recovery Manual. The basis of the program is for the participants to be able to talk and write about what has happened and to create a safe environment in which they are able to express their feelings.
The LMGRS is committed to the communities we serve. The programs certainly impact the individuals who attend, but the impact doesn’t stop there. It extends to their families, friends and neighbours. Our grief support programs are like dropping a pebble in the water. The ripples go out and we do not know where they will end and what will be the full impact on the larger community.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2024 – 2025
President as of June 2022 / Administrator: Ann Caulfield 
Grief Support Group Facilitator / Grief Educator
Ann has been a grief and loss group facilitator with the Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society for almost 10 years. Her personal journey through grief began when her husband Bill died in 2010. After extensive training with the Society, Ann became a grief facilitator and has led numerous grief support groups over the years. In 2019 she joined the Board of Directors as Facilitator Liaison and in 2022 became the President of the Society. She is currently working on her Death and Grief Studies Certification with the Center for Loss and Life Transition. Ann brings compassion and understanding to those who are grieving. Ann calls North Vancouver home where she works as bookkeeper and administrative assistant.
Facilitator Liaison / Administrator / Past President (2015 – 2022): Chris Newell
Grief Support Group Facilitator / Grief Educator
Chris was a Personal Coach and Career Practitioner from 1999 – 2016. In this work she met many people who were going through all kinds of profound loss and transition in their lives. Her interest in supporting people who were experiencing death-related loss began in 2005 after the suicide of a dear friend. Since then, she has immersed herself in training and development from different grief educators including the LMGRS in 2007.
Chris became a Grief Support Group Facilitator with the Society in 2008. Shortly after that, she was involved in the application of systems for daily operations and the development of the Grief Education Workshops (GEW), where she became an Educator concurrent with President of the Board in 2015. She has been in the role of Facilitator Liaison since 2022.
Secretary / Memberships: Morgyn Chandler
Morgyn has served on the Board of Directors of the LMGRS since 2013. She is the Managing Partner of Hammerco Lawyers LLP, a BC based litigation firm. Morgyn works in personal injury law including civil sexual assault, medical negligence and wrongful death claims. Morgyn is a forceful advocate for survivors of trauma, grief and loss and her practice has given her a deep appreciation for the physical and emotional hurdles faced by survivors. Morgyn Chandler — Hammerco
Community Relations: Karen Parrish
Karen is a freelance writer, editor, and poet. In October 2019 she lost her husband of 36 years to cancer. She found tremendous support in LMGRS grief groups, which led her to train as a grief group facilitator and to offer grief writing workshops in the lower mainland. A dual U.S./Canadian citizen, she is addicted to following U.S. and Canadian politics, though she fears she will never understand the politics of Florida, where she was born and raised. She loves long walks in the forest, hiking in the mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, birdwatching, and meditating. She loves her family and friends and is endlessly devoted to her daughter and son.
Administrative Support: Tamara Mulder
Tamara has been with LMGRS since 2019. She currently serves on the board as Administrative Support. She calls New Westminster home and is employed as an office assistant. Tamara’s personal journey through grief began when her husband of 33 years died in 2017. Through her personal experience with grief she brings compassion and commitment to serve the board.
Our current Facilitators are: Chris, Ann, Bianca, Karen and Laura
Treasurer:
We are actively looking for a Treasurer. This position requires approximately 4 hours per month. If you are interested in filling this role, please contact us at lmgr@lmgr.ca