Grieving children and youth (ages 6-14) in York Region are a key client group for Doane House Hospice. This vulnerable population faces unique challenges, often struggling to articulate and understand their grief. Our art therapy and recreation-based programs provide tailored support to help young individuals process loss, build resilience, and foster hope; empowering families during a profound time of need.

In 2025, with the help of a small local grant, we created the Mariposa Art Club for Grieving Children. The events took place on York Region’s elementary PA Days, and the Club’s (5 to 9) members also chose to participate in two additional events: A pop-up art gallery held on December 10, during the Hospice’s holiday open house, and an exhibit of their artwork at the Town of Newmarket’s executive gallery at 395 Mulock Drive from February 3 to 27, 2026. Both events gave us additional visibility within the community.

The program helped the children reduce their sense of emotional isolation, build coping skills, and foster peer connections, mitigating long-term mental health risks (e.g., anxiety, depression) prevalent among grieving youth. Parents and family members of our Club members were also supported with resources and awareness of our resources - this helped to enhance the broader effect our programs can have on community resilience. Outcomes (based on client surveys) from our first year are:
- We provided a place where children said they felt they belonged
- The children enjoyed the artmaking and being with other kids who ‘understand’. After the October event, one client wrote in her feedback survey that what she liked best about that session was, “meeting other people like me”.
- The children felt validated in their emotions, saying “It’s okay to be sad.”
- Several of the clients were heavily invested in their art as a form of meaning-making. Their art became a powerful outlet for emotional expression, coping, and feeling connected to the person who died