The Death Talk
A virtual workshop exploring death, dying & grief with four different end-of-life care providers.
The Death Talk
On September 28th 2023, we hosted The Death Talk to a live, sold-out audience in West Vancouver, BC. On October 13th, we presented a virtual edition of The Death Talk to a sold-out audience online, with guests joining from around the world.
You can now purchase the 2-hour virtual event for $15 CAD, which includes with four powerful presentations from end-of-life care providers, a thought-provoking roundtable discussion, and a Q&A with former CBC host Sheryl MacKay.
It was a pleasure to receive education from a complimentary group of knowledgable professionals and advocates in the end of life space. The expertise of the group provided a well-rounded discussion for the public and health care professionals alike. I highly recommend it!
The Death Talk sessions cover an essential topic: death. It is something we all face, and though we may not know when, we know we will die, and making the preparation ahead of time is a gift to those we love and who will grieve for us.
I am a 61-year-old man who never dealt properly with grief regarding the passing of my parents. Now, my wife is battling cancer and her father suddenly passed last week. These discussions are very important, not only for me personally but for all of us. I am grateful to all of you for taking the time to bring this most important aspect of life forward out of the shadows!
The Death Talk was so informative and empowering. Few people talk about death and end of life planning. It was wonderful to hear from 4 intelligent, passionate, warm and funny women share their expertise and experience to empower us to know more and to not fear the conversation.
In a lighthearted, nonthreatening way, the 'Death Talk' presenters took us through the various aspects of our final journey, our rights, responsibilities and possibilities. I think everyone left with new understanding about life AND death and the natural continuum.
This was an excellent, honest, warm, humorous and informative session. I was touched and impressed by each one of these four excellent presenters. I highly recommend this session if you are interested in having an authentic conversation around matters attached to death and dying.
The Death Talk was an incredible evening. I didn't really know what to expect. Every speaker brought her own stories, passion and purpose to the stage. All were exceptionally good speakers. I thought I knew a lot but I learned so much that I was bursting by the end of the evening. I wish they were in my living room so we could have talked for hours.
The Death Talk is one of the most moving, informative, and inspiring sessions that I have ever attended. I would sincerely say that it was life enhancing!
Who We Are
We are a collective of end-of-life care providers working together to 'do death differently'. We're passionate about shifting the narratives surrounding death, dying and grief, and driven by a desire to better support our community. We're part of a global deathcare movement inspiring millions to ask: how can we better support ourselves and each other at the end of life?
What This Is
The Death Talk was inspired by conversations we have with people around the world every single day. We want to share our experiences, dispel some myths, and answer any questions you might have about death and dying. The event consists of four powerful presentations, a round table discussion, and a question and answer period.
Why We're Doing It
This is 'the talk' you likely never had growing up. We live in a death-denying society that doesn't always know what to do or say when it comes to end-of-life. We want to normalize talking about death, dying and grief — and make these conversations light and easy. Talking about death won't kill you; studies show it's better for our overall health and wellness to talk about death well before we need to.
The Speakers
Megan Sheldon
Megan is Humanist Celebrant and End of Life Doula, and the initiator behind The Death Talk. She is also the co-founder of Be Ceremonial, a guided ritual app focused on ceremonies across the life cycle. She is passionate about demystifying death and helping people find ways to reimagine their relationship with ritual and grief.
Christa Ovenell
Christa is a licensed funeral director & embalmer, end-of-life doula and founder of Death's Apprentice Education & Planning, a company specializing in holistic advance care planning. She's also a WillowEOL educator.
Emily Bootle
Emily is a licensed funeral director, end-of-life doula, funeral celebrant, and death educator. She started DeathcareBC, a community education platform aimed at bridging the gap between healthcare and after-death care.
Christina Andreola
Christina runs New Narrative Events, an event planning company specializing in celebrations of life and hybrid events, combining the in-person experience with virtual attendees from around the world.
Moderated by Sheryl MacKay
Sheryl MacKay is a radio and television broadcaster with more than four decades of experience. She was host and producer of CBC's North by Northwest and recently launched Listen With Sheryl MacKay. She is a newly trained End of Life Doula and is wanting to shine a light on conversations that surround death, dying and grief.
Topics Include
- Holistic advance care planning
- Navigating healthcare and deathcare
- End of life decisions and options, including MAiD
- Green burial, direct cremation, aquamation
- Living funerals, celebrations of life, and ceremony ideas
- Talking to kids about death and dying
- Grief rituals and death anniversaries