Community Based End of Life Care

Home Hospice Association

Death Doula Certificate Program | Community End of Life Care Education

Gain the knowledge and skills to support individuals and communities facing illness, caregiving, dying, and grief with Canada's top Death Doula education. Since 2017, Home Hospice Association has been enhancing death care education through compassionate, community-focused learning for individuals, caregivers, and professionals. Grounded in Death Doula training, our programs are flexible and practical. Begin your journey today.

HHA. is the proud training partner for many Community Care Organizations across Canada; working with diverse, vulnerable and marginalized populations. Read about one Training Event

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.

Why Train with Home Hospice Association?

When you train with HHA, you receive:

Support, guidance and mentorship along your entire learning journey
A Training Series of 14 Modules designed to take you from curiosity to care mobilizaton
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
A Certificate of Completion recognized in the communities and agencies HHA works with across Canada
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

Grounded in Death Doula training and expanded through community based end of life care education, Home Hospice Association blends decades of experience in hospice, palliative, and death care with a commitment to compassionate, community based, non medical support. Through hands on learning, case based exploration, and real world application, participants are prepared to support people where they are: at home, in institutional settings, and within underserved or vulnerable communities.

Visit our Living and Dying Well Initiatives

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)
- Case studies, community-based assignments, and opportunities to begin practicing in real-life care settings

Cohort Training Weekend (live online via Zoom)
- Exploring real-world care practices like advance care planning, active dying, and vigils

Select your Weekend Upon Registration

June 19-21, 2026

September 11-13, 2026

January 29-31, 2027

April 9-11, 2027

Fri. 6-9pm (Eastern)

Sat., Sun 9am-5pm (Eastern)

Community Connection & Mentorship
- Participants are supported through mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and meaningful connections within HHA’s broader Living & Dying Well network and community based initiatives across Canada.

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

Tuition & Registration

Tuition: $700 CAD (inclusive)
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 reflecting successful participation in community based, non medical end of life care education grounded in practical application, compassionate support, and real world learning. Since 2017, HHA has welcomed thousands of participants into its educational programs across Canada. There is currently no single nationally regulated accrediting body for Death Doula education in Canada, and organizations within the field may hold differing educational philosophies and approaches to training and practice.

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

Cari is a Fellow in Thanatology (FT) with the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and a Certified Grief Educator. She is also a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) working in clinical practice in Toronto. She holds a Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) degree with a Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate. Cari oversees HHA’s death doula training program. 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 Cari at www.strongwinds.ca and https://cwcp.ca/clinician/cari-ferguson/

Questions? Download our FAQ

Community Based End of Life Care

Home Hospice Association

Death Doula Certificate Program | Community End of Life Care Education

Why Train with Home Hospice Association?

Testimonials

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

Tuition & Registration

Important Policies & Information

Meet the Facilitators

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

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