FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Last Aid® Facilitator Applications Now Open Across Canada 

CHPCA Invites Healthcare Professionals and Community Members to Help Build Compassionate Communities 

Ottawa, ON – June 22, 2026 The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for individuals interested in becoming certified Last Aid® facilitators and helping people in Canada gain confidence in supporting people experiencing dying, death, grief, and bereavement. 

Last Aid® is an internationally recognized public education program that raises awareness and understanding of palliative care, end-of-life issues, grief, and bereavement. Rooted in the compassionate communities approach, the program empowers people with practical knowledge and skills to care for those close to them during some of life's most challenging moments. 

Facilitators are asked to commit to volunteering for a minimum of one year and lead at least two Last Aid® courses annually. To become a facilitator, applicants must complete a registration form, pay a non-refundable training fee of $200 CAD, participate in a four-hour facilitator training session, and agree to CHPCA's volunteer requirements. Facilitators receive a $50 honorarium for each course they successfully lead. 

"Building compassionate communities starts with giving people the knowledge and confidence to support one another through illness, dying, grief, and bereavement," said Cheryl Spencer, Interim CEO of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. "Last Aid® facilitators play a vital role in making these conversations more accessible and helping Canadians feel better prepared to care for those they love. We are excited to welcome a new group of facilitators who will help expand the reach and impact of this important program across the country." 

Each Last Aid® course is delivered by two facilitators: 

• One clinical facilitator, who is a current or retired physician or registered nurse; and 
• One facilitator with lived experience or an allied health professional background. 

 Applicants will be asked to identify which facilitator role they are applying for during registration. Prospective facilitators are encouraged to review the Last Aid® Facilitator Roles before applying. 

Upcoming Facilitator Training Dates 

• Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern 

• Monday, November 16, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Eastern 

• Saturday, January 16, 2027 | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern 

Individuals who are unable to attend their originally selected training date may request a transfer to a future training session. 

By becoming a Last Aid® facilitator, volunteers will join a growing movement dedicated to normalizing conversations about death and dying, strengthening community support networks, and ensuring that no one faces serious illness, caregiving, grief, or bereavement alone. 

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.chpca.ca/education/last-aid-facilitator-information/ 

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About CHPCA

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) — the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada, is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in care for persons approaching death so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened. CHPCA operates in close partnership with other national organizations and continues to work to ensure that all people in Canada, regardless of where they may live, have equal access to quality hospice palliative care services for themselves and their family. Learn more at https://www.chpca.ca