Finding Support In The Darkness

The Calgary Homicide Support Society offers a safe place for families and those close to victims of homicide to come together to find support from others who "just know.” We provide a peer support group* to persons who have lost a loved one(s) to homicide. This support group is available to persons18 years of age and older, regardless of their criminal case status. There is no charge to join.

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Does this sound like you?

• Have you lost someone close to homicide?

• Do you wonder how you will ever get through this?

• Where can you meet with others who have experienced this type of tragic loss and understand how you are feeling?

• Are you overwhelmed trying to understand and cope with the police investigation, intrusive media attention, and the complex criminal justice system?

• What is a preliminary hearing? What happens during the trial? What is the value of completing a victim impact statement?

The Calgary Homicide Support Group will:​

• Provide information on the criminal justice system while hearing the experiences of those who have concluded that part of their journey.

• Provide family members with the opportunity to meet with others at our monthly support meetings to share the challenges, feelings and ideas that can help us on the road to recovery.

• Allow you to meet with other family members who have a wealth of experience, compassion and understanding of what you are going through.

• Let you hear from those who have found tools and strategies that they find helpful when facing challenges along the way.

What you can expect at a Calgary Homicide Support Group meeting:

• To be met and welcomed by other families experiencing a family member’s loss to homicide in a safe environment.

• The discussion and conversations at meetings will focus on the current needs of the group.

• Experiences within the group currently range from recent homicides to others that happened many years ago. These range from cases where no charges have been laid, those who are now navigating the criminal justice system and still others where a court finished long ago, and the offender has since been paroled.

• Occasionally, guest speakers are invited to present on specific topics that are viewed as valuable by the group.

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* Please note that our support meetings are not a bereavement or therapy group or a group lobbying for victims' rights or justice reform.