04/07/2026
According to VIU’s Snuneymuxw Elder-in-Residence, Auntie Geraldine Manson, “This event will allow those who have lost someone through overdose to come together to be part of a ceremony that embraces grief and loss. Grief can be overwhelming, so writing a note to loved ones lost at a sacred fire helps us express and share our loss and gives some comfort to one’s mind.”
Dr. Carmen Lavoie, a VIU Social Work professor & Co-Founder, adds, “A community grief fire is held to honour those who have passed in silence or behind the veils of stigma and shame. We build a fire to signify our grief for those who have passed and to create a container for others to share their grief. In this way, grief becomes a journey of giving to one another to nourish our community and counter community divisions that no longer serve us.”
This event is an adaptation of a Snuneymuxw spiritual tradition made available to the public and exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and gathering together to address difficult issues such as grief and loss.
Join us on Tuesday April 14th at 12pm outside of Building 200 (RBC Plaza) for our 2nd Annual Grief Fire Ceremony. Pizza lunch provided courtesy of our friends at . Fresh flowers will be available, as well as electric tea lights for attendees to light in remembrance of their loved ones. Additionally, an art installation will be featured to honor and represent those lost, serving as a visual tribute to their lives and the impact of the Toxic Drug Crisis. Attendees will be invited to share/speak if they feel called to do so 💜
📸: Auntie Geraldine Manson speaking at last year’s Grief Fire Ceremony (April 14th, 2025)
