BC Hub for Palliative Care ECHO
What is ECHO? The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)™ model creates virtual knowledge-sharing networks by bringing together healthcare providers and subject matter experts using videoconference technology, brief lecture presentations, and case-based learning, fostering an “all learn, all teach” approach. ECHO Project, as a model, provides a combination of education, collaboration, mentorship, and resource/expertise sharing across the multidisciplinary team that will benefit all those working to improve the quality of life for people affected by serious illness.
The vision of BC’s Hub for Palliative Care ECHO is for all care providers in BC to have equitable access to learning opportunities, resources and expertise to improve the quality of life of people affected by Serious Illness.
Sessions are FREE to attend and open to a variety of audiences depending on the topic.
People experiencing homelessness face a disproportionately high cancer burden and significant barriers to accessing timely treatment. Drawing on findings from a focused ethnography conducted in a Western Canadian city, this presentation explores how housing instability shapes cancer treatment decisions, care navigation, and access to oncology services. Participants will gain insights into the critical role of caregivers, outreach providers, and integrated housing and healthcare systems in advancing equitable cancer care for individuals who experience homelessness. Presenter: Amber Bourgeois, MSN-NP(F), PhD Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Medical Oncology BC Cancer, Victoria
Presenter: Amber Bourgeois, MSN-NP(F), PhD Nurse Practitioner, Hematology, Medical Oncology BC Cancer, Victoria
*Registration details for this Community of Practice coming soon*
Advanced Psychosocial Grief & Bereavement Series for Psychosocial Professionals
A co-creation between Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, BCCPC, Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society, and Victoria Hospice.
- This series is being developed by and for BC psychosocial palliative care providers working in clinical roles providing care to adults, children, and families who are affected by end of life issues, grief, loss and/or bereavement.
- The sessions will be facilitated advanced practice discussions delving into some of the challenging topics around Grief & Bereavement.
- The aim of this series is to generate learning that applies directly to practice and strengthens connection in a community of practice.
Who can attend?
- Any individuals, community groups, and healthcare providers interested in sharing their experiences and learning more about Compassionate Communities. Compassionate Communities are communities of people who are passionate and committed to improve the experiences of those living with a serious illness, caregiving, dying and grieving. A Compassionate Community takes an active role in caring for people affected by these experiences, connects people to supports, raises awareness about end-of-life issues, and builds supportive networks.
Objectives
- Build upon the conversations from the 2024 All Together Symposium hosted by BCCPC
- Provide opportunities for participants to network and share their knowledge and experiences
Details
- 1 hour sessions
- Some sessions may have resources and materials that will be emailed to registrants to review prior to the session
Upcoming sessions
Part of the All Together ECHO Series
A clear definition of an upstream Palliative Approach to Care supports collaboration across the health care system and community agencies, enabling coordinated, holistic care from the time of a life-limiting diagnosis. Greater Trail Hospice demonstrates this approach through a strong volunteer base spanning Nav-CARE, end-of-life, and grief support, alongside innovative education for people living with dementia, cancer and their caregivers. This work has strengthened partnerships within a Compassionate Community model.
However, in a rapidly changing system, gaps in communication, role clarity, and understanding can hinder timely connection with those who are seriously ill or grieving. In this ECHO session, we will review successes and challenges in rural communities, and participants will complete a partner mapping exercise to assess team connections and identify gaps in a palliative approach to care.
Presenters:
Ali Fillmore, Hospice Coordinator, Greater Trail Hospice Society
Gail Potter, Greater Trail Hospice Society Board member
Who Can Attend
Health care providers and students who provide care for people with life-limiting illness in any health care setting. The content is foundational education designed for those who are not familiar with palliative care and a palliative approach.
Objectives
The sessions aim to teach on the foundations of incorporating the palliative approach to care into daily practice.
Details
- 60 minutes interactive sessions designed to be a vehicle for sharing your own experience, resourcefulness, and inventiveness in your work with patients across the care systems.
- Sessions build upon Learning Hub modules created by a team of experts in palliative care and adult education, alongside a focus group of health care providers. This education can be applied to patients of any age, at any point from diagnosis to bereavement, in all care settings.
- Completion of the modules is not required beforehand as the module content will be covered during the ECHO sessions.
- Attendees will have an opportunity to learn from others and discuss case studies and/or questions.
- Register in as many sessions as you like, you do not need to complete one to attend another.
Current and Upcoming Sessions
We have wrapped up our Winter 2026 Flexing Your Core series. Stay tuned for future series dates!
This series is for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge around grief and bereavement to support them personally or in their professional careers. We hope to attract a wide range of people including health care providers, community organizational staff and volunteers, and those personally affected by loss.
Upcoming sessions
Part of our Grief & Bereavement Literacy ECHO Series
In long-term care homes, grief is not a single moment tied only to death. It is an ongoing, layered experience shared by the entire long-term care village: residents, families, staff, volunteers, and all who are connected to the home. Losses of independence, identity, memory, relationships, and familiar roles often begin long before the end of life, especially for people living with dementia. Yet despite the deep emotional impact of these cumulative losses, grief frequently goes unrecognized in long-term care due to time pressures, limited resources, and a lack of formal support. This session brings together lived experiences from BC long-term care communities, research-informed insights, and practical strategies to help care homes acknowledge, normalize, and compassionately respond to grief as an everyday part of life and care. Session poster you can print and share linked here.
Presenters:
Lisa Dawson – President of the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC
Grace Hu, MPH – Research Coordinator, BC Centre for Palliative Care
Gita Rafiee, RN, BScN, MN, GNC(C), CNCA – Clinical Nurse Specialist Long-Term Care at Fraser Health Authority
Naoko Watanabe, MSW, RCSW, Social Worker at Minoru Residence
This series is for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge around grief and bereavement to support them personally or in their professional careers.
A clear definition of an upstream Palliative Approach to Care supports collaboration across the health care system and community agencies, enabling coordinated, holistic care from the time of a life-limiting diagnosis. Greater Trail Hospice demonstrates this approach through a strong volunteer base spanning Nav-CARE, end-of-life, and grief support, alongside innovative education for people living with dementia, cancer and their caregivers. This work has strengthened partnerships within a Compassionate Community model.
However, in a rapidly changing system, gaps in communication, role clarity, and understanding can hinder timely connection with those who are seriously ill or grieving. In this ECHO session, we will review successes and challenges in rural communities, and participants will complete a partner mapping exercise to assess team connections and identify gaps in a palliative approach to care.
Presenters:
Alexandra ‘Lexy’ Stewart & Ashley Mollison, Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health, University of Victoria
Who can attend?
Health care professionals who are interested in learning more and sharing best practices around implementing essential conversations with patients and families as part of their practice. These essential conversations may be advance care planning, goals of care and / or Serious Illness Conversations (SICs).
Goal
To further the integration and spread of essential conversations into routine clinical practice throughout B.C.
Objectives
1) Provide ongoing learning opportunities for participants
2) Facilitate knowledge exchange, connectedness, resources sharing, and networking between participants
Upcoming sessions
Create Your Own ECHO Program
We can support health care providers, health care facilities, and community organizations to establish their own ECHO program.
Download our guide for co-creating an ECHO
Have an idea for an ECHO program, series, session, or workshop? We want to hear from you! contact [email protected]
