Who developed IcuGrief.ca

Developed by:

Canadian Virtual Hospice is the world’s most comprehensive online portal for information and support on advanced illness, palliative care, and grief. It serves the information and support needs of people living with advanced illness, families and caregivers, health providers, researchers, and educators. Canadian Virtual Hospice also operates: VirtualHospice.ca, PortailPalliatif.ca, MyGrief.ca, LivingMyCulture.ca, LivingOutLoud.life, vivreAfond.ca, Methadone4pain.ca, KidsGrief.ca, and DeuildesEnfants.ca and is active on numerous social media platforms.

In collaboration with:

Funding for ICUGrief was provided by:

Production of ICUGrief.ca has been made possible through financial support from The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization (TOHAMO) Innovation Fund.

Project Leads and Writers

James Downar MDMC MHSc FRCPC
Head and Associate Professor, Division of Palliative Care,
University of Ottawa
Department of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital

Brandi Vanderspank PhD RN CNCC(C)
Associate Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing
University of Ottawa

Christopher MacKinnon, PhD, OPQ
Faculty Lecturer, Department of Oncology, McGill University Psychologist
Co-Founder, and Director of Training, Psychologie Mont Royal
Montreal, Quebec

Ceilidh Eaton Russell MSc, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Director, Research and Evaluation
Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre

Development team

Amanda Roze des Ordons MD FRCPC MMEd
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology, Palliative Medicine

Antoine Przybylak-Brouillard MA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Division of Palliative Care, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Shelly Cory, MA
Executive Director
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Sarah Brown PhD
Project Manager
Canadian Virtual Hospice

Family Advisors

Erin Wotherspoon
Family advisor
Toronto, Ontario

Nadine Foster
Family advisor
Calgary, Alberta

Sandy Iddiols
Family advisor
Calgary, Alberta

Peter Oxland
Family advisor
Calgary, Alberta

Clinical Advisors

Kwadwo Kyeremanteng MD MHA FRCPC
ICU and Palliative Care Physician
Critical Care Medicine, Montfort Hospital/The Ottawa Hospital
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa

Philippe Couillard MD, FRCPC
NeuroIntensivist
Foothills ICU Medical Director
Alberta Health Services

Suzanne Robertson SCP, MSP
Spiritual Care Practitioner
Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network

Mathew Wenger BSc(N), MN, CNCC(C)
Adult Critical Care Registered Nurse
Foothills ICU Medical Director
Alberta Health Services

Tamara Hambleton BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Alberta Health Services

A special thank you to the additional clinician and family advisors who participated in interviews and shared their stories for purpose of this project.

Expert Reviewers

Fred Nelson MSW, RSW
Clinical Team
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Jill Taylor-Brown MSW, RSW
Clinical Team
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Video content

Wendy Rowland BAH, MA
Director
Toronto, Ontario

Robin Bain
Cinematographer
Toronto, Ontario

Platform Development


Aazir Munir
Project Manager
Venuiti Solutions

Graphic Design

Paula Nunes-Haggett
Brampton, Ontario

Graphic Design

Guy Regnier CGD
Deschenes Regnier