Life and Death Matters was founded in 2005 with the mission to improve care for the dying through delivery of comprehensive palliative resources, training, and support for healthcare workers and individuals. We are outgoing advocates for expanding palliative care education for personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses in core curriculum and in the workplace.
In support of our mission, Life & Death Matters develops a growing library of resources (textbooks, companion workbooks, videos, and podcasts) to support educators and students extend their palliative skills and approach. Based on provincial and national palliative care standards, our resources are widely used across the world and have been adapted for healthcare workers in the United States, Mexico, South/Latin America, and even Nepal. No matter where they are used, we work hard to ensure all our resources are engaging and user-friendly – delicious and digestible, we like to say.
Throughout our resources and content, we use the title “Personal Support Worker” (PSW), aware that the job description and title may vary between location and region. Whether you are a Health Care Assistant, Continuing Care Assistant, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, or one of many other titles, if you are working with patients at the end of life these resources are for you.
On the cover of all Life & Death Matters resources is the image of the Arbutus tree. Often rooted in the crevices of rock faces and along the rocky cliffs of the Pacific West Coast, Arbutus trees thrive despite being buffeted by the wind, salty sea air, and rain. With papery bark that peels off each year, each Arbutus tree is unique. To us, the Arbutus tree symbolizes the strength of the human spirit, our ability to survive, grow, and even thrive amid difficult, even traumatic situations. Like the Arbutus tree, we may get gnarled with age, but each of us is unique.
Greetings! My name is Kath Murray. I came to hospice nursing as a child when I witnessed death in nature, and then as a teen and young adult when close family members and friends passed away. I became a hospice nurse in my early 30’s and quickly learned that there was much suffering I could have prevented if I just had more knowledge, skill, and training. And there was born my lifelong commitment to developing and providing hospice and palliative care education.
Life and Death Matters is dedicated to providing excellent education. Contact our administration team for more information on speakers associated with Life and Death Matters to help address your needs for keynote speakers and presenters.
A1 Global College of Health, Business and Technology
Abm College of Business Technology
Academy of Learning Career & Business College
Alberta Health Services Palliative Care Program (Abes)
Algonquin Careers Academy
Algonquin College
Anderson College (Robetech)
Asimco College – Cobourg
Assiniboine Community College
Camosun College
Canadian All Care College
Canadian Business Skills College
Canadian Care Academy
Canadian Career College of Innovative Technology and Management
Canadian College of Business, Science & Technology
Capilano University
Discovery Community College
Cdi College of Business, Technology & Health Care – Ajaxcdi College of Business, Technology & Health Care
Cdi College of Business, Technology & Health Care
Centennial College Central Health Institutecj Health Care College
Clarkridge Career Institute
College of New Caledonia (CNC)
Computek College of Business Healthcare Technology
Conestoga Collegecornerstone College of Health & Business
Crd College of Health Care
Cts Canadian Career College
Discovery Community College
Eastern College
Emmanuel Academy of Health & Business
Everest College of Business, Technology & Health Care
Evergreen College
Fatima Institute of Learning Inc.
Fleming College
Futures Academy of Health Care
George Brown College
Hamilton Institute For Health Personnel
Hamilton-wentworth Cdsb
Herzing Career College
Holi Health
Hospice Waterloo
Ican College of Computer Business & Healthcare
Jrs College of Business & Health
Kingston KLC College: Healthcare, Business & Education
Maxwell College of Advanced Technologymedix College Health Care – Brampton
Medix College Health Care
National Academy of Health & Business
Native Education College
Netstaff Consulting
New Skills College of Health, Business & Technologyniagara College – Welland Campus
Niagara School of Health Care
North American College of Information Technology
Okanagan College
Peak Private Healthcare College
Pharmaceutical Science College of Canada
Pro Resp
Progressive Training College of Business and Health
Red Cross Care Partners – Bracebridge
Robertson College – Edmonton Campus
Robetech Institute Inc
Simcoe County District School Board
Sir Sandford Fleming College
Sprott Shaw
St. Charles Adult And Continuing Education – Mountain Campus
St. Elizabeth Health Career College
St. Lawrence College
Stanford Int’l College of Business & Technology
Stenberg College
The Priory
Thompson Rivers University
Toronto Business College
Toronto Health School
Transitions College of Business & Career Studiestricare Academy
Trillium College
Trios College Business Technology Healthcare Inc
Western Community College
Westervelt College
Wilkes University
Willis College
Willis College of Business, Health & Technology
Yukon College
A hospice palliative care nurse and a thanatologist, Kath is passionate about improving care of the dying person and their family through education, resources and courses.
Kath would say that one of her superpowers is pulling great people together – and the Life and Death Matters team and advisory/creative experts are examples of this.
Kath is grateful for the wonderful people who have contributed over the years to Life and Death Matters, and those who continue to contribute.
Kath is grateful for those she has cared with and those she has care for over the years. When Kath is not working, she plays with grandkids, swims year-round in the ocean, loves to be with family, friends, colleagues and faith community, and she is pretty in love with Ted.
Ted brings experience in logistics, finances, contract management, self-publishing, public survey design, and in identifying and creating operational efficiencies.
Ted delights in making sure Life and Death Matters is successful as a business, while providing high quality resources and service.
Ted loves tools, fixing anything that needs fixing, growing fruit trees (including lemon trees), building a greenhouse and fishing.
Ted and Kath live in Saanichton, outside of Victoria, on the west coast of Canada.
Tiara Sisson leads strategic operations at Life and Death Matters, guiding the organization’s efforts to expand and refine its palliative-care education resources. Drawing on more than two decades in senior operations and people-focused leadership, she brings a knack for turning big-picture ideas into practical, sustainable systems.
Tiara works hand in hand with the LDM team and trusted partners across the palliative-care community, always looking for smarter ways to deliver clear, compassionate learning tools for personal support workers, nurses, educators, and caregivers. Her goal is simple: keep elevating LDM’s resources so those caring for people in life’s most challenging moments have the knowledge and confidence to serve with skill and compassion.
Victor is part of the team helping Customer Service with any questions pertaining to the digital library.
He is also involved with marketing, editing, and working in the back end for the monthly webinars. Life and Death Matters is so glad to have him on board!
Victor has finished his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
Ted will be forever grateful for Bonnie joining the team. Bonnie heads Customer Service and is responsible for processing book orders, bookkeeping, and keeping the office organized.
If you have questions about book orders and/or payments, you will probably meet Bonnie.
We are so grateful for Bonnie, and her patience and humour as well as her expertise!
When she is not working, she grows a fabulous garden, loves walking, and absolutely does not love going for swims in the ocean with Kath.
After more than 35 years in health and medical sciences research at McMaster University, I recently retired but remain committed to making a difference.
For over a decade, I’ve focused on projects that help older adults navigate challenging conversations about future health care decisions, empowering individuals, and families to understand how their values, goals, and wishes shape those choices.
I’m now working with Life and Death Matters, promoting early and ongoing palliative care education for health care providers, families, and caregivers, to improve both quality of life and quality of death, ensuring compassionate, respectful care aligned with what matters most to each person.
With over 30 years of experience as a nurse, educator, and a recognized Knowledge Broker in the PSW sector, Laura brings expertise in nursing, adult education, palliative care, and marketing. She has contributed to the national PSW Textbook, written and spoken for media outlets like The Healthy Debate, Maclean’s, and CBC Radio, she has driven key initiatives and been an active member and lead for the Canadian Association of Continuing Care Educators.
Laura has also collaborated on initiatives such as the development of Ontario PSW Program Standards, National Occupational Standards for Personal Care Providers, and Ontario’s first PSW-PN Pathway program (2004). Laura is a recipient of the Crystal Apple Teaching Award and received the RNAO Best Practice recognition for her work in palliative care.
In addition to her work at LDM, Laura contributes to shaping healthcare as a college professor and curriculum developer. Outside of work, Laura enjoys TV binge-watching, traveling, and snorkeling in the Caribbean.
Dr. Jessie Johnson is the Dean of Nursing at Beal University in Canada, bringing over 25 years of dedicated clinical and academic experience to the role. With a career spanning acute care, long-term care, and community health settings, Dr. Johnson has cultivated a deep expertise in nursing practice and education. Her research interests focus on palliative care, health literacy, and interprofessional education, areas in which she has contributed valuable insights to enhance patient care and healthcare collaboration. Dr. Johnson’s commitment to advancing the field of nursing through both research and mentorship continues to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals at Beal University Canada.
Dr. Johnson’s impact isn’t limited to Canadian borders. Her global outlook is evident in her experience teaching overseas and her ongoing collaborations with international counterparts. Notably, she recently founded the Palliative Care Network in Qatar, showcasing her commitment to improving end-of-life care on a global scale.
RN, PhD, CHPCN(c)
Coby is a hospice palliative care nurse. She is interested in nursing education and scholarship in the context of hospice palliative care. She is inspired in practice by the study of nursing theory and philosophy and by the example of the LDM team. She is an associate teaching professor at the University of Victoria, School of Nursing and staff nurse at the Victoria Hospice community urgent response team. Coby brings to LDM her thoughtful ponderings, her questions, and her years of clinical experience in palliative care.
Coby and Kath have become ocean-swimming partners – and for both Coby and Kath, swimming in the ocean, all year long, offers wonderful ways of communing and healing.
B.Med, FRCPC (PM)
Pippa has a busy clinical, academic and administrative practice based in Vancouver. As head of the UBC Division of Palliative Care and Medical Leader for the BC Cancer Pain and Symptom Management/Palliative Care Program, she is also involved in a number of regional, national and international initiatives, including early integration of palliative care into disease management, management of severe cancer pain, and use of medical cannabis extracts for symptom control.
At LDM we are incredibly grateful for Pippa’s medical input, insights, wisdom, and editing in the development of all of our resources.
When Pippa is not working, her loves include sailing, hiking, and playing with the young ones in her life.
PSW
Courtney is a passionate advocate for those needing and receiving compassionate, whole person centered care. Every single day She strives to provide the softest journey possible from admission to Hospice through to the end of the disease process.
Courtney is often told that She is known for her kind and caring personality and for the encouragement and overall support that she gives to others.
She loves to learn and share knowledge with others about palliative care, including new staff at my workplace and college students finishing their PSW placement hours.
In her personal time, Courtney loves spending time with her family and her dog. Writing poetry and studying mindfulness are some of Her favourite ways to practice self care.
PSW
Myke has dedicated the past ten years to hospice palliative care as a Personal Support Worker. He currently serves at Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood while residing in the rural village of Clarksburg. Known for his calming presence, Myke advocates strongly for both patients and peers, taking pride in the daily support he provides to individuals and their families in a residential hospice. He is honored to join the advisory committee of Life and Death Matters.
Director at Evergreen Seniors Home
With nearly two decades of service to the Campbell River community, Karena has delivered long-term, transitional, respite, home, and hospice care rooted in dignity, autonomy, and quality of life. As Director of Evergreen Seniors Home, she champions person-centred practices and pushes to modernize outdated systems—proudly acting as “the pebble in the shoe” when change is overdue.
Both supporters and skeptics, along with her family and mentors, have shaped Karena into the determined advocate she is today, continually driving compassionate, forward-thinking elder and end-of-life care.
Program Development
Sheila is a Gitxsan nursing scholar. She has over 32 years of nursing experience ranging from acute care to rural health, Indigenous and occupational health nursing. Her research, curricula and practice development is focused on improving wholistic health outcomes of Indigenous peoples and the quality of nursing work environments, focusing on the relationship of organizational workplace structures and processes to horizontal workplace bullying and incivility among Registered nurses. In research she has explored the role of oppression embedded within organizational structures, policies, factors, and the effects on nursing leadership and new graduate nurses’ experiences of incivility. The findings arm health care administrators with the information to change work processes and policies to improve the quality of nursing practice environments for nursing leaders and new graduate nurses.
She developed an interdisciplinary indigenous health course and an Indigenous nursing practice course for Thompson Rivers University. She is a Board of Director for the First Nations Health Authority and was recently appointed by the Minister of Health to the provincial In Plain Sight task force where she is working to change health care legislation and to inform changes to accreditation of health professional schools and universities.
Sheila also loves being fully immersed in nature.
Krystal Allen is a Licensed Practical Nurse with more than ten years of clinical experience and an additional 14 years in caregiving. Committed to community well-being, she helps connect individuals and families with high-quality educational resources, including those developed by Life and Death Matters.
Having observed the organization’s growth firsthand, Krystal now serves on its advisory committee, contributing her clinical insight and passion for health education to advance LDM’s mission.
Psychotherapist
Geoff is a Registered Psychotherapist (Ontario) and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (B.C.) with 35 years of experience in providing therapy and support to individuals, groups, and workplaces.
While completing research with cancer patients during the M.A. program, Geoff developed a strong interest in helping individuals and families cope with the stress of illness, and focused on reducing anxiety and finding meaning in life.
He specializes in providing support to caregivers as well as to individuals who are coping with illness and end-of-life care, as well as comprehensive grief and bereavement support.
Geoff also has a keen interest in promoting well-being through talk therapy, mindfulness practice and the reduction of anxiety for various life circumstance and transition. He supports well-being in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and specialize in issues unique to men. Geoff has facilitated mindfulness based stress reduction classes for individuals living with H.I.V, cancer and general everyday stress.
