• Dying, Death

      and other matters of the living

      "Reclaiming Death as an Honoured part of Life" *

    • Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network

      Based in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

      and serving the Cariboo-Chilcotin

       

      * “Reclaiming Death as an Honoured part of life“ is a quote from

      Judith McGill; Ontario Death Midwife and Death Educator.

    • LET’S TALK ABOUT THE END OF LIFE.

      We hosted our 6th Virtual Death Cafe on May 19th. It was another evening of rich conversations. One of our participants wrote, “Thank you so much for a wonderfully heart-opening and heart warming space to talk about death.”
      Another participant was sketching and scribing as we talked. I asked her if we could share her drawing. I love this. And her notes. ❤️

      Virtual Death Cafe Tuesday May 19th, 6 to 8 pm Pacific time

    • Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network: What we're all about.

      Dying, Death and Remembrance

       

      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network is based in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada. We are reaching out to connect with others who are interested in rekindling a culture that recognizes and responds to death and dying in natural and meaningful ways. "Reclaiming Death as an Honoured Part of Life." (Judith McGill)

       

      Our focus is on increasing death literacy in the region and to help and encourage each other as we build a holistic community deathcaring network in the Cariboo, and throughout rural British Columbia.

       

      CCDC Network now has Non Profit status in BC under the official name of Cariboo Community Deathcaring Association. Our first membership and fundraising drive is underway!  Annual membership in the association is $10. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and will be used to continue our work in the community.

      Please note that we are unable to issue tax receipts because we are not a Registered Charity. Once our Nonprofit is well established and we can show a strong base of support, we will look at applying for Charitable Status.

       

      We are currently hosting Virtual and Community Death Cafes, and we successfully hosted a local Death Festival in partnership with the national Swan Song Festival on October 26th, 2019. Visit the Archive here. Watch for our next Virtual Death Cafe. Follow us on Facebook.

       

      We provide access to information for individuals and families who want to be more proactive and hands-on with dying and death. We are reaching out to and working with local resource people and organizations involved in offering deathcaring services.

      We are enthusiastically planning a series of Death Talks in 2020 and we are in the beginning stages of establishing a Natural Burial Sanctuary in the Cariboo.

       

      Both founding members of the Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network are trained as End-of-Life Doulas.

       

      Angela Gutzer studied with the Institute of Traditional Medicine. Angela is transitioning from her 12-year career as a Veterinarian to her passion for the holistic deathcaring of people and pets. Angela has a special interest in guiding families through the home funeral process.

       

      Nicola Finch took her End-of-Life Doula training through Douglas College. She brings her online expertise, and her decades of involvement with deathcaring; personally and professionally. Nicola has a special interest in natural burial and death literacy through education.

        

      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network is part of a much larger movement of reclaiming deathcare and bringing the conversations about dying, death and bereavement back home.

      Some of the things we’re addressing locally are home funerals, legal issues & practices around end of life in BC, end of life planning (Advance Care Planning), End-of-life Choices, MAiD, a local Natural Burial Cemetery for people and pets, greener cremations, Coffin Clubs, building a stone barrow for ashes, dying at home, and home funerals.

       

      We invite you to join the conversation. Drop us a note if you would like to be on our mailing list for news and upcoming events.

      info@ccdcnetwork.com 

    • Who we are

      CoFounders of Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network

      Small Business Owner and Death Doula; Nicola Finch

      Veterinarian and Death Doula; Angela Gutzer

      Nicola Finch

      Nicola brings her leadership skills and online expertise to the Network along with decades of involvement with deathcaring personally and professionally. She has a particular interest in death literacy through education and Natural Burial. Nicola took her Death Doula training through Douglas College and is a member of End of Life Doula Association of Canada EOLDAC

      Email 

      778-765-1552

      Angela Gutzer

      Angela is transitioning from her 11-year career as a veterinarian to pursue her passion for holistic deathcaring of people and pets. She currently works as a locum at various locations throughout BC. Angela has a particular interest in guiding families through the home funeral process. Angela completed ITM’s extensive Contemplative End of Life Care Program.

      Email 

      250 267 4636

    • CCDC Blog

      Thoughts, musings, and ruminations on Dying, Death and Disposition

      Death came to the table and we heard its stories.
      November 21, 2019 · Deathcaring
      by Nicola Finch I came to an understanding when I was quite young, that grief and loss were part of life. My mother grieved the death of her father. I knew into the depth of my being that her grief was a big part of who she was and that she had a magnificent capacity for love. My mom's dad;...
      Fostering a deathcaring community that works together for the benefit of us all.
      November 13, 2019 · Deathcaring
      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network is all about reaching out and making connections so that when we or someone we love is dying, we have an informed and compassionate community holding us. In today’s changing landscape of death and dying, everyone has an important role to play; individuals,...
      Letting Go With Pluto
      November 4, 2019
      Nov 4th, 2019 as Published in The Green Gazette By Angela Gutzer I wrote this story for the Swan Song festival, which was held October 26 at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre in Williams Lake, and I read it aloud at the event. It was inspired by “The Moth” podcast (themoth.org), a site that...
      More Posts

    • Keeping the conversation going.

      Natural Burial petition (Artwork: The Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin)

      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network and Natural Burial in BC will continue to keep you up to date on the progress of establishing a Natural Burial Ground in Williams Lake, British Columbia.

       

      We have identified that Green Burial options are a priority for many residents of Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo. Currently, there are just two disposition options available at the Williams Lake Municipal Cemetery. The cemetery offers cremation or a traditional casket burial with a mandatory fiberglass vault.

       

      We've had word from Cindy Walters, Municipal Services Coordinator at the City of Williams Lake that “...our current cemetery location does not have room for expansion for natural burials at this time.”

      The good news is ...
      "...in the next 5 to 10 years (the City of Williams Lake) will be acquiring new land and the city is already discussing the new options that they can provide including a natural forested area for green burials.”

       

      So... if you want a natural burial in the Williams Lake Municipal Cemetery please hold off on dying for 5 to 10 years. :)


      And in the meantime, we are continuing to work toward creating a stand-alone woodland Natural Burial Ground in the Cariboo which will hopefully come to fruition in fewer than 5 years.

      VISIT OUR WEBSITE

      https://www.cariboonaturalburialsanctuary.ca

      It will be good to have options when Natural Burial is finally implemented in our local Cemetery, and when we have our community woodland burial ground up and running.

       

      If you are interested in working with us or learning more please be in touch. Email info@cariboonaturalburialsanctuary.ca

       

       

      OUR VISION for a Natural Burial Ground in the Central Cariboo

      We have formed a nonprofit to fund-raise and organize the establishment of a natural burial ground in the Cariboo. Cariboo Community Natural Burial Association

      • A Woodland Burial Ground for people and pets
      • A building, a Gathering place
      • A Stone Barrow or Pit Barrow for the safekeeping of Ashes in Urns
      • A Secular and Sacred place to come together in community and to remember our beloved dead.
      Larkspur Conservation at Taylor Hollow, Nashville, TN

      FEATURED RESOURCE for March 2020

      ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CANADA

      From the ACP website "A LIFE WELL LIVED IS A LIFE WELL PLANNED

      April 16th marks National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada.

      Advance Care Planning is the process of thinking and talking about your wishes, values, and preferences for your future care in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. Decide who would speak for you — choose your Substitute Decision Maker."

       

      Our sincere thanks to Yvonne Heath (Founder of Love Your Life to Death and the #IJustShowedUp movement)

      and Laurel Gillespie (Director, Advance Care Planning in Canada) for joining our Advance Care Planning Cafe on April 16th.

    • Let's keep talking

      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network

    • Resource Site

      Cariboo Death Resources

      Death and Dying Resources for Williams Lake,

      the Central Cariboo and BC Interior

      Death, Dying and Disposition. Resources for Williams Lake, the Cariboo and the BC Interior (Photo Soda Creek Cemetery)

      Photo: Soda Creek Cemetery

       

       

    • RESOURCES for Advance Care Planning

      Cariboo-Chilcotin, British Columbia

      Information and Links

      Because it's always too soon until it's too late.

      www.advancecareplanning.ca Excellent national and provincial resources

       

      Advance Care Plan to fill in and download From Dying with Dignity Canada

       

      MY VOICE Advance Care Planning BC Workbook Online

       

      www.bestendings.org A US site that offers an Advance Directive to fill in online and they will email it to you once completed. It is NOT Canadian but is a nice format for addressing some of those difficult questions that are universal.

       

      Patient Pathways ~

      Excellent Resources http://patientpathways.ca/plan-ahead/in-case-of-emergency/

      The ICE form is one of the resources on their website.

       

      MOST Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (to be completed with and signed by your health care provider) Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) encompass six designations that provide direction on Resuscitation Status (code status); Critical Care Interventions; and, Medical Interventions. The orders are determined by the Most Responsible Physician (MRP).

      Another link for MOST information, from Island Health, BC.

       

      NO CPR form

      Capable patients may request that no cardiopulmonary resuscitation be started on their behalf. This should be done after discussions with their doctor or nurse practitioner. “No cardiopulmonary resuscitation” is defined as no cardiopulmonary resuscitation (no CPR) in the event of a respiratory and/or cardiac arrest.

       

      Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network ACP Resource List 

    • SOCIAL MEDIA

      CCDC Network on Facebook and Instagram

    © 2020 Contact us at info@ccdcnetwork.com

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