New West Hospice Society’s latest venture demonstrates how grief is good

Who would have imagined that a small store in River Market would be one way to talk about grief?

It’s one of the mandates of Good Grief Upcycle, operated by the New West Hospice Society. 

“Originally the idea was that we would do pop-ups…I was working with local merchants about actually doing a pop-up in front of their store,” explains Rani MacInnes of the New West Hospice Society. Unfortunately, the logistics of packing and transporting previously loved goods created challenges, so the shop has found its home at a stall at the market’s first floor.  Not only can people find one-of-a-kind treasures at Good Grief Upcycling, but they can also connect with services that allow folks to explore their relationship with grief. 

What can you find at Good Grief Upcycling?

• Items are pre-loved. These are carefully curated, one-of-a-kind items like kitchen utensils, ceramics, fine china, and silverware;

• A friendly face to chat with. The shop is run by New West Hospice volunteers who can connect you to resources and literature on the topics of death, dying, and bereavement.

“The idea of the name ‘Good Grief [Upcycle]’ is it’s a positive, happy title that falls in line with our mission and our values. It’s about normalizing death, dying, grief, bereavement, that kind of thing,” explains MacInnes. 

Over the past few years, the dialogue around death and dying has been changing, and MacInnes says the society continues to be a part of that transformation—especially since New Westminster doesn’t have a physical hospice in the city. 

“If there is a stigma [around death and dying], it’s more about society and culture not being comfortable with the idea of thinking about death, dying and illness—like palliative care—it is a scary thing,” notes MacInnes, who adds that it’s often because suffering and illness is involved, and people might not know where to start. “It’s a confusing space for people to be in. And [the word] ‘palliative’ itself sounds scary.” MacInnes says the group uses the term ‘life-limiting’ to talk about palliative care. 

Along with running the shop and attending local events, the society’s volunteers lend a helping hand to those who need it. 

“We have trained volunteers that are trained in eight weeks; [it’s a] very intensive training program. These people go into people’s homes, people who have life-limiting illnesses, and they will help them with daily tasks. Maybe they need their dog walked. Maybe they have laundry and groceries, [need] a little bit of companionship,” explains MacInnes, who notes the goal is to help folks maintain their independence for as long as possible—while offering an empathetic, non-judgemental hand. 

As for the ultimate goal, MacInnes says the group continues to work on getting a physical hospice in the city. 

“The ultimate hope would be to have a physical hospice in the city of New West in the next few years,” she says. 

While those who visit the shop are welcome to ask questions about death, dying, and bereavement, MacInnes says there are also a number of programs coming up that are certain to pique a variety of interests. She’s working on starting a book club and an art therapy group. The society recently launched a walk and talk bereavement walking group that meets on Saturdays at the Quay in New West. 

“Reach out to us and talk to us. Join in on our some of our programs,” says MacInnes, who adds you don’t need to have lost someone to participate. “There are a lot of ways to come to an understanding, if people want to become more comfortable with the topic. There are lots of options.”

If you'd like to connect with NWHS or learn more about the store, you can email [email protected].