TELUS Support Will Expand Free Grief Services for Youth Across the Tri-Cities

TELUS Support Will Expand Free Grief Services for Youth Across the Tri-Cities

Tri-Cities, B.C. | July 27, 2026  — Crossroads Hospice Society has received a grant of $18,344 through the TELUS Canadian Community Boards to expand its Youth and Young Adult Bereavement Program, providing free, specialized grief support to more than 100 young people across the Tri-Cities.

Running from September 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, the In-School and Peer Group Expansion for our Youth and Young Adult Bereavement Program will continue to provide support for young people ages 13 to 29 who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Programming will be delivered throughout Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcarra.

Grief can affect a young person’s emotional well-being, relationships, school attendance, and sense of safety and belonging. Families may also face barriers such as counselling costs, transportation challenges, and difficulty locating timely, grief-specific support. By offering services free of charge in schools and community settings, Crossroads helps remove these barriers and connects young people with compassionate care in spaces that feel familiar and accessible.

“Every grieving young person deserves the opportunity to access compassionate support in a safe, familiar setting, without barriers between them and the support they need” said Sylvie Jensen, Executive Director of Crossroads Hospice Society. “We are incredibly grateful for TELUS’ support, which will allow us to reach more youth, strengthen our school partnerships, and provide meaningful opportunities for young people to connect and process their grief.”

The program will include one-to-one grief support delivered in schools, along with peer groups focused on grief-specific loss. Art-based activities, movement-based programming, and interactive workshops will provide additional ways for participants to express themselves and engage with support in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful.

Crossroads currently supports approximately 104 youth and young adults, with new referrals received each month. Through this expansion, the organization aims to increase the number of students reached.

About Crossroads Hospice Society

Crossroads Hospice Society has served the Tri-Cities since 1988, providing compassionate end-of-life care at its 10-bed hospice residence in Port Moody and free grief support for adults, youth, and young adults. Through one-to-one support, peer groups, workshops, school-based services, and remembrance events, Crossroads helps ensure that no one in the community has to navigate grief alone.

For more information, visit www.crossroadshospice.org.

Media Contact

Shalon Morrison

604-554-0544

Shalon.Morrison@CrossroadsHospice.org