Home Hospice Association

Death Doula Certificate Program

Gain the skills to confidently support those facing death, with guidance from experienced professionals and a flexible learning model.

Program Description

A Death Doula’s role is to provide compassionate support to individuals and their loved ones through four domains of care: planning, legacy, at the bedside, and grief. Guided by experienced professionals, our Certificate Program combines hands-on learning, case studies, and real-world scenarios to equip you with the skills and insights needed to offer dignity, peace, and culturally sensitive care from the point of diagnosis.

Whether you’re looking to support a loved one or enhance your professional practice, this program prepares you to expand the circle of care with confidence and compassion. Learn more about Death Doulas and their vital role in end-of-life care on our HHA Death Doulas page.

Program Overview

Details & Registration Information

Our program is designed for you to learn at your own pace, with the flexibility to complete most of the coursework on your own time. Here are the key details:

LEARNING STRUCTURE:

Self-Paced Learning: Except for the online weekend training session, you can complete the rest of the learning at your own speed.

Weekend Training Session (2.5 days): When you register, you will choose a learning cohort that meets live online (Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday daytime sessions).

REGISTRATION & ACCESS:

Immediate Access: Upon registration and payment of your full tuition fee, you will receive access to the first online learning components of the program.

Cohort Selection: When you register for the program, you choose your weekend cohort. Registration for each cohort closes 60 days before the session starts, giving you plenty of time to complete any required learning before your training weekend.

Benefits

By becoming a Death Doula through Home Hospice Association (HHA), you will receive:

A certificate of completion to recognize your acquired skills and knowledge.

Personalized support from your Candidate Advisor.

Unlimited access to HHA resources and programs for continued learning and professional development.

Free admission to Death Doula social events, community networking and support groups.

Lifetime invitations to HHA's Death Worker Learning Nights: Upon completing your registration, you'll be invited to attend our Continuing Education programming for Death Workers, including Guest Speaker, Case Study and "What Would You Do?" Nights.

Cohort Learning Training Sessions
(online via Zoom)

Registration is now open for the following cohorts:

March 21-23, 2025

June 27-29, 2025

To complete the Certificate Program, your attendance is mandatory during one online weekend classroom session.

Class times for all sessions:

Friday: 6pm-9pm (ETZ)

Saturday: 9am-5pm (ETZ)

Sunday: 9am-5pm (ETZ)

All other Certificate Program requirements can be completed asynchronously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Structure

HHA's Death Doula Certificate Program includes four mandatory learning components:

1. Compassionate Companioning Modules

(Online in Google Classroom)

7 online learning modules covering the fundamentals of caregiving, including:

Ethics in Hospice Palliative Care

Compassionate Communication

Spiritual Care at End-of-Life
Death Awareness
Legacy

Grief & Bereavement

Self-Care

3. Cohort Training In-Class Weekend Sessions

(Held live online in Zoom)

Immersive 2.5-day session exploring a Death Doula's four domains of care, including topics such as:

Grief & Bereavement
Advance Care Planning
Vigils and Living Wakes
Active Dying
Funeral Services

*On-going live-online training in specialized topics is provided through our Death Worker Educational Programming opportunities.

2. Independent Studies

(Online in Google Classroom)

4 mandatory modules (with some optional modules) designed for you to explore your community's needs, including topics such as:

The State of Palliative Care in Canada
Talking With Kids About Dying, Death, Grief & Loss

Supporting the Needs of Your Client's Pets

Community Outreach & Engagement

Workshop & Presentation Development for Your Community

Specific topics related to the Candidate's interests

4. Death Doula Projects & Experience

(Hands on & Online in Google Classroom)

Gain experience in the four domains of care through:

Case Studies
Practical Application Experience
Community Engagement

Specialized Training to Support Pets

Optional Group Projects

Plus access to unlimited optional learning opportunities via our Continuing Education Programming for HHA Death Workers:

Download our detailed program overview here.

Tuition

Program Fee

$700

(inclusive)

Paid by e-transfer to funds@homehospiceassociation.com

Payment in full is required to begin the Certificate Program.

Included with Fee:

Compassionate Companioning Online Training - independent learning modules (valued separately at $149)
2.5 days of in-class sessions, delivered virtually via Zoom
Online independent projects and assignments in Google Classrooms - learn at your own pace!
Ongoing Professional Development Training through regular monthly Virtual Learning Nights

As soon as we receive your registration fee, you'll get access to learning materials and events, including case study nights, guest speakers, and other invitation-only networking and educational sessions. Please allow 1-3 business days for your account set-up and access to be completed.

Please Note: Registration fees are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend your cohort's weekend training session, you are able to join another cohort with a minimum of 45 days notice.

Death Doula Certificate Program

Meet the Facilitators

Lisa Bonneville

Lisa is a death doula and hospice and bereavement counsellor, as well as a facilitator for HHA’s Death Doula and MAiD and the Death Doula Certificate Programs. She believes that communication plays a huge role in preparing for end-of-life as well as the grief that follows. She’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about dying, death and everything in between.

Most of Lisa’s experience is in residential hospice but she has also worked in long-term care, funeral homes and had the privilege of caring for palliative Catholic Nuns. Many people have had a hand in supporting and guiding her along the way to where she is today, and she does her best to pass on this wisdom and knowledge in her own teaching.

Glen Burkholder

Glen is a co-founder of Home Hospice Association and has been a funeral director since 1986. Originally from the Niagara Region, he moved to Toronto in 2012. He is a member of the Niagara District Funeral Service Association and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Toronto District Funeral Directors Inc. and the Ontario Funeral Service Association. In February 2023, Glen joined the team of McKersie & Early Funeral Home in Milton, Ontario.

Glen is especially passionate about HHA’s continued education and training mission, and is deeply involved in the development and facilitation of the Death Doula and Infant and Pregnancy Loss Doula certificate programs.

Cari Ferguson

As candidate advisor, Cari oversees both the Death Doula and Infant and Pregnancy Loss Support certificate programs. She is also a facilitator for both of these training programs.

Cari is deeply passionate about death and grief education. She is the founder of Strong Winds Consulting, a professional bereavement service that provides insight, guidance, and companionship to those approaching their end of life as well as grief support to those in mourning.

Robyn Ferrier

As an end of life doula certified with HHA, Robyn uses her spiritual direction and grief educator training to support individuals and their caregivers through all aspects of this sacred season. Robyn creates and provides safe space to explore what dying can look like, exploring wants and desires, ritual and celebration, navigating family relationships and, when appropriate, allowing space to discuss Medical Assistance in Dying - all within or without a faith context. It is her belief that no one should have to walk their end of life journey alone.
Robyn meets in person with clients in the Guelph-Waterloo area, virtually with international and long distance clients, volunteers with Bridge C-14 (www.bridgec14.org) and can be found at www.robynferrier.com.

Kayla Moryoussef

Kayla has been a death and grief worker since 2012. In 2018, she was trained and certified as a Death Doula through Home Hospice Association, where she now trains and teaches others. She works in Toronto (and everywhere - virtually!). She started her private practice, GoodDeath.ca in 2019.

Kayla believes in access to equitable end-of-life care as a universal human right, and is committed to supporting & cultivating communities equipped to better care for their dying.

Bianca Zimperi

Bianca is a lawyer and member of the Hamilton Law Association. She is also a writer and certified life & wellness coach, and the creator of the online platform @good.grieving. In her work, she hopes to educate society on providing better support to grievers while also inspiring grievers to learn to live alongside their grief. As HHA’s Advanced Care Planning Expert, Bianca is a guest speaker for the Death Doula Certificate Program. She also participates in HHA's "What would you do" nights.

Testimonials

Loved Lisa's calming energy. Glen seems like someone I would want to care for my family after death. Cari was very knowledgeable about the content and clear in her delivery. Kayla was so upbeat and clearly passionate about the role . I loved the different ways of delivering the training, such as small group work, videos, etc. I truly loved all of it!

Why Choose Home Hospice Association?

Our Death Doula Certificate Program was created - and is continuously being revised and updated - by a team of experts who share a common passion for educating and bringing comprehensive knowledge and practical perspectives to end-of-life care. Our educators come from diverse backgrounds and bring experiences in birthing, end-of-life, and bereavement care.

Our program provides extensive opportunities for engagement between students, facilitators, and special guest speakers. Over the course of the program, you will acquire valuable skills and will get the chance to apply your learnings and nurture your professional networks in order to further expand your knowledge.

To date, we have trained hundreds of death doulas who provide services across Canada.

Home Hospice Association

Death Doula Certificate Program

Program Description

Program Overview

Details & Registration Information

Benefits

Cohort Learning Training Sessions (online via Zoom)

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Structure

Program Fee

Included with Fee:

Death Doula Certificate Program

Meet the Facilitators

Testimonials

Why Choose Home Hospice Association?

Cohort Learning Training Sessions
(online via Zoom)