Happy International Women’s Day 2024

Encouragingly, we have seen that between women that there is a sturdy thread that runs through the spectrum of all of life's experiences. This thread is made of a resilient hopefulness, and it holds many of our communities together. 

March 2024; we are entering the near-halfway point of a decade that has seemed thus far to consist of a series of "unprecedented" circumstances in rapid succession. In addition to individual personal grief, we are keenly aware of the external challenges that weigh heavily on our human hearts. Even as some of us are still reeling from the pandemic, busy schedules have resumed in full force, and grief seems to have a new complexity. 

Loss is one of the only inevitable experiences we can be sure to have in life, so it's natural that it can also be one of the most unifying if we allow it to be. Pain will leave indelible marks on the heart, specifically the irreversible loss of death and its unique grief which is almost unbearable at times. Yet, from such disrupting instances of pain, we are often jolted out of what was comfortable, familiar, and routine, and we are forced to grow and adapt... Amidst the darkness of grief, it is almost always in the exchanged commiseration, the sharing of happy memories, and in the tender support of cherished loved ones who are willing to walk beside us in those darkest hours where we find comfort, reprieve, and where we find the light again. 

When we come together to honour the lives of those we have lost, and we discover strength in the bonds created through shared experiences, that is when we truly understand the power of community. We can find strength in our collective resilience, and our determination to survive and heal, while also preserving the sanctity of our compassion. With small acts of kindness and with well-organized efforts of solidarity and networks of mutual support, we can navigate the challenges that lie ahead. 

As through history, modern women are still prominently fulfilling the critical roles of service in thriving communities: caregivers and healers, communicators, and helpers. Thanks to the efforts of the many women who preceded us, more and more women are justly afforded roles as leaders and social influencers. With these roles of leadership also come the heightened demands of time and energy as professional women try to juggle family life, career, relationships, and stress... all while holding themselves to an often-unachievable standard of perfection.

And then the loss of a loved one occurs... and that same time-pressed woman with so much on her plate must juggle the demands of life with the side effects of grief: exhaustion, brain fog, forgetfulness, and a constant tsunami of emotion. She worries that she isn’t grieving the right way because it takes so long to heal.

The need for community and connection with others who understand is immense.

With knowledge of the need for opportunities such as these in our Edmonton community, Park Memorial is proud to present, "The Strength Within: Balancing Life, Loss and Chaos" on May 10th. This will be our day to find our way, as women are invited to come together and share the weight and complexities of grief and loss in the company of kindred spirits.

Our keynote speakers will guide us with their knowledge and a selection of breakout sessions will facilitate opportunities for education, reflection, feeling, and remembrance... and a little fun, too. This day is where individuals will find comfort, grace, and healing, and leave with practical tools for coping with grief and a sense of connection amongst their personal journeys.

We believe that experiences and opportunities like this can thread our entire community closer together while bringing attention to the extra challenges that loss brings while already trying to keep an extremely busy life in balance.

Click here to learn about this unique event and to secure your seat!