Monthly Gatherings in the Pioneer Room 2026/2027

Our in-person meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm in the Pioneer Room of the Mansons Hall, September through April. Everyone is welcome.

The meetings consist of about a ½ an hour for sharing about death, dying and grief, the next 1/2 hour or 40 minutes for a presentation to learn more about a particular death-related topic, followed by questions and reflections.

Sep 23: Preparing and Executing a Will

Sally Houghton, Quadra’s Notary Public, will talk about wills—the importance of having one in place and what happens after a death. She’ll cover topics including how to choose an executor, death certificates, probate, and who is responsible for your body after death. There will be time for questions and discussion.

Oct 21: The Last Caravan

Anna Byrne from Qathet (Powell River) will share her recently published book, The Last Caravan. Anna presents a fresh vision for deathcare—bringing care of our dead back into the hands of families, friends and community. Her approach will share similarities with those of us on Cortes familiar with community-supported deathcare.

November’s meeting will be replaced with a Movie Night. 2027 Dates: Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 17, Apr 21.

Currently Death Cafes are offered in over 87 countries around the world. Many find comfort in speaking about their anxieties, grief and curiosities around death and dying in a safe, neutral environment. It is an opportunity to speak from the heart and practice deep listening with others.

This cafe will be in Whaletown, hosted by Darsi Kamay. We begin with tea, meeting our companions before beginning. The circle is small, based on how many people come, and our limit is 10, by registration only.

We meet on the first Saturday of the month from 2:00 – 3:30 pm, and there is no charge. To register, or for more information, please send a note to Darsi at [email protected]. Location information will be given upon registration.