Beckett Glaves Family Funeral Centre

01/21/2026

Let’s Talk on January 21

Since launching in 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has been an annual campaign focused on supporting mental health. For this one day, money is donated by Bell Canada, based on the use of hashtags – (English) and (French). Sharing these across social media platforms will benefit a number of mental health initiatives.

Since its inception, the campaign has:
• Supported over 1,500 organizations providing mental health services across the nation.
• Provided close to 6.9 million Canadians with services funded by the program.
• Helped encourage one in three Canadians to take action on mental health concerns.

Overcoming the stigma attached to mental illness is the first step to getting help. Bell’s annual Let’s Talk Day has become the world’s largest conversation about mental health. By raising awareness and encouraging people talk, listen and take action, the stigma around mental health has been reduced. This year, the campaign is focussed on youth mental health issues.

So, this January 21, Let’s Talk, and encourage everyone to get the help they need.

© Beckett Glaves Family Funeral Centre/CFHC Online

Bell Let’s Talk creates positive change for mental health all year round by funding Canadian mental health initiatives across Canada.

01/20/2026

View Fernando Ferraz's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/16/2026

View James Arthur Smith's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/16/2026

Ode to 1926, Celebrating Life 100 Years Ago

The year 1926 was a time of economic prosperity for Canada and around the world. Domestically, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police base was established on Ellesmere Island – the northernmost part of Canada – asserting its claim in the Arctic region. Canada also moved back to the gold standard in 1926, a monetary system pe***ng the Canadian dollar in relation to gold. In global relations, Vincent Massey was appointed Canada’s first foreign minister to the U.S.

On a lighter note, the Great Stork Derby kicked off in 1926, in Toronto when proceeds from Charles Vance Millar’s will spearheaded a ten-year contest to see who could have the most babies. The $500K prize was split between four women with nine babies each.

In science and technology, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fuelled rocket in Massachusetts, kicking off what some believed was the start of the space age; the modest flight saw an altitude of just 56 metres. Other inventions of the year included the aerosol spray can developed by Norwegian chemical engineer Erik Rotheim and the gas fridge patented by Electrolux-Servel.
In the world of entertainment, Thomas Edison held firm to his belief that Americans preferred silent movies and would never support the “talkies.” He would be proven wrong, with the airing of the movie “Don Juan” at theatres a few months later. It was the first feature-length film to use the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system with a synchronized musical score and sound effects (although no spoken dialogue).

Other world news included:
• NBC launched operations.
• A.A. Milne published “Winnie the Pooh.”
• Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio became Walt Disney Studio.
• American Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Her time of 14 hours, 31 minutes was a record for both men and women, at that time.

An interesting quote from that year came from Nikola Tesla: “We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. Not only this but … we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face … a man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.”

© Beckett Glaves Family Funeral Centre/CFHC Online

01/10/2026

View Thomas McKay's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/10/2026

Grief, a Reality Check

Some grievers report the first few months following a significant loss go by in a blur while others say months drag on filled with unbearable days and night. This time often feels surreal as a period of feeling numb or living with a personality that feels totally unknown. While the world around the griever moves on, one’s personal world can feel upside down.

Many grievers mention having a different awareness as though a shift has occurred. There may be a time of day, a place or an event that presents a temporary positive state of mind and then the gloominess returns creating a discomfort and a belief that grief will last forever. Questions arise as to whether there is a way forward to a new happier reality or will life remain as a less than desirable state.

For those who feel they are stuck in their grief and they are not progressing towards healthy healing from grief, several questions need to be asked. Often a self-examination will reveal if there is progress along one’s journey. Some aspects of the journey that need to be addressed are:

1) Does the expectation of the griever coincide with the normal process associated with loss?
2) Is the individual journey following generally accepted timelines suggested by grief research?
3) Are there long periods of time when grief is denied?
4) Are self-medication practices being used to avoid grief which have long-term negative impacts?
5) Are disrupted sleep patterns, healthy eating and other healthy habits improving over time?
6) Are negative thoughts more prominent than before the loss?

Depending on the honest evaluation of the above, there may be areas that require attention. Is pretending to be okay or indulging in self-pity slowing the process associated with grief and subsequently healing? An educational component may be needed to shed light on what is considered a ‘normal’ response to loss. Perhaps the griever needs to reach out to family, friends or professional counseling for support in areas that are difficult to manage alone.

Life can get busy and exhausting, stealing away time that is needed to stop and check in with oneself. Self-awareness provides insights to identify steps needed to make behavior changes.

Self-examination can also reveal that the journey towards healing is going as expected. Perseverance and patience while in this grieving phase of life may be all that is required to regain a sense of self again. Recovery has been described as time when the griever can appreciate all that their loved one offered in life as opposed to what they took away when they died.

Bertha Brannen
Grief Recovery Specialist

© Beckett Glaves Family Funeral Centre/CFHC Online

01/08/2026

View Barbara Potts 's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/08/2026

View Norma Preece's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

View Marguerite Neptune's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/05/2026

View Elsie Smith's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/05/2026

Functions of a Funeral

At a community level, funerals allow people from groups, clubs and organizations an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to a someone they shared special times with. Services are an ideal venue for reflection and farewells.

Friendships that were formed over time and bonds that were created are recognized. Those who had close ties to the deceased have an opportunity to ruminate on the relationship they shared and recount experiences and special moments. Friendships are chosen with people who we have common interests with, and it seems natural to have the chance to say good-bye one last time.

Families are given a chance to invite others to an occasion where their loved one is honoured. With the support and comfort of well-wishers, they can more easily grieve the loss of their beloved.

The life of a loved one is venerated. Their deeds, likes, hobbies, accomplishments and kindness are shared with a community formally. Respects are paid and tributes are given. In a way, the service is like a final public acknowledgement of their life.

Funerals achieve exactly this, a life is honoured; family, friends and the community at large gather to be together to comfort one another and to say goodbye to someone they regarded as special.

© Beckett Glaves Family Funeral Centre/CFHC Online