Let’s talk about dying: Death Café opens tonight in Kamloops

'EAT CAKE, DRINK COFFEE AND DISCUSS DEATH.'

KAMLOOPS – A group of local women has come together in hopes of opening up the conversation surrounding death and dying in Kamloops.

The city's first Death Café will open this evening at The Art We Are downtown.

Co-organizer of the event, Helen McFayden says no ideas about death or dying are off-topic at this public forum.

"I think as a society, to talk about death and dying is almost taboo. We don’t have frank conversations about death and all those aspects of it," McFayden says.

Death Cafés began in London in 2011 and more than 3,400 events have been held to date.

People will gather in small groups, introduce themselves and talk about any questions or thoughts they have on death and dying.

"These events aim to create a safe place where people can gather in an informal way to eat cake, drink coffee and discuss death," the organizers say in a release.

Death Cafés are group-directed discussions about death with no set agenda or objectives and don't involve advertising, counselling, or set conclusions.

McFayden says anybody can join in the discussion no matter what age. 

"I anticipate we’ll have a full house," McFayden says.

The monthly series begins tonight, Sept. 19, starting at 5:30 p.m. at The Art We Are on Victoria Street in Kamloops.

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