Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham Region
“Bereaved, helping the bereaved learn to live with grief”
About Us
BFO-Durham Covid -19 update
PLEASE NOTE:
As of March 1st 2022 we will no longer be restricted to the number of people who can come inside.
Therefore we will go back to the in house drop-ins
As of March 21st we will no longer require proof of vaccination or use of masks
Please phone Monday to Thursday between 10am and 3pm if you need help.
Please note:
• No entry to anyone experiencing any Covid -19 related symptoms
• All visitors please use hand sanitizer upon entering the office
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE
Welcome to Bereaved Families of Ontario -Durham Region
Bereaved Families of Ontario–Durham Region is a non-profit organization which has been supporting families in the Durham Region for 25 years.
This organization provides support programs to bereaved parents, young adults and teens. These programs offer support where bereaved individuals can learn to live with their grief, decrease their sense of isolation and help adapt to everyday living.
BFO-Durham facilitates the development of self-help/mutual aid support services and resources for families with a unique focus on the death of a child.
What you can expect at your first visit
Newly bereaved parents are often apprehensive to contact us as they do not know what to expect. When you first contact us by phone, Jane Carter, our Executive Director will put you at ease, assuring you that we can help. She may ask a few questions, but she will especially listen to you. Should you decide to visit in our office, she will further explain what to expect; it is important to note that our services are free to all members..
BFO-Durham Region is located at
948 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 4W2
- We are located immediately south of the Shell Station.
- Accessible parking and building facilities are available for people with disabilities..
- For further information please contact us:
- by completing the on-line contact us form
- or via e-mail at bfodurham@bellnet.ca
- or by phone at 905-579-4293 / 800-387-4870
Upcoming Events
4th Annual Lauren Wright Co-ed Slo-pitch Tournament
As some of you know, we’re holding the 4th Annual Lauren Wright Co-ed Slo-pitch
Tournament in support of Kids Help Phone and Bereaved Families of Ontario
(Durham Chapter). In the first three years of the tournament we raised
$13,495.00, split equally between the two charities.
We had to forgo the tournament from 2019-2022 because of Covid but we’re pleased to
announce we’re back this year!
This tournament is held in memory of our daughter, sister and friend Lauren Wright
who we lost on May 28, 2014 to suicide. It is designed as a fun tournament with
both “registered” slo-pitch teams and teams that are thrown together
simply for the tournament. As a bonus I have confirmation that Kids Help Phone
will be putting a team in this year! If anyone here would like to organize a
team of members, family and friends of BFO please let me know. Team
registration is $400 but if someone would like to step up and represent BFO we
won’t charge you the registration fee, the same offer we gave to Kids Help
Phone. We’d love to see both of the charities represented!
Even if you don’t want to put a team in we’d love to see you come out,
grab a peameal on a bun, a burger or a hot dog and enjoy some ball.
Date of the tournament is Sunday June 11, 2023 at Lakefront West Diamonds in Oshawa.
Game times will be between 9:00am and 4:00pm (last game will end by 4:00pm.)
If you are interested in putting a team in to represent BFO you can
send me a message through Messenger with your email address
and I will send you the registration information along with the rules.
7:30 Saturday June 3rd, 2023
BFO Office
948 Simcoe Street
Oshawa, Ont
$20.00 per person entry
CASH prizes for 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 4th and low score
Snacks & refreshments provided
Join us for a fun night of
competitive fellowship!!
Seats limited- reserve your seat now.
Butterfly Memorial Wall
Your Butterfly can be purchased for $100 by contacting the BFO Durham offices. Every butterfly is individually handcrafted by local artist Yvan Leclerc. For every Butterfly purchased, $60 will go to Bereaved Families of Ontario (Durham Region). A charitable donation receipt will be provided.
memorial-butterfly-outdoor-version-now-available
The memorial butterflies sold by BFO Durham Region are now available to order in an outdoor version. Each butterfly will come mounted on a metal spike along with a plaque with the name and dates of your loved one. They can be purchased for the same price as those on our memorial wall in the BFO Durham Office $100 . (A tax receipt for $60 will be issued for each purchase)To place your order please call Bereaved Families of Ontario at 905-579-4293
Bracelet Fundraiser for BFO-Durham in memory of Violet Davidson (on-going)
In loving memory of Violet (Babe) Davidson, the Davidson family are pleased to announce that the Fundraising Bracelets for BFO Durham Region are now available at the office. There are 4 colours to choose from at a price of just $3 each.
In loving memory of Violet (Babe) Davidson, the Davidson family are pleased to announce that the Fundraising Bracelets for BFO Durham Region are now available at the office. There are 4 colours to choose from at a price of just $3 each.
“My Sister, Marie”
A children’s book on sibling loss
Jenn Carter, a volunteer and sibling loss facilitator at Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham Region, has written a children’s book on the experience of losing a sibling. Jenn attended and greatly benefited from the sibling loss support group at BFO Durham when she was a preteen, after the loss of her older sister Julie.
This book touches on the lived experience of losing a sibling at a young age, and the emotions, events and feelings that come along with this difficult time as a family.
“My Sister, Marie” is NOW available for pick-up at the BFO Durham office,
for a minimum donation of $20 (can be paid by cash or via e-transfer to bfodurham@bellnet.ca), it is also available for shipping in Canada and the US.
Please send an email to our BFO email address above to reserve your copy.