DeathCaring Collective: Death As Part of Life

The Cortes Island DeathCaring Collective works to integrate death as a natural part of community life by

• initiating conversations, providing education, and encouraging people to plan ahead on issues related to end-of-life, and 
• empowering, guiding, and supporting the practice and process of caring for our own dead and dying, in community.

The DeathCaring Collective began on Cortes in 2019, inspired by folks from neighbouring Quadra and Denman Islands. The conversation started with a small group, and regular publicly held monthly meetings soon followed. 

In the spring of 2020, a group of volunteers were trained to guide, support, and assist families through the practice of caring for their own dead and dying. We have since gathered more knowledge, equipment, and supplies, and enough volunteers so that a team is usually available. Often a person who dies on Cortes can be buried on Cortes, without their body leaving the island. The bodies of those who have died in a hospital or care facility can be transported back to the island, and be tended to and prepared for burial or cremation by their loved ones and volunteers. There are also trained death doulas who can be paid directly for their services. The website communityleddeathcare.ca contains more information. 

The DeathCaring Collective strives to create more choices in our community for death and after death care. We have worked with the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) and the Whaletown Community Club (WCC) to designate areas in each of these community cemeteries for natural (green) burial. This project continues, as we work to create pathways and a communal memorial structure in each cemetery.

Talking about our fears and past experiences with death often leads to an expanded openness toward life. In learning about the options available, as well as having the guidance, support, and assistance needed, we are empowered to make choices that align with who we are and what is important to us. When death is something that happens inside a community of people, it becomes a shared experience.    

It is our belief that talking about death, learning more about it, and navigating it with more knowledge, support, and courage, is life-affirming.