Home Hospice Association

Death Doula Certificate Program

Empower individuals and families at the end of life with Canada's most comprehensive, community-rooted Death Doula training.

Flexible. Compassionate. Professionally recognized.

Start your journey today

An HHA-trained Death Doula is a compassionate, skilled professional bringing presence, peace, and practical support to individuals and families facing death. Not replacing medical teams, a Death Doula completes the circle of care by tending to the emotional, spiritual, and practical dimensions of dying, death, and bereavement.

They show up when others can’t, know how to help, or when extra care and support is needed.

Why Train with Home Hospice Association?

Our Death Doula Certificate Program blends compassion with professional excellence — combining hands-on learning, case-based exploration, and real-world application to prepare you to meet people where they are: at home, in an institutionalized setting, or on the street.

When you train with HHA, you receive:

A 2.5-day immersive training weekend (via Zoom): Friday evening, 9am-5pm (Eastern Time) Saturday & Sunday (Dates on Registration Form below)
Flexible online learning from anywhere in Canada that fits your schedule and pace
Live online sessions led by expert facilitators with real-world experience
A nationally respected Certificate of Completion
A supportive nationwide network of peers and alumni
Access to Home Hospice Association programs and resources for continued professional growth and lifelong learning:
- Death Worker Learning Nights — guest speakers, case studies, and “What Would You Do?” online sessions to keep you inspired and informed
- Free admission to HHA community events — including Death Doula social gatherings and support circles
- Access to real-world opportunities after graduation through HHA initiatives and community partnerships — including speaking invitations, mentorship, and paid partnerships

Are you an organization interested in training your staff/volunteers to support clients facing end-of-life in the work that you do? Let's work together to customize our training program to fit your needs. Send us an email (info@homehospiceassociation.com) — we’d be glad to meet with you.

Testimonials

Loved Lisa's calming energy. Glen seems like someone I would want to care for my family after death. Cari was very knowledgeable about the content and clear in her delivery. Kayla was so upbeat and clearly passionate about the role . I loved the different ways of delivering the training, such as small group work, videos, etc. I truly loved all of it!

Core Course Components:

Compassionate Companioning Learning Modules (online, self-paced)
- Foundational lessons on caregiving, ethics, communication, grief, self-care, and spiritual support.
Independent Study Modules (online, self-paced)
- Covering topics such as children and grief, public education, culturally sensitive care, and pet loss support
Cohort Training Weekend (live online via Zoom)
- Exploring real-world care practices like advance care planning, active dying, and vigils
Death Doula Projects (online & applied)
- Case studies, community-based assignments, and opportunities to begin practicing in real-life care settings

Tuition & Registration

Tuition: $700 CAD (inclusive)
Payment: E-transfer to funds@homehospiceassociation.com
Payment by Credit Card: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/fcfd712c-b8a3-4a39-b41b-a8e57c6678c1
Registration is confirmed upon receipt of full payment 
Choose your cohort weekend during registration

Please note: Registration fees are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend your selected cohort weekend, you may transfer to a future session with a minimum of 45 days’ notice.

After registration you will:

Receive access to your learning modules (within 1–3 business days)

Attend your live cohort weekend (2.5 days on Zoom)

Complete your projects and receive your certificate

Continue to grow and learn through ongoing education, peer support, and opportunities to apply your skills

Important Policies & Information

Technology Requirements: Internet access, a Google account (one will be established for you), and the ability to join live Zoom calls.

Time Commitment: Most students spend 3–5 hours per week on self-paced learning.

Language: All content is currently delivered in English.

Certification Note: Home Hospice Association issues a Certificate of Completion upon course completion. There is currently no formal regulatory body for Death Doulas in Canada, but Home Hospice Association is a nationally respected organization.

Professional Conduct: All candidates are expected to uphold principles of confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and compassionate professionalism in all interactions.

Accessibility & Accommodations: We welcome all learners. Please reach out if you require accommodation; we will do our best to support your needs.

Meet the Facilitators

Lisa Bonneville

Lisa is a death doula and hospice and bereavement counsellor, as well as a facilitator for HHA’s Death Doula and MAiD and the Death Doula Certificate Programs. She believes that communication plays a huge role in preparing for end-of-life as well as the grief that follows. She’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about dying, death and everything in between.

Most of Lisa’s experience is in residential hospice but she has also worked in long-term care, funeral homes and had the privilege of caring for palliative Catholic Nuns. Many people have had a hand in supporting and guiding her along the way to where she is today, and she does her best to pass on this wisdom and knowledge in her own teaching.

Glen Burkholder

Glen is a co-founder of Home Hospice Association and has been a funeral director since 1986. Originally from the Niagara Region, he moved to Toronto in 2012. He is a member of the Niagara District Funeral Service Association and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Toronto District Funeral Directors Inc. and the Ontario Funeral Service Association. In February 2023, Glen joined the team of McKersie & Early Funeral Home in Milton, Ontario.

Glen is especially passionate about HHA’s continued education and training mission, and is deeply involved in the development and facilitation of the Death Doula and Infant and Pregnancy Loss Doula certificate programs.

Stephanie Byfield

Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wilfried Laurier University, a Diploma in Fitness & Health Promotion, and is currently completing a Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University.

As a Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist, a Death Doula in training, and 30 years in the health and wellness industry, Stephanie appreciates the importance to living life to the fullest and taking the time out to reflect on our experiences, and sharing knowledge and wisdom with others.

As an individual who lives with a life-limiting condition, Stephanie understands the peaks and valleys that someone with a chronic disease may experience. From personal experience and as a member of the BIPOC community, Stephanie has a unique perspective on grief, death and dying, and their impact on those within marginalized communities.

Cari Ferguson, RP (Qualifying)

Infant & Pregnancy Loss Support Program, Death Doula Certificate Program

Cari is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) working in clinical practice in Toronto. She holds a Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) degree and completed a certificate in thanatology. Cari oversees HHA’s professional development programs and serves as the death doula and infant and pregnancy loss support candidate advisor. Cari is a passionate death and grief educator whose work is centred primarily around education, awareness, grief counselling, and spiritual care. She is dedicated to embracing and normalizing the difficult conversations we need to have about dying, death, grief, and caring for those on a grief journey. You can learn more about her at www.strongwinds.ca and https://cwcp.ca/clinician/cari-ferguson/

Questions? Download our FAQ

Ready to take the next step? Join a national community of people transforming end-of-life care in Canada.

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