About Canary Garden

Who We Are

Approximately one in 20 children experience the death of a parent before he or she reaches the age of 18.

The grieving process is painful, but it is a journey that does not have to be made alone. By sharing their experiences with others their age, children and teenagers are better able to resolve their grief and move forward in the healing process.

At Canary Garden, we provide this support and offer hope to the community. We are dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for children and adolescents who are mourning the death of a family member.

 

What Happens at Canary Garden

We believe that the duration and intensity of grief is unique for each person, but within each individual is the natural capacity to heal onself.

At Canary Garden, we offer support through interaction with peers and trained volunteers. Grief is explored using art, music, theater, storytelling and creative writing in the children’s groups. The adult groups discuss the challenges they are facing, each other.

Canary Garden participants meet once a week on Monday evenings. Trained volunteers facilitate the following age groups:
• 3-5 years old
• 6-9 years old
• 10-12 years old
• 13-18 years old
• Adult groups

Our goal is for all grieving families to be able to move forward with confidence and hope in the future.

What the Kids are saying

"Canary Garden means a lot to me. It helps me through tough times and it helps me to come to peace of mind." Gage, age 12

"My Dad passed away in May and one of the things I look forward to each week is Canary Garden and seeing all my friends and talking about the people we love the most." Logan, age 10

"It has helped me a lot to deal with the grief. We draw, write and listen to music as well as talk. It's great!" Ashley, age 10

"I feel better when I come here and it's helping me so much." Sheri, age 12

"I think Canary Garden is a very positive experience for anyone who has lost a loved one and wants to talk about it and how it has affected every aspect of their lives. Canary Garden is a place where everybody can just relax and make new friends who have gone through the exact same thing that they have gone through. And it shows them that feeling sad and crying is OK and it doesn't make you weird or a softy." Justin, age 14




Testimonial

“My husband was the center of our family. He was the glue that held us all together. When he died I was shocked and devastated, and my children were crushed. But when we started coming to Canary Garden, it gave us something to look forward to. We made a lot of friends and found a safe haven where we could talk about our grief.” - Melinda Barnes