Connected Through Loss: PAIL Support Group
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group
Bereaved parents of pregnancies or infants are often misunderstood or discouraged from talking about their grief. Yet we know that the loss of a pregnancy or infant can change someone’s life forever and, like all grief, needs compassion and understanding.
Connected Through Loss: PAIL Support Group is a free bi-weekly, in-person support group for adults navigating pregnancy and/or infant loss. This group is open to all parents (gestational and non-gestational) within a chosen family navigating said loss.
Discussion will be facilitated by experienced grief counsellors and social workers who have professional and/or personal relationships with pregnancy and infant loss.
Support group happens on bi-weekly on Mondays, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This is an in-person group, where we meet each month at the Hospice Halifax residence located at 618 Francklyn St. Halifax.
*Please note, group registration is required and there are specific dates when you can register to join the program.
The next session start dates and their registration periods are:
- April 13 2026, registration open January & February
- July 13, 2026, registration open September & December
Have questions?
How to Access
To self-refer, please call us to complete a short intake between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
When calling, please select to contact the Grief & Bereavement Support Services team. Your call will go to our inbox where you can leave a message sharing your name, contact information, and the program you are interested in. Our staff will return your call as soon as possible.
This messaging system allows our staff to give full availability to your call and offer any support you may need.
If you would like to join before the next intake date, our Support Service staff will help connect you with additional supports until the next intake.
If the group is full, you will be contacted by one of the facilitators to be added to the waitlist or to receive alternative resources and support.
Registration is open in the months of January, April, and August.
FAQs
This group is open to all parents (gestational and non-gestational, meaning parents who were pregnant and parents who were not pregnant) within a chosen family navigating pregnancy or infant loss.
Infancy refers to infants under the age of 12 months, however exceptions may be made for bereaved parents who experienced the loss of a toddler ages one to three.
Participants must also reside in Nova Scotia.
Discussions will be facilitated by:
Jennifer Giffin (she/her), MACP, Bereaved Parent, Volunteer, Hospice Halifax
Kaitlin Cantrell (she/her), RSW, Social Work & Programs Manager, Hospice Halifax
Linden Hardie (she/her), RSW, Bereavement Coordinator, IWK Health
Connected Through Loss: PAIL Support Group, along with all our other grief support services, is completely free!
Yes, registration is needed to attend your first support group session. After your initial registration, you may attend all future sessions.
Sign up by:
- Call Hospice Halifax at 902-446-9029 and leave a message with our Grief & Bereavement Support Services team.
- Our team will return your call and together you’ll complete an intake over the phone.
*If the group is full, you will be contacted by one of the facilitators to be added to the waitlist, or to receive alternative resources and supports.
For more information, please contact Hospice Halifax at 902-446-9029 OR the Pedatric Advanced Care Team at 902-470-8942 or via BereavementServices@iwk.nshealth.ca
For mental health emergencies, please dial 9-1-1, call the Nova Scotia Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team at (902) 429-8167 or toll-free at 1-888-429-8167, or visit your nearest hospital.