Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

COMOX VALLEY ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

"It always seems too early .... until it's too late"

2017 ACP WORKSHOP DATES

The Comox Valley ACP Committee hosts Advance Care Planning workshops at various times of the year. These workshops include:

Part I: Introduction to Advance Care Planning and
Part II: Working on Your Advance Care Plan.

Each workshop is approximately 2 hours in duration.

If you are interested in attending a workshop please call the Comox Valley Hospice Society at 250-339-5533 to register.

You may also leave your name and contact information if you have a special request regarding Advance Care Planning. A member of the Comox Valley Advance Care Planning team will contact you.

PART I - 'INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCE CARE PLANNING'

The Part I Introduction to Advance Care Planning Workshop is held for participants who are interested in learning why an advance care plan is important and how to begin the conversation with your loved ones and your physician about your personal health care wishes. Participants will also hear about the current BC Legislation and resources that will assist participants in preparing their own advance care plan.

At the Part I 'Introduction to Advance Care Planning' Workshop interested participants will be notified of upcoming dates for the PART II - 'Working on Your Advance Care Plan' 2 hour workshop. The BC Government's advance care planning guide called 'My Voice - Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment' is available to workshop participants by donation. See map links below for Workshop Locations.

Please Note: Workshop Facilitators will now be taking a break over the summer months of 2017. If you are interested in having your name on a list for a future "Introduction to Advance Care Planning Workshop" please contact the Comox Valley Hospice Society at 250-339-5533

PART II - 'WORKING ON YOUR ADVANCE CARE PLAN'

The Part II workshop is held for participants who have previously attended Part I -'Introduction to Advance Care Planning' and who now wish to develop their own written advance care plans. Individuals wishing to register for Part II are requested to let the Part I Workshop Facilitators know of your interest. Registration for upcoming Part II Workshops will be available at the Part I Workshop or by contacting the Comox Valley Hospice Society.

WORKSHOP LOCATIONS - Click on the link beside each Workshop Location below for map directions

Berwick Comox Valley 1700 Comox Avenue, Comox map

Comox Fire Hall at 1870 Noel Avenue, Comox map

Comox United Church at 250 Beach Drive, Comox map

Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church at 2963 Lake Trail Road, Courtenay map

North Island College 2300 Ryan Road East, Courtenay map Campus Building Directory

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 - Comox 1825 Comox Avenue, Comox map

Vancouver Island Regional Library - Courtenay at 300 - 6th Street, Courtenay map

Vancouver Island Visitor Centre at # 101 - 3607 Small Road, Courtenay map

HOW TO REGISTER - To register for future workshops or for further information about Advance Care Planning, please contact Comox Valley Hospice Society 250 - 339-5533 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Additional Workshops are available by special request.

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PAST PRESENTATIONS

2017

Thurs. June 22, 2017 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 - Comox
Thurs. June 8, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 - Comox
Mon. May 29, 2017 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Comox Fire Hall
Mon. May 15, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Fire Hall
May 8, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Presentation to Comox Valley Prostate Support Group
Thurs. April 20, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Comox Fire Hall
Sat. April 1, 2017 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 - Comox
Thurs. March 30, 2017 - 'Food for Thought' Conversation about Advance Care Planning hosted by North Island College Nursing Students
Sat. March 18, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 - Comox
Tues Feb 28, 2017 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan, Comox Fire Hall
Thurs. Feb 23, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Vancouver Island Visitor Centre
Mon. Jan 30, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning- Comox Fire Hall
Wed. Jan 25, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Fire Hall
Sun. Jan 8, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, 888 Wing RCAFA, Lazo
Thurs. Jan 5, 2017 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Comox Fire Hall

2016

Tues Dec 13, 2016 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan, Courtenay Public Library
Mon Nov 16, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Comox Fire Hall
Mon Nov 7, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Courtenay Public Library
Mon Oct 17, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Berwick Comox Valley (5)
Wed Oct 12, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Casa Loma (21)
Mon June 27, 2016 - Information Session on Medical Assistance in Dying and ACP for Comox Valley Hospice Volunteers - Comox Fire Hall
Tues June 7, 2016- Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Comox Fire Hall
May 27-28, 2016 - Participation in the BC Hospice Palliative Care Conference - Sharing The Comox Valley ACP Story - Richmond, BC
Thurs May 26, 2016 - BC Centre for Palliative Care - Training Volunteers to Facilitate an ACP Public Event - Radisson Hotel, Richmond BC
Wed May 18, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Fire Hall
Wed May 4, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning, Comox Fire Hall
Tues April 26, 2016 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick Comox Valley
Sat April 16, 2016 - National Advance Care Planning Day - North Island College - Video showing of Dr. Atul Gawande's PBS Frontline Documentary 'Being Mortal' & Panel Presentation
Tues April 12, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick Comox Valley
Mon April 4, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Fire Hall
Tues Mar 22, 2016 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Courtenay Public Library
Tues Mar 8, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Courtenay Public Library
Thurs Mar 3, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Courtenay Public Library
Fri Feb 26, 2016 - School District 71 - Pro D Day - ACP Workshop- Vanier High School
Tues Feb 23 2016 - Part II Working on Your Advance Care Plan - North Island College - Elder College
Wed Feb 17, 2016 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church
Tues Feb 9, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - North Island College - Elder College
Thurs Feb 11, 2016 - Advance Care Planning with ARNBC- Comox Valley - North Island College
Tues Feb 2, 2016 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Comox United Church
Tues Jan 26, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church
Tues Jan 19, 2016 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox United Church

2015

Tues Dec 8, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Courtenay Public Library
Wed Nov 25, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Pan - Comox Curves
Tues Nov 24, 2015 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Courtenay Public Library
Thurs Nov 19, 2015 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Curves
Tues Nov 17, 2015 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Courtenay Public Library
Sat Oct 17, 2015 - Vancouver Island Federation of Hospices Education Day - Parksville
Tues Oct 13, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick CV
Wed Oct 7 & Thurs Oct 8, 2015 - Berwick CV - "Boot Camp for Seniors'
Tues Sept 29, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick CV
Thurs Sept 24, 2015- Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Comox Presbyterian Church, Aspen Road, Comox
Tues Sept 15, 2015 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick CV
Tues June 16, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick CV
Tues June 9, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick CV
Tues May 26, 2015 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick CV
Thurs May 28, 2015 - Part I- Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick CV
Thurs April 16, 2015 - National Advance Care Planning Day 2015 - Two Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning Workshops hosted at Berwick CV
Mon Feb 16, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick, CV
Wed Feb 11, 2015 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - BC Cancer Society, Courtenay
Mon Feb 2, 2015 - Part 1 - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick, CV

2014

Dec 8, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick, CV
Dec 4, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - BC Cancer Society, Courtenay
Oct 17, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Elder College
Oct 24, 2014 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Elder College
Sept 24, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick, CV
Sept 15, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick, CV
June 11, 2014 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan - Berwick, CV
May 25, 2014 - Part I - Intro to Advance Care Planning - Comox Unity Spiritual Centre
May 14, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to Advance Care Planning - Berwick, CV
Apr 16, 2014 - National Advance Care Planning Day, "Is Advance Care Planning on Your Bucket List?" Open House & heARTful Expressions Exhibit - Berwick, CV
Apr 9, 2014 - Part II - Working on Your Advance Care Plan, Berwick, CV
Mar 12, 2014 - Part I- Introduction to ACP Workshop at Berwick CV
Feb 27, 2014 - Part I - Introduction to ACP - Comox Strathcona Probus Club, Comox Legion
Feb 19, 2014 - Can. Hospice Palliative Care Webinar - Planning for National ACP Day
Jan 7, 2014 - ACP Presentation to Comox Valley White Cane Club

2013

Nov 25, 2013 - Part II ACP Workshop at Berwick CV
Nov 19, 2013 - Part I ACP - Presbyterian Church - Comox
Nov 18, 2013 - Part I ACP - Berwick CV
Nov 9, 2013 - Vanc Island Fed of Island Hospices Education Day, Tigh Na Mara, Parksville
Oct 28, 2013 - Part II ACP - Nursing Centre, Courtenay
Oct 21, 2013 - Part I ACP - Nursing Centre, Courtenay
Sept 23, 2013 - Part I ACP - Berwick CV
Aug 31, 2013 - Woodland Gardens/Kitty Coleman - Promotion of heARTful Expressions
June 26, 2013 - Part II ACP - Berwick CV
June 17, 2013 - Part I ACP - Berwick CV
June 2013 - Part I ACP - St. George United Church
June 8, 2013 - Elevate the Arts, Courtenay - heARTful Expressions
May 19, 2013 - Woodland Gardens/Kitty Coleman - Promotion of heARTful Expressions
May 13, 2013- Part I ACP - Berwick CV
May 9, 2013 - ACP Presentation to Comox Valley Clergy
May 7, 2013 - Showing of 'Are You Listening to Me?' - a play by Dandelion on ACP - Creekside Commons, Courtenay
Apr 18, 2013 - 'Consider the Conversation' video showing at North Island College - Panel discussion on ACP
Apr 18, 2013 - ACP Presentation to Comox Valley Clergy
National ACP Day April 16, 2013 - Premiere showing of 'Are You Listening to Me? A whimsical fantasy of the final journey from here to there', at Courtenay Little Theatre Rehearsal space. Play written by Dandelion for heARTful Expressions
Apr 6, 2013 - ACP Presentation to Presbyterian Men's Breakfast Club
Apr 5, 2013 - Launch of Comox Valley ACP website
Mar 18, 2013 - ACP presentation to Comox Valley Ostomy Club
March 2013 - Part I ACP - Comox United Church
March 2013 - Part I ACP - Kiwanis Village
Feb 26, 2013- Part I ACP - Comox United Church
Feb 21, 2013 - ACP Presentation to Kiwanis Club
Feb 18, 2013 - ACP Presentation on Denman Island
Feb 2, 2013 - Comox Valley World Community Film Festival
Feb 1, 2013 - Part I ACP - Comox United Church
Jan 20, 2013 - Comox Senior's Forum, Florence Filberg Centre
Jan 22, 2013 - North Island College 'Ethics in Nursing' Class Presentation

2012

Dec 2012 - Xmas 'Tis the Season to start the conversation about ACP' media release
Nov 2012 - ACP Presentation to Physician Support Program
Nov 2012 - Hornby Island, Denman Island ACP Presentations
Fall 2012 - Presentation to 'Ethics in Nursing Class' at North Island College
Sept/Oct 2012 - ACP Presentations at Nursing Centre, Courtenay
Aug 28, 2012 - Introduction to ACP- Hospice Volunteers and guests
July 2012 - Draft outline developed for ACP workshops
May 8, 2012 - 'Conversation on Aging' Playlet shown to Hospice volunteers at Comox Valley Senior's Village
Apr 27, 2012 - 'Life Before Death' film and community panel, Stan Hagen Theatre, NIC
Mar 28, 2012 - Invitational Island Health (VIHA) Workshop on "'Consent to Health Care and ACP", Nanaimo - Federation of Vancouver Island Hospices

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A huge bouquet of thanks to all those who helped to support National Advance Care Planning Day April 16, 2016 at North Island College - Stan Hagen Theatre. Dr. Atul Gawande's PBS Frontline Documentary 'Being Mortal' was shown followed by a Panel Presentation. A special thanks to North Island College Nursing Faculty and Students, Moderator Barb Colwell and Panel Members: Dr. Leah MacDonald, Nicole Burgess, Whitney Schaefer, Richard Hart and Sue Grant. We also wish to thank our event sponsors, volunteers and the @ 150 participants who took part in this very important community conversation.

Our sincere gratitude to our partner Berwick Comox Valley for their ongoing support of our Community Conversations and for hosting our very successful National Advance Care Planning Day events, April 16, 2014 & 2015

A special thank you to Rice Toyota Courtenay for hosting Comox Valley ACP Committee meetings.

heARTful Expressions - National Advance Care Planning Day April 16, 2014

"Creative outlets of expression allow complex and strong feelings to be rendered in tangible forms that have the power to express things that words alone cannot" (Center for Hospice Care, Southeast Connecticut)

Paintings by - L'Arche Comox Valley

National Advance Care Planning Day Wednesday April 16, 2014 saw the Comox Valley Advance Care Planning Committee celebrate heARTful Expressions at an evening public exhibition, open house and reception held at Berwick Retirement Community in Comox.

heARTful Expressions emerged from the committee's recognition of people’s individual creativity as a beneficial avenue for communication and one way to possibly start the conversation about advance care planning. As the Comox Valley is a unique region that is well known for its rich array of artistry and creativity including artists who work in many mediums, the committee established heARTful Expressions to encourage creative ways of ‘having the talk’ about advance care planning. Throughout 2013 community members with an interest in creativity and the arts were invited to take part in this project encouraging conversations about the issues, ideas, and concerns that may arise when people express their own personal wishes about advance care planning, life and death wishes and bereavement.

Nearly 200 individuals enjoyed viewing and listening to the unique sharings that formed our heARTful Expressions exhibit and open house. We gratefully acknowledge the participating artists and their unique gifts of inspiration as a variety of art mediums were celebrated including: theatre, written verse & creative writing, painting, photography, rock art, paverpol, glass jewelry and creations, stained glass, dance, songwriting, music and doll making.

Participants created original works of art that encouraged people to have the conversation about advance care planning at the open house and with their loved ones. Having one’s voice and personal wishes spoken from the heART was a common theme throughout the submitted pieces.

Our sincere thanks to our heARTful Expressions Artists!

♥ Angela Termarsch Paverpol - ‘Teacup’, ‘Clown’ and ‘Angel’

♥ April Dyck Paintings - ‘Joy’ and ‘Army of Angels’

♥ Barbara Simonson Painted Craft Coffin - ‘Out of the Box’

♥ Cheryl Moore Ala Prima Painting Series - ‘Laughter is Good for the Soul’

♥ Cleo Agar Contemporary Dance - ‘Where is my Mind’

♥ Christina Nienaber-Roberts Photography & Creative Writing - ‘The Things That Are Important To Me’

♥ Dandelion ‘Are you Listening to Me? A Whimsical fantasy of the final journey from here to there’ (Theatre production)

♥ E. Ann Behrens Creative Writing - ‘Come The Day’

♥ Jane Gilchrist Puppetry Video - ‘Is There An Elephant in the Room?’

♥ Janet Shaw Pianist - ‘Piano Selections’

♥ Julia Campbell Guitar & Song - ‘Dance to the end of Love’

♥ Kath Street Copper Sculpture - ‘Tunnel of Love’ & Creative Writing

♥ L’ARCHE Comox Valley Outreach Centre Watercolour Paintings

♥ Brandy Jensen ‘Happy Hearts’

♥ Gary Scavarda ‘Love’

♥ Joe Lacourse ‘Overflowing with Hearts’

♥ Mildred Johnson ‘Red Heart’

♥ Rachel Scott ‘Sparkling Hearts’

♥ Robert Cronk ‘Pastel Heart’

♥ Shelley Blake-Knox ‘From the Heart’

♥ Suzanne Davis ‘Fruit of the Heart’

♥ L’ARCHE Group Art Piece 1: ‘A COMMUNITY OF HEARTS ‘

By Brandy, Chrissy, Gary, Jennifer, Joe, Judith, Millie, Rachel, Robert, Shelley, Suzanne

♥ L’ARCHE Group Art Piece 2: ‘BUTTON HEART ‘

By Shelley and Claire

♥ Lynn Black Painting - ‘My Loving Family and Friends’

♥ Marla Thirsk Painting - ‘Eat, Love, Play’, Art Dolls, Paperclay Sculptures

♥ Martha Ponting 4 Paintings - ‘I Hope You Danced’; ‘Shelter & Grace’ ; ‘Where Serenity & Grace Prevail’ ; ‘The Desiderata’

♥ Martin Kaspers Nature Photography- ‘Trio of Landscapes’

♥ Mikeoula Sound Practitioner - ‘Healing Sounds’

♥ Monique Thompson Photography - ’07:25 am & 4:53 pm ‘The Same Day’

♥ Patti Wilson Stained Glass- ‘Stained Glass Selections’

♥ Ron Simmons Woodworking Birdhouses - ‘Trio of Birdhouses’

♥ Sabine Arends Fireworx Glass - 'Glass Selections’

♥ Sharon Bearpark Photography & Creative Writing - ‘My Voice’

♥ Sue Pyper Painting & Pointillism - ‘Did Someone Say Treats?’, ‘Daisies’ & ‘Going With The Flow -The Wishing Stone’

♥ Voices Three - 'The Last Rhapsody' - Helen Austin, Sue Pyper, Judy Wing

♥ Wendy Lynn East Rock Art - ‘Rock Art Collection’

The Ice Cream Ladies - 'Eat, Play, Love'

"I created this series because every painting I saw was of a young beautiful woman, especially if she was in a bathing suit. Just because we grow old doesn't mean we are not beautiful anymore. It's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years." - Marla Thirsk

The Artist, Creativity and ‘Having the Conversation‘

How heARTful Expressions was inspired …

Adapted from 'Eternal Echoes' by John O'Donohue, Author of Anam Cara

The artist trains him or herself while animated by a unique longing.

There are no outer ready-made maps for what the artist wants to create as one’s heart pushes out to the edge in the creation of something original.

The artist is called not so much from the outside as from the unknown depths within, and the invitation to create comes from elsewhere.

Artists coax the invisible towards a form where it becomes faintly visible, or silence moves towards voice. Out of the flow something new begins to emerge.

The artist is fiercely called to truth.

Despite all of the personal limitation and uncertainty, the artist has to express what he or she finds.

The artist is always faithful to longing first. This willingness to follow the longing “wherever it leads” enables all kinds of new possibilities of creation.

The Artist is a permanent pilgrim finding their voice in their chosen medium.

Art leads to another way of ‘having the conversation’ about important life issues, beliefs, values and wishes. Art and creativity may be one’s chosen route to advance care planning and heARTful Expressions emerged from this creative source.

Think Outside The Box

Artist - Barb Simonson

The heART of advance care planning

h ave the conversation

e xpress your wishes

A llow your voice to be heard

R eveal what is important to you

T ell those you love

On behalf of the Comox Valley Advance Care Planning Committee we would like to acknowledge the following Sponsors and Draw Prize Contributors for their support of the 2014 National Advance Care Planning Day events

Ambassador Shuttle
Berwick Comox Valley
Comox Valley Hospice Society
Courtenay Little Theatre
L’Arche Comox Valley
Locals Restaurant at The Old House
Majestic Bed & Breakfast & Kayaking, Ucluelet
Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem
St. Joseph’s General Hospital
Vigneti Zanatta Winery, Cowichan Valley

And a special note of thanks to our Presenters and Performers

Cleo Agar
Janet Shaw
Julia Campbell
Lynn Brandon
Mikeoula
Ted Hicks
Voices Three – Judy Wing, Sue Pyper and Helen Austin

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