Why I Choose to Give Back - Brandon's Story

Captured in motion: Brandon reflecting on his journey as a volunteer with us. We spoke on the train about the impact our community and Centre has had on his life — and how and why he's given back.

When Brandon lost his mom to suicide in 2014, his world flipped upside down. He was just 19, living in a new city, and navigating one of the most painful and disorienting experiences of his life. "It was the biggest loss I’ve ever experienced," he shared. "I was isolating myself, missing work… I wasn’t really living. I turned to alcohol to cope."

It wasn’t until his sister signed them up for a grief support group that Brandon began to feel like he wasn’t completely alone. That group became a turning point. "The group showed me that what happened was terrible, but it wasn’t my fault. It was up to me to work through it and find a way forward." The resilience and empathy his mom instilled in him became the tools he relied on to navigate grief.

Years later, back in Brampton, Brandon found himself searching for a way to give back. That’s when he discovered the Centre for Grief and Healing (CFGH). "I heard that they ran group programs like the one that helped me, and they were looking for volunteers. It felt like perfect timing," he explains.

Since joining, Brandon has become an integral part of our CFGH family—supporting events as a first aider, speaking at our Loving Memory Ceremony, sharing his story in community interviews and social media initiatives, and lending a helping hand wherever he’s needed, like at our annual Walk to Remember event. But for him, it’s never been about recognition. "I have no problem sharing my experiences if it helps others feel more normal and less alone. I was alone at the start of my journey, so I’m comfortable talking about uncomfortable things if it means helping someone feel more connected." His presence also fills an important gap. At a time when male volunteers were rare, Brandon stepped up not only to give back but to be a visible advocate showing that it’s okay for men to openly talk about grief and mental health.

"There weren’t many male volunteers when I started. I wanted to help change that. Talking about grief doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human."

As an aspiring firefighter, Brandon knows he’ll continue to encounter grief and loss in his career.  "I know I’ll come across grief and loss in my career, so volunteering is not only a way for me to give back right now but it also prepares me for the future. I can better support others who will come to face grief." Volunteering with CFGH has helped him understand grief not only as a personal journey but as a shared human experience. "Being part of this community, I’ve learned how powerful it is just to be there for someone."

Through his volunteering, Brandon continues to learn more about grief’s many forms. "There’s no one way to grieve. It doesn’t follow a timeline. The stereotypes I used to believe about grief just aren’t true. CFGH showed me how vast and different grief can be." This understanding has helped him support others while continuing to heal himself. When asked how grief has shaped his everyday, he shared "Grief has changed how I interact with people. Even brief moments like a coffee order or a drive-thru mix-up, those moments remind me to treat others with kindness because you never know what someone else is going through."

Brandon’s journey from grieving son to grief support volunteer reflects something essential about our work: healing is a shared path. Through his empathy and openness, he’s helped create space for others to talk about their loss. "Volunteering has given me so many opportunities to transform the hardest parts of my life into something that helps others."

Over the years, Brandon has witnessed transformations in others, too. "You see people come in quiet, hurting, maybe not saying much. But a few months later, they’re smiling, making weekend plans, reconnecting with life. That’s the power of what CFGH offers—it’s not just support, it’s community. It’s hope." He also shared, "I’ve watched people come in reserved, and over time, they find community, friends, and hope again. They start living their lives, thriving in ways they thought impossible."

He emphasizes that grief can feel isolating because the rest of the world keeps moving. "CFGH is more than an organization — it’s a community where people know they’re not alone and have the resources to navigate their grief, whenever they need it. Months or years later, CFGH is there."

For Brandon, grief is now a part of his story, not his whole story.

"I’m more empathetic, kinder, and strive to live a life of service — the qualities my mom embodied. Talking about her used to be hard, but now I can share my story confidently and help others feel less alone."

Brandon's story is one of resilience, service, and compassion. And thanks to volunteers like him, we’re able to continue creating safer healing spaces for those navigating the journey of loss.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved or giving back, Brandon encourages you to join CFGH’s mission. "They can’t do this without the support of others. It’s a place that truly helps."

Whether you donate, sponsor an event, volunteer, or spread the word, you're helping turn grief into connection, pain into purpose—and isolation into healing.

Interested in making a difference? Join us in building a compassionate community, one story at a time.