About us

Bereaved Families of Ontario Southwest Region (BFO-SW) is a non-profit, mutual aid organization that originally started in 1984 to help support families who experienced the death of a child.

Today, we continue to offer free support and programs for those who have experienced the death of a child, along with support for individuals who have experienced other death-related losses as well.

We provide a safe place where members can talk about their loss, share their story, and express their grief. Through the self-help process, participants know they are not alone, and may feel hopeful as they see how others have coped and learn about grief as a normal response to loss.

Our Southwest Region includes the following counties in their entirety. A few cities and towns are noted for each as examples:

Middlesex County – including London, Lucan, Parkhill

Elgin County – including St. Thomas, Aylmer, Port Stanley, Dutton

Oxford County – including Woodstock, Tillsonburg

Chatham – Kent County – including Chatham, Ridgetown, Blenheim

Huron County – including Grand Bend, Exeter, Clinton, Goderich, Blyth, Wingham

Lambton County – including Sarnia, Forest, Petrolia

Perth County – including Mitchell, Listowel, St. Mary’s and Stratford

Upon request we do consider inquiries from out of these counties.

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Southwest Region is one of 10 Bereaved Families organizations across Ontario. You can find out more about our parent organization – Bereaved Families of Ontario at this link.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Bereaved Families of Ontario Southwest Region operates on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapeewak, and Attawandaron. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous people whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors to society. We value the significant contributions, both in the past and the present of local and regional first nations of Turtle Island.

20200715_154808-Photo-of-BFO-Family-Print-copy

Support Provided

All services provided at BFO-SW are based on peer support. We do not provide counselling, therapy, or crisis support. However, we can help you get connected to clinical services, support helplines, grief-related resources, self-help tools, and other community services as needed.

All of our peer support services are provided by compassionate and trained facilitators who have also experienced grief and loss. Our facilitators can be volunteers, staff, or practicum students. Currently, our programs are available for those ages 18+.

"The two BFO volunteers embraced us with their kindness and patience, never pushing, always listening and just being there when we couldn't find the words. The people in our group related to us in a way our close friends and family couldn't despite their best intentions, because the folks in our group had actually experienced a shared loss."

BFO Participant

"The facilitator was welcoming, very helpful, and made me feel very comfortable."

BFO-SW Participant

"Being able to share my thoughts and feelings about my grief in a safe space, without fear of judgement with the emotions I'm going through. It is also helpful to hear from likeminded people who know exactly what you are experiencing in that moment."

BFO-SW Participant

"It helped my soul that evening, I didn’t feel so alone in how I feel."

BFO-SW Participant

"You feel you're part of a community that doesn’t judge you. That I feel supported and not alone."

BFO-SW Participant

"It is wonderful that these sessions are provided and that there are peer support persons leading the discussions. They have been through the experience which is very helpful"

BFO-SW Participant

"Hearing from others who know first-hand the pain that comes with the loss of someone so important to you has been very helpful. Sharing resources and ideas of things that people have found helpful on their individual grief journeys. Helpful insights and exercises provided by the facilitator, but in a gentle and respectful way, understanding that not all people will find the same things helpful, or even want to try them depending on where they are in their journey."

BFO-SW Participant

"Super group. Knowing I’m not alone is huge. Conversation is always helpful. Facilitators are always great in filling in when our words fail"

BFO-SW Participant

"It’s a safe space inclusive space to be around people who are going through the same things as you"

BFO-SW Participant

About Us

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Southwest Region is a local, registered charitable organization offering compassion and care through peer support and mutual aid for individuals dealing with a death-related loss.

Contact Us

General Inquiries:
[email protected]
(226) 927-5687

Program/Support Inquiries:
[email protected]
(226) 448-8123

Mailing Address

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Southwest Region

PO Box 22067
London, ON
N6A 6H8

About us

Support Provided

"The facilitator was welcoming, very helpful, and made me feel very comfortable."

"Being able to share my thoughts and feelings about my grief in a safe space, without fear of judgement with the emotions I'm going through. It is also helpful to hear from likeminded people who know exactly what you are experiencing in that moment."

"It helped my soul that evening, I didn’t feel so alone in how I feel."

"You feel you're part of a community that doesn’t judge you. That I feel supported and not alone."

"It is wonderful that these sessions are provided and that there are peer support persons leading the discussions. They have been through the experience which is very helpful"

"Super group. Knowing I’m not alone is huge. Conversation is always helpful. Facilitators are always great in filling in when our words fail"

"It’s a safe space inclusive space to be around people who are going through the same things as you"

About Us

Follow Us