The Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation (HGTF), in partnership with Clearview Township, recently celebrated the installation of a wind phone at the Clearview EcoPark in Stayner.
“A wind phone is a disconnected phone that is set in a nature location, and people typically use a wind phone to connect with loved ones who have died,” explained Vanessa Voorberg, interim Community Support Lead at Hospice Georgian Triangle (HGT).
She explains that wind phones first came out in 2010 when a person in Japan created one to connect with their cousin who had died, and he put it in his backyard. It was moved to a public space after the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, allowing mourners from across the country to come and connect with their loved ones.
Voorberg believes the wind phone is an extension of the services provided by HGT.
“I think it’s such an important part of our work because wind phones are symbolic of how we want to create more grief care spaces in the community and compassionate care spaces in the community. We know that sometimes in our communities we’re a little bit scared of death and a little bit scared of grief, so it’s how can we create more space for people to receive care both independently and in connection with others.”
At the wind phone, the public will find information about Hospice Georgian Triangle’s grief and bereavement services and other programs.
Voorberg says part of grief work is to give people space to express their grief publicly and privately, and the wind phone is an extension of that.
“I think people can go out (to the wind phone) whenever it feels comfortable to them. I also know occasionally people will set up a wind phone on their own property. I think a wind phone is a beautiful symbol, and very tangible for people.”
Voorberg encourages people who make use of the wind phone and are looking for grief and bereavement support to contact HGT.
“That can be a hard call or email to send, and also, it’s a real act of courage.”
HGT operates Campbell House in Collingwood, a 10-bed residential hospice for end-of-life care and short-term palliative care servicing in South Georgian Bay, including Collingwood, Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township.
HGTF is the fundraising arm of the organization.
