Lighting of the Memories
Bring the memory of your loved one into the New Year
Since 1993, Sunshine Coast Hospice has hosted a ceremonial bonfire on New Years’ Day called, “Lighting of the Memories.” Held at Davis Bay Beach, the event invites the public to symbolically bring the cherished memory of their loved one(s) into the new year.
Lighting of the Memories is a follow up to our Lights of Life event in December, where hundreds of ornaments are collected with hand-written tributes or the names of friends and family who have passed away. Those ornaments with messages are collected and brought to Davis Bay to be lit in the ceremonial bonfire as a symbolic release of the sentiments expressed.
“There’s a really lovely feeling at Lighting of the Memories. It’s genuine and it’s true. It’s a very special time. It usually rains and blows a great wind and it’s howling and the waves crash in. That actually adds to it. It’s very beautiful”
COMMUNITY - by Kate McLaughlin
(Poem written during the Coast Hospice “Living With Grief: Writing Group Series”)
When I stand now, I stand as one of many
I do not stand alone.
It is impossible to stand alone in this stage of life.
We may feel lonely, we may feel bereft, burdened even, abandoned?
And yet I come to this community.
This community I never sought, this community I would never wish on another soul.
But then, how could I not?
How could I not wish that you would find solace here too?
There are times when the grief train is too much to bear alone.
And times when we can open our tickle trunk of grief and invite others to play in our healing games.
I used to ask “When will my life go back to normal?”
Normal…
What is normal anymore?
Normal is no longer a status I seek.
Normal is no longer an endpoint, an objective.
My grief is normalized in the sharing, the accepting, and even the celebrating.
I accept this grief for the gift it is, the gift of love, the gift of loss, the gift of new normals.
The gift of this community which helps me stand when grief is a harsh master.
This community which holds my arm when I need steadying, and this community which joins me in laughter when I am finally able to be joyful.
Message by Michael Gurney, writer with the Coast Reporter, following his attendance at the 2024 Lighting of the Memories:
Every New Year’s Day for three decades, a bonfire has blazed at Mission Point to commemorate people who have passed away. The Lighting of the Memories event is organized by Coast Hospice. On Monday, its director, Tess Huntly, made brief remarks. Jennie Biltek read a poem by Mary Oliver (“Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light,” it began). The Threshold Choir sang. Finally came the culminating ritual: cardboard ornaments bearing the names of absent loved ones were rested among the flames.
We are grateful to the Province of BC and the District of Sechelt (Community Investment Program Grant) for their funding support for events where residents of the Coast can gather with friends and neighbours who are experiencing grief and connect with a community network of support.
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