Words Dr. Michelle Clement, Yoga Therapist & Death Doula
In a world that rushes through loss, a Grief Café offers something rare – a space to pause, share and find comfort in the company of others.
Loss changes us. It shifts the shape of our days and the rhythm of our hearts. Loss can occur when a loved one dies but also with the loss of a relationship, the fading of health or mobility or the quiet ache of change, grief eventually touches everyone. Yet even though grief is universal, few spaces exist to talk about it openly. That’s where the idea of a Grief Café comes in. This is a community gathering where people can come together to share stories of loss, love, and life – in a supportive, relaxed and non-judgmental space. There is no agenda or therapy, and no expectation of how grief “should” look. Instead, there’s time, tea and gentle conversation that reminds us we don’t have to carry sorrow alone.
Each Café begins with a welcome and, guided by a yoga therapist, a short grounding exercise with time for breath and reflection. From there, participants are free to speak or simply listen. Some come to honour a recent loss; others are navigating the long, slow adjustments that follow years later. What connects everyone is the recognition that grief, in all its forms, is not something to fix or solve but to be witnessed and honoured.
A facilitator is often a Death Doula or counselor and they guide the conversation but never steer it, allowing the group to find its own rhythm. In that rhythm, something tender often unfolds – a nod of understanding, a shared smile or a moment when someone says: “I thought I was the only one.”
Grief Cafés are part of a growing global movement rooted in community resilience that was originally founded in 2010 in the U.K. In a culture that often avoids difficult conversations, these gatherings offer an antidote: real connection. People laugh. They swap stories. They breathe again.
Why does this matter? Because grief, unspoken, isolates us. When we gather, we remember that loss is not a personal failing – it’s part of being human. We discover that healing doesn’t come from forgetting but from being seen, heard and gently accompanied through change.
How to Join
Grief cafés are open to anyone who wishes to attend. They are free of charge or by donation and usually last between 60 and 90 minutes. Sessions often include light refreshments, guided reflection, and optional mindfulness or movement practice. Everything shared is confidential. You don’t have to know what to say, or even say anything at all. You just need to come as you are. You can find a monthly Grief Cafe at Evolutions Wellness Collective in Saanichton on the third Friday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
As one participant put it: “It’s the first place I’ve felt I didn’t have to pretend I was OK.”
In a world that so often values productivity over presence, a Grief Café reminds us to slow down – to sit together in our shared humanity, one story, one cup of tea and one breath at a time.
