Canadian Virtual Hospice
Canadian Virtual Hospice is a nationwide initiative dedicated to providing thoughtful, accessible, and evidence-informed support for anyone navigating serious illness, caregiving, end-of-life realities, or grief. Established in 2004 by a multidisciplinary team of palliative-care experts and backed by the International Centre for Dignity and Palliative Care, the platform was created to meet a critical gap: ensuring people across Canada—regardless of geography—can receive reliable, compassionate guidance when it’s needed most.
The site brings together clinical specialists, spiritual care providers, educators, researchers, and individuals with lived experience to create resources that are both practical and deeply human. Through articles, videos, interactive modules, cultural perspectives, and a first-of-its-kind “Ask a Professional” service, users can access support that reflects real concerns faced by families and caregivers every day.
Canadian Virtual Hospice also provides specialized learning tools for ministry leaders, chaplains, volunteers, and healthcare providers seeking to accompany people through illness or bereavement with greater confidence. Its expanding library includes resources tailored to children, youth, adults, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, Indigenous families, newcomers, and individuals facing unique medical, social, or cultural circumstances.
Ministry leaders can use Canadian Virtual Hospice to guide pastoral conversations, prepare families facing difficult diagnoses, and support caregivers with reliable tools they can use immediately. Modules like MyGrief.ca, KidsGrief.ca, and YouthGref.ca can be shared with congregants privately or incorporated into grief groups, pastoral visits, or caregiver workshops. The cultural resources help churches navigate cross-cultural dynamics around illness and mourning, while the “Ask a Professional” feature provides trustworthy clinical insight when complicated questions arise. This platform works well as both a proactive teaching tool and a responsive resource in moments of crisis.