History

Tracing the history of Bereaved Families of Ontario - Ottawa Region (BFO - OR) has been like a treasure hunt - lots of unexpected turns and "people gems" along the way.

I have talked to several people who feel they were part of the early development of BFO - OR

Linda Hay's son died of a brain tumour in February 1976. In 1977, she took a "Death and Dying" Course at St. Paul's University given by Dr. Mary Brown. Social worker Boris Andrusko came as a guest speaker to one of the classes and during question time, Linda suggested the need for grief groups to help parents whose children had died. From that suggestion came the quest, by Linda and Boris, to offer a support group for parents. They tried first to get funding but without success. When the waiting list for this first group grew to 22, they decided to go ahead anyway without funding. This first grief group, Loss of A Child, was offered in 1978.

Linda Hay also led the second group. Her co-facilitators were Alex Wexler, a social worker, and Bev Parent. One of this group's members, David Farrar, created the BFO - OR logo.

Jean Huckabone was also a member of the second group and it was she who became the first Executive Director of BFO - Ottawa-Carleton, which became affiliated with Toronto BFO in 1979. Under her direction, a library was started and two international conferences were held. During this time, BFO's services were expanded to include groups for loss of spouse and survivors of suicide; services were provided in both French and English; and monthly Support & Share Nights were established.

About this time, as well, BFO - OR offered support to parents whose children had died of SIDS, perhaps because Dr. Norman Barwin, an Ottawa physician who later served on an early Professional Health Advisory Committee of BFO - OR, had among his patients two women whose children died of this condition and who were brought together by him for mutual support.

It seems that BFO - OR has a rich and varied history with many people offering time and talent. From the information and dates I've been able to gather, I would say that Linda Hay and Boris Andrusko were the founders of what is known today as Bereaved Families of Ontario - Ottawa Region, making us just over 25 years old.

July 31, 2003

Compiled by Gail A. C. Christy