Local woman invites community to honour babies who have sadly died too soon

A local resident is inviting people to be part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15.

Belinda Grant is organising the Global Wave of Light on October 15 at the Squamish Adventure Centre at 7 pm.

It is an opportunity to join with bereaved parents, families and friends to commemorate all babies who sadly died too soon, says Belinda.

It is a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, ectopic pregnancy, and the death of a newborn.

The ceremony is open to everyone.

Those who want to attend should come around 6:45 pm and are asked to bring a candle that is in a container so it won’t drip wax.

At 7 pm, candles will be lighted for one hour, during which anyone wanting to speak, or say a poem or sing will be welcome.

This is the fourth year that Belinda has organised the event.  In 2015, Belinda’s daughter Elladee May Grant was born still sleeping while Belinda was 35 weeks pregnant.

“To say this was a shock is an understatement. I never in a million years even considered something like this happening. The heartbreak and grief that followed us was and still is very painful. Sadly over the years I have connected with many families who have gone through their own tragic experience,” she says.

When she lost her daughter Elladee, Belinda promised she would continue to speak her name and honour her for as long as she lived.

In 2018, she organised the first ‘Wave of Light’ ceremony in Squamish, and also spoke in front of Council to request that October 15th be proclaimed as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. The Council granted the request.

The Squamish Adventure Centre will also be shining blue and pink.

“Miscarriage, stillbirth and early infant loss all carry their own set of pain. For many women and families, they go through this heartache alone and in many cases without support,” Grant says.

The event this Friday is a reminder that they are not alone.