Advancing Baby Loss Support Across Canada
Bringing together those focused on creating and maintaining a higher level of standardized bereavement care in Canada
Free Online Conference for Healthcare Professionals, Non-Profits and Death Care Professionals
Led by CuddleCot, this virtual conference brings together professionals dedicated to creating and maintaining consistent standards of care for families experiencing pregnancy and baby loss in Canada.
Through a series of expert speakers from diverse provinces, the conference will explore best practices, advocate for compassionate support, and drive meaningful change in bereavement care across the country.
Agenda
9:05 - 9:15 - Opening Remarks
Host: Jessica Fleming, CuddleCot
Jessica Fleming is the Business Development Executive at Flexmort Canada and founder of the Maxwell George Fleming Foundation, which has provided CuddleCots to hospitals across Canada since 2018. With a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and 15 years in finance, she now focuses on bereavement training to support families facing pregnancy and infant loss. Based in Toronto, Jessica is dedicated to improving care, awareness, and resources for grieving families.
Connect on LinkedIn Email: Jessica.Fleming@flexmort.com
9:15 - 9:35
Co Host: Rosa Caporicci, MA (C. Psy), Psychotherapist
Rosa Caporicci, M.A., Counselling Psychology is a perinatal psychotherapist in private practice in Montreal, Quebec. She provides support to women and families before, during and following a pregnancy or in the event of perinatal or neonatal loss. Rosa is also an active member of the perinatal loss community in Montreal, having facilitated support groups in collaboration with the McGill University Health Centre between 2016 and 2020.
Most recently, she spearheaded a community-based project (The (un)Expected Project) with the support of Dr. Rosemary Reilly of the Applied Human Sciences department at Concordia University, which led to legislative change in Quebec (adoption of Bill 595 recognizing October 15 of each year as Perinatal Bereavement Awareness Day).
Presentations Begin:
9:35 - 9:55
Lesley Sabourin
Topic: Perinatal Palliative Care
9:55 - 10:15
Karine Burelle
Topic:TBC
10:15 - 10:35
Dr. Jacques Balayla MD, FRCSC
Topic: Navigating Perinatal Loss: the Obstetrician’s
10:35 - 10:55
Marie-Claude Dufour
Topic: Supporting Families Through Perinatal Loss: The Key Role of Community-Based Organizations
This presentation will highlight the essential role of the community sector in supporting parents experiencing perinatal loss. The Réseau des Centres de ressources périnatales du Québec will present the work of the Perinatal Resources Centres (CRP in the French acronym) which provide tailored support through individual, family, and peer support groups, across Quebec. This support meets the specific needs of families by offering them a space for listening, sharing, and comfort. The presentation will also discuss the impact of this support on their journey, both emotionally and in their grieving process.
Accompagner les familles à travers le deuil périnatal : le rôle clé des organismes communautaires
Cette présentation mettra en lumière le rôle essentiel du milieu communautaire dans le soutien aux parents vivant un deuil périnatal. Le Réseau des Centres de ressources périnatales du Québec y présentera le travail des Centres de ressources périnatales (CRP), qui offrent de l’accompagnement adapté sous forme de soutien individuel, familial et de groupes d'entraide, à travers le Québec. Ce soutien répond aux besoins spécifiques des familles en leur offrant un espace d’écoute, de partage et de réconfort. La présentation abordera également l’impact de cet accompagnement sur leur parcours, tant sur le plan émotionnel que dans leur processus de deuil.
10:55 - 11:15
Nadine Belzile
Topic: Prévenir les mortinaissances au Canada en adoptant le modèle australien
11:30 - 12:00
Lana Sullivan, Kimberly Lockhart and Dr. Rana Van Tuyl
This presentation will share the grassroots story of the Butterfly Support Network drawing attention to the ways support is provided throughout British Columbia and highlighting the advocacy work happening to ensure the highest standard of bereavement care exists in the province.
Examples of this work will be demonstrated by highlighting a project about pregnancy loss rates in BC, which aims to raise awareness about the need for more health services for pregnancy loss.
The podcast Stillbirth Happens – lets talk will also be highlighted as one example of support for bereaved parents that defies geographic barriers. The aim of this presentation will be, through examples of work in progress in British Columbia, to describe work that is being done to create and maintain a higher level of standardized bereavement care.
11:30 - 12:00
Closing Remarks: Jessica Fleming, CuddleCot
Guest Speakers
Rosa Caporicci, MA (C. Psy)
Lesley Sabourin
Karine Burelle
Dr. Jacques Balayla MD, FRCSC, MPH
Marie-Claude Dufour
Nadine Belzile
Lana Sullivan
Kimberly Lockhart
Rana Van Tuyl
Canadian Based Charities Working Towards Quality Bereavement Care For All
Maxwell George Fleming Foundation
The Maxwell George Fleming Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every hospital in Canada has access to a CuddleCot™. Their mission is to provide CuddleCots™ to hospitals, giving bereaved families more time to be with their infant after loss.
Instagram: @mgffoundation
Facebook: MGF Foundation
Tiny Footprints Society
Our mission is to increase awareness about pregnancy and infant loss, create a supportive community, and provide access to quality local support services.
The Butterfly Run
The Butterfly Run is a registered non-profit organization that provides integrated support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to
parenthood. We hope to empower families to share their stories and we provide this run as a healing space for you in your journey. As alone you might feel right now, we want you to know that we walk beside you.
Fondation La Berceuse
The La Berceuse Foundation aims to support families who are going through this ordeal in order to allow them to cope with their grief. To do this, it wants to equip Quebec hospitals with CuddleCots and CuddleBlankets, and offer financial and psychological support to bereaved families.
fondationlaberceuse.com
US Based Charities Working Towards Quality Bereavement Care For All
Miles' Mission (US)
Beyond personal experiences, we aim to advocate for better medical benefits, increased access to mental health support, and serve as a reminder to faith-based organizations of their profound role in bringing spiritual healing to all.
Butterfly Kisses Alliance
Butterfly Kisses Alliance is a charitable foundation that was founded in 2023 by a group of nurses that are passionate about perinatal bereavement. We are dedicated to providing support and resources to families and individuals who have been affected by the death of a baby, whether before, during or shortly after birth.
Mothers of Held Angels (US)
MOHA provides comfort boxes to grieving families in the hospital including “Day of Loss Resources” explaining what to expect in those initial days and ways to make memories with their babies.
It is their mission to provide a CuddleCot and CuddleBlanker to as many hospitals as possible
The Helen James Foundation (US)
How we can support you
