Each year, Hospice Orillia’s Candles of Remembrance Ceremony brings the community together to honour and remember loved ones who are no longer with us. This cherished tradition will once again take place at Creative Nomad Studios on Thursday, November 27th, 2025, and will be complemented by a Virtual Memorial Wall, allowing those who cannot attend to participate from afar.
“Each year, Candles of Remembrance provides a gentle space to pause and honour those we miss most,” says Louise Brazier, Bereavement Services Coordinator with Hospice Orillia. “The holidays can bring a mix of emotions when we’re grieving, and this evening allows us to come together, reflect, and find comfort in shared connection.”
As a Community Hospice, Hospice Orillia provides ongoing grief and bereavement support through compassionate programming and events like Candles of Remembrance. Guests attending this year’s ceremony can look forward to poetry readings, live music, light refreshments, and an interactive memory tree — a new addition that invites guests to add a message or memory in honour of their loved one.
In past years, the event has welcomed between 45 and 60 guests in person, while the virtual option has allowed even more to take part from home. Based on community feedback, Hospice Orillia will continue to offer both in-person and virtual opportunities to ensure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so.
“For many, attending in person simply isn’t possible,” says Amanda Tevelde, Communications, Fundraising and Community Relations Specialist. “That’s why offering virtual components like the Virtual Memorial Wall is so important — it allows us to honour loved ones and build connection beyond physical distance.”
Whether participating in person or online, all are invited to submit a photo and sentiment about their loved one. Submissions can be made through the online form at hospiceorillia.ca/candles by November 25th, 2025.
“As a partially funded organization, we rely on the generosity of donors to make meaningful events like this possible,” adds Tevelde. “We are deeply grateful to the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area for their continued support of this vital ceremony.”
“This year’s addition of a memory tree brings a beautiful, interactive element to our ceremony,” Brazier adds. “It gives guests the opportunity to express their love and memories in a tangible way, creating a shared symbol of connection and remembrance. We look forward to gathering as a community in this beautiful downtown space — a time to reflect, to remember, and to find comfort together.”
The 2025 Candles of Remembrance Ceremony will take place at Creative Nomad Studios, 23 Mississaga St. W., Orillia, on Thursday, November 27th, 2025. Ample parking is available nearby, including municipal lots by the Orillia Public Library and behind Creative Nomad Studios, as well as additional street parking. An elevator is available for guests requiring access to the second floor.
For more information about Hospice Orillia’s bereavement services, visit hospiceorillia.ca or contact Louise Brazier at (705) 325-0505 ext. 209.
