Our monthly Drop-in groups are casual peer support drop-in groups for individuals, partners and couples who are looking to connect through their loss experience at any stage of the journey. These groups provide an affirming space to share in a more casual setting
Partners in Loss Support Group
This is a casual peer support group that acknowledges the unique and often disenfranchised grief that men experience in their journey of infertility and/or of losing a baby or child.
Who is this group for? This group is for men who want an affirming space to connect with others who can relate.
Pregnant After Loss Support Group
This is a casual peer support group that provides an affirming, non-judgmental space for individuals and partners who are pregnant again after a previous loss to connect with others who can relate to the unique challenges of pregnancy after loss.
Who is this group for? Individuals and partners who are currently pregnant again after miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, or SIDS/SUDC who want to connect with others who are in a similar phase of the journey.
General Drop-in: With Living Children
This is a casual peer support drop-in group for individuals, partners and couples with living children (pre or post loss) who are looking to connect through their loss experience at any stage of the journey. Pregnant people are welcome.
Who is this group for? All individuals at any stage of the journey including secondary infertility and loss experiences who currently have a living child (however the brought the child into their family).
TFMR Drop-in Group
This is a casual peer support drop-in group that is designed to connect with others as we navigate the journey through a Termination For Medical Reasons (TFMR) loss together.
Who is this group for? Individuals and partners who have made the difficult decision to terminate their wanted pregnancy for medical reasons and are seeking peer connection at any stage of the journey.
General Drop-in: Childless Not By Choice
This is a casual peer support drop-in group for individuals, partners and couples currently without living children, including those trying to conceive (naturally or through assisted fertility) as well as those who are coming to terms with not trying again. You do not need to have been previously pregnant or experienced pregnancy or infant loss to attend. This group is not suited for pregnant people. We recognize that being childless not by choice is a unique journey. This group provides a place to connect, validate our experience and hold space to process your emotions as you navigate your journey.
Who is this group for? All individuals, partners, and couples at any stage of the journey who currently do not have any living children. This can include if you are still trying, given up on trying, have experienced loss, have never been pregnant, missed adoptions, etc.
Post-Abortion Support Group
This group is a monthly drop-in peer support group that allows individuals who have had one or more abortion(s) to connect in a non-judgmental setting. This group is focused on finding ways to cope during the post-abortion experience and is inclusive of all experiences because there is no right or wrong way to feel about this decision. We are here to support whatever you are feeling or coping with as part of the post-abortion experience.
We are affirming, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental of all choices. We are fully supportive of access to all choices including parenting, abortion, and adoption.
Who is this group for? For individuals who have had one or more abortion(s) only
This group is in partnership with
Queer Family Building Support Group
This is a casual peer support group that provides an affirming, non-judgmental space for those who identify within the queer community. This group holds space for the diverse ways that 2SLGBTQIA+ parents build their families (i.e.: assisted fertility, surrogacy, chosen family, adoption) and/or experience loss on their paths to parenthood. We recognize that all parents deserve an affirming space to navigate their journey.
Who is this group for? This group is for individuals who are part of gender and/or sexually diverse populations including but not limited to Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual individuals. People in any stage of parenthood and/or loss are welcome, you do not need to have experienced pregnancy or infant loss to attend. This group is open to birthing persons, non-birthing persons, partners, caregivers, chosen family, surrogates, donors, etc.
FAQ
What to expect at a PILSC peer support group
A hybrid group is a peer support group that gives you the option of attending in person at the PILSC office in downtown Calgary or attending virtually on Zoom for those living outside of Calgary and for anyone who prefers to attend virtually.
Your hybrid group will have a designated facilitator for those who attend in person and the second facilitator will be supporting the group on Zoom. We have technology called Meeting Owl that allows for a seamless interaction experience between those attending in person and those who attend virtually.
(PILSC hybrid group using Meeting Owl technology with in-person and virtual attendees)
To see a video of a Hybrid group, see this video
For our 7-Week Groups, we require that all participants attend either the first or second session and as many sessions as possible to allow for a safe and consistent group environment. That being said, life happens and let us know if you are unable to attend a session by emailing info@pilsc.org.
As with all of our services at PILSC, we believe in the importance of removing barriers to accessing services. All of our groups are offered at no cost to participants. For those who have the means and ability to help support the centre and our groups programming, we graciously accept donations: https://pilsc.org/donate-to-pilsc
All of our online groups are open for anyone to attend anywhere in the world. Some of our groups that meet in person will have a hybrid option so you can attend any group virtually, regardless of your physical location.
You will receive a confirmation email from the Jane booking system and the day before your group you will receive an email welcoming you to your group. For 7-week groups, there are forms to fill out in the Jane booking system so please fill those out as we require your mailing information to send you materials for your group.
Yes, you are welcome to attend a group more than once. Every time you attend will be different because so much is determined by the people in a group with you. We also have various monthly groups that you can try after an 7-week group to meet others who have experienced.
We are dedicated to supporting individuals of all faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.