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Mary Ellen Macdonald

@memacdonald.bsky.social

250 followers 240 following 81 posts

Grief and death literacy. Medical Anthropologist in Palliative Medicine, Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). Check out Griefmatters.ca and TEDx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBulO8OsQ3M

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Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · Dec 14

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 4d

Lori Weber's husband chose Medical Assistance in Dying - she generously shared her family's story and her advice for anyone making this choice. (Many thanks to Charlit Floriano and Cartoonist-in-Residence Susan MacLeod)
Check out the full animation here: griefmatters.ca/cartoons/mai...

MAID, Grief Sisters and Rainbows — Grief Matters

Lori Weber's husband chose Medical Assistance in Dying three years ago. Lori generously shared her family's story and her advice for anyone making this choice. (Many thanks to Charlit Floriano for her...

griefmatters.ca

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 4d

I love it when I bump into #GriefLiteracy as I wander through my world

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 6d

October's blog is up at ww.GriefMatters.ca, and it's such an important topic: managing small talk when you're grieving.

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 15d

Wondering what to do today? Join us!

Reposted by Mary Ellen Macdonald

nancyforde.com @nancyfjorde.bsky.social · 16d

TODAY! If you live in #HFX/HRM, I'm leading a free 'FotoBalm' event (photo walk exploring the practice of #photography as healing for the #grief process.) Part of GriefMatters.ca Grief Gatherings Week happening all around Nova Scotia. Bring your camera and meet at The Dingle gazebo for 4 PM start.

nancyforde.com @nancyfjorde.bsky.social · 16d

This week GriefMatters.ca is hosting "Grief Gatherings" Sep 19-28. Among them is a #photography walk by me tomorrow on how photography began/continues as a healing practice for me. If you're in #HRM, bring your camera to come 'draw light' together.

Pls register by e-mail. Deets in photo/ALT text.

poster for in-person 'FotoBalm' event on how photography began and continues as a healing practice. Poster text:

Come draw light
on
Thursday September 25
4-6PM
(backup weather day Fri Sep 26).

A 'FotoBalm' event
led by photographer Nancy Forde
as part of Grief Matters'
Grief Gatherings Week.

Event Details
All photography skill levels and cameras welcome (even if your 'camera' is a smartphone.)

Organizer: Nancy Forde (nancyforde.com.)
Location: In person at Sir Sanford Fleming Park/"The Dingle.
Time: 4-6 PM.

Please gather at The Dingle gazebo for the 4 PM start.
Dress for walking/hiking/weather. Water bottles and Kleenex encouraged. This event is free. Donations are welcome.

To register: e-mail nancyfordephoto@gmail.com with subject "FotoBalm Event."

This event is limited to 20 participants only. Please register early to reserve your spot.

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Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 17d

Good morning! Just another commute to work 😊

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 18d

Wondering what to do today? We've got two in-person events, if you happen to be in this beautiful part of the world #NovaScotia #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 18d

Two more beautiful events tomorrow - both in Nova Scotia. www.GriefMatters.ca #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 18d

Two more beautiful events tomorrow - both in Nova Scotia. www.GriefMatters.ca #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 18d

Gather with us for a grief walk today in Bedford (Nova Scotia). More at wwwGriefMatters.ca

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 19d

There are so many amazing offerings - join us! More details at www.GriefMatters.ca #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 19d

Join this #GriefGathering2025 event - essential learnings are promised!

VOICE: The Childhood Ethics Project @childhoodethics.bsky.social · 25d

Re-Imagining Childhood Grief: Children as Active Agents in a Transactional Process.
Journal club: Everyone is welcome - youth too!
September 22 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM (EST).
Moderated by #CeilidhEatonRussell (lead author), #HannaCrouse (youth researcher) & @francocarnevale.bsky.social
lnkd.in/eYMfcv2J

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 19d

Another great #GriefGatherings2025 event in the bag! Thanks to @whenyoudie.bsky.social and Hospice Halifax

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 20d

Last Saturday, #GriefMatters took to the Sackville Farmers' Market (Nova Scotia). Stay tuned for future pop-up stands!
For a full list of gatherings, visit out website here: griefmatters.ca/grief-gather...
#GriefGatherings2025 #GriefGatherings

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 22d

Just dropped! And with that, #GriefGatherings2025 is underway. Join us, www.GriefMatters.ca

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 23d

Grief Gatherings starts tomorrow! #GriefMatters

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 23d

From September 19-28, in-person and online grief literacy activities! Join us! #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 23d

Two more sleeps! #GriefGatherings2025 Schedule at: griefmatters.ca/grief-gather...

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 24d

The countdown to this year’s Grief Gatherings has begun! We’re so excited for what’s ahead. Which events are you planning to attend? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you! #GriefMatters #GriefGatherings2025

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 25d

Yes, Grief Matters!

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 25d

Just follow the geese to #GriefGatherings2025🪿

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 25d

#GriefGatherings2025 are coming up! Join us!

Grief Gatherings — Grief Matters

Grief Gatherings was a week-long event to increase grief literacy in our communities.

griefmatters.ca

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Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · 25d

Have you heard about #GriefGatherings2025? Check out griefmatters.ca

Grief Matters

Grief Matters is working to increase grief awareness and grief literacy so that we all can better support ourselves, others, and our communities. Please join us!

griefmatters.ca

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · Aug 21

This new policy demonstrates such impressive leadership - thanks @cjphrcsp.bsky.social for your vision!

VOICE: The Childhood Ethics Project @childhoodethics.bsky.social · Aug 21

Research WITH young people! CJPH @cjphrcsp.bsky.social now requires authors to describe how young people are involved in research that affects them. VOICE youth #JaynaLingLunny & faculty @memacdonald.bsky.social @francocarnevale.bsky.social promoted this policy! Our editorial doi.org/10.17269/s41...

Announcing a new authorship policy at CJPH: Consideration of young people in research - Canadian Journal of Public Health

Canadian Journal of Public Health -

doi.org

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Macdonald

VOICE: The Childhood Ethics Project @childhoodethics.bsky.social · Aug 20

Children grieve too! In this paper, we contest views of children as immature, used to justify their exclusion from discussions about death. This exclusion breaches children’s participation rights. We propose a rethinking that recognizes young people as active moral agents. doi.org/10.1177/0030...

Re-Imagining Childhood Grief: Children as Active Agents in a Transactional Process - Ceilidh Eaton Russell, Meg Chin, Georg Bollig, Cheryl-Anne Cait, Franco A. Carnevale, Jody Chrastek, Bianca Lavorgn...

Bereavement during childhood impacts children’s wellbeing and biopsychosocial development. Research examining impacts and outcomes of childhood bereavement and ...

doi.org

Mary Ellen Macdonald @memacdonald.bsky.social · Apr 21

Too true.