men's health
june 25, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Category B - 1 cec

Summary of the session.
Historically, women have tended to be the caregivers and gatekeepers for the health of their family members. But with changing dynamics of the family and greater general awareness of health risks, more men are taking ownership of their own health and well-being. Are you one of them? This seminar, delivered by a male facilitator, is designed to help men understand the importance of being in control of their health and offers tips and strategies for improving and maintaining their health ... all from a “no bull” male perspective.

Presenter Dr. Kenneth Groves: 

Chief Medical Officer at InspireHealth Niagara. He completed his Honors Bachelor of Science degree at Brock University, specializing in Biology and Health Sciences. Following that he completed the extensive 4-year ND program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicin

Dr. Kenneth, ND offers a high level of researched based integrative Naturopathic Medical Care that has an emphasis on isolating the root cause of disease. He truly enjoys educating and inspiring his patients along their health journey.

Away from clinical practice Dr. Kenneth, ND was a former volunteer Firefighter. He loves spending time with his wife Jennifer and their 4 amazing children Easton, Addilyn, Oaklynn and Iyson. Family activities include Nature adventures, hiking, gardening, fishing, coaching travel hockey, taking care of their animals and travelling to warm destinations..

The Space between the words
sept 24, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Category a - 1 cec

Summary of the session.

It’s a session created to support both seasoned and newer professionals in this ever-evolving landscape where grief is showing up in more complex, layered, and unexpected ways.

This workshop offers three gentle, intuitive tools to prepare you to assist families and make a profound difference. 

Here’s what you will explore:

We’ll look at how to respond to pauses, glances, and the quiet ache beneath the surface. The cadence of a conversation, learning when to lead or when to follow offers invaluable texture at the right moment.

Discover how to invite the small but powerful stories—the Saturday routines, the kitchen smells, the quirks that made someone unforgettable.  It’s invaluable when a family learns even more about their loved one through a simple curious question.

Navigating the kaleidoscope of guilt, relief, anger, detachment and even joy is a language of its own. When a family feels understood, even guided, they will also feel seen and safe.  Having agency in one’s own grief journey is powerful, and this is a lasting gift the Funeral Director can provide to them.

Presenter Kelly Meloche 

Funeral Celebrant

funeral professional peer support
September, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Category B - 1 cec

Summary of the session.
Participants will be introduced the mission, values and aims of Funeral Professional Peer Support as helpful way of providing mental health support to those who work in the funeral services profession.  The presentation will cover the available services for any person working in the Funeral Services Profession, including other allied helping services that involve death care.  FPPS is a not for profit service aimed at increasing knowledge and mental health awareness among the funeral services profession.  We currently support FSP's in Canada, the USA and in Kenya.  For funeral home whose mental health or wellness programs are limited because of costs or lack of resources, FPPS can help provide another buffer against the stress and impact of death and grief labour.  Join two of our members of the Management Team and Board of Directors as they open a dialogue about peer support services and other initiatives FPPS is bringing to the members of the funeral services profession

Presenters: 
Andrea Grieg, FD, CFSP:  Nova Scotia Funeral Director, Embalmer and part time Instructor with Nova Scotia Community College, Kingstec Campus (Online Allied Health FSE Program), Management Team of FPPS, she is also host of the Death Talk Canada Podcast.  She works for Middleton Funeral Home, in Middleton, Nova Scotia

Dwight Thompson, MSW RSW RMFT-S, is a Registered Social Worker/Marriage and Family Therapist with Ottawa Psychotherapy Services, Ottawa, ON.  He works as a board member with FPPS.  Dwight was formerly licensed as a funeral director in Nova Scotia and Ontario.  He is the Director of Veterans Services, and manager of the Funeral Service Professional Mental Health Program through Ottawa Psychotherapy Services.  

.