Our Community: Comforting Families This Holiday Season

amber2393
33 minutes ago
2 min read

Dear friends,

This past year has been defined by growth and partnership. When Candace House first opened its doors, our work was rooted almost exclusively in partnership with Provincial Victim Services, supporting families as they navigated the court system.

Today, our capacity and reach has grown far beyond — shaped by the families who walk through our doors, the partners who stand with us, and you, the community that continues to believe in this vision.

We now collaborate with organizations and agencies across the province — from the immediate aftermath of a homicide, working closely with police and Crown prosecutors through lengthy investigations and trials, and most recently extending care into Corrections and Parole.

Community partners are central to our mission, ensuring families receive wraparound support and care that meets them wherever they are on their journey.

"Candace House gives families glimpses of humanity

in the face of a system that often lacks it."

— Community support partner

What began as a dream born out of immense grief has become a place of comfort and healing for over 2,500 individuals connected to nearly 300 homicides, offering strength through compassion, connection, and care.

Our work, bolstered by generous supporters like you, helps ensure that every family, regardless of background, finds a place of belonging.

Some of our favourite memories are the small, everyday moments: having coffee with a family member, exchanging funny novelty socks, laughter breaking through in the midst of sorrow, or partners gathering to imagine new ways forward.

These moments remind us that healing is not a destination, but a journey we walk together.

"The whole day at court we hear about how a family’s loved one died.

For those few brief moments at the kitchen table in the morning,

we talk about how they lived."

— Community support partner

With your support, you make a place like Candace House possible. The road for families like these is long and heavy, continuing far past court dates, and the need for our support continues to grow — stretching our space, resources, and staff to their limits.

Every donation helps ensure families have a compassionate refuge where they can gather strength and face the journey ahead.

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us carry forward our work of love, healing, and remembrance. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by our community.

With gratitude,