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ANGELA BLENKHORNE - FOUNDER, CHAIR, LEAD FACILITATOR

A passionate advocate for alternative resources for grieving kids, Angela has been navigating grief since the age of 14 when her father died.  

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Turning this experience into action to help bereaved kids find a sense of community by

honouring their losses together and remembering how to thrive again was the driving force

behind creating Bernie's Buddies.

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For over 20 years, Angela has worked with kids' and youth groups through teaching skiing,

yoga, and facilitating peer support networks.

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Angela's interest in offering alternative support options has led to continued education in

grief support, workshops, and seminars. In addition, she has held senior roles in several industries, including oil and gas, restaurant and event management, snow resort operations, non-profit charitable organizations and is currently a freelance writer (more info at Angela Blenkhorne). 

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SUE SMILEY - DIRECTOR

Sue Smiley is a retired university and community college educator living in the Annapolis Valley

of Nova Scotia.

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In private practice since 1998, specializing in grief and loss, Sue believes children are the true

teachers on grief and have much to teach adults on this topic. 

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She has spoken nationally on a variety of grief related topics as well as a resource for local 

media.

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For more information about Sue, please visit: www.suesmiley.com

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DARLENE MACARTHUR - DIRECTOR

Darlene MacArthur has over 20 years in the legal industry working in the area of corporate law. 

She has worked with clients ranging from small start-up companies to large global organizations

as well as with non-profit organizations.  

 

Her belief in supporting children going through a tough time in their lives is the reason for her

support of Bernie's Buddies.  Plus there is an added benefit of meeting some amazing children

and adorable dogs! 

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STEPHANIE RUGGLES - DIRECTOR

Stephanie Ruggles is a Parent/Program Facilitator with the Kings County Family Resource Centre

for the past 19 years. She's a mother to two adult sons who she supported through a difficult

loss at a young age when their youngest brother died at infancy. Helping children through grief

holds special meaning to her. In 2023, when she found and contacted Angela at Bernie's

Buddies about resources to help children dealing with the death of a pet, Stephanie suggested

partnering to offer programs at the Resource Centre and surrounding areas, creating opportunities

to add capacity to children's bereavement supports in the Annapolis Valley. 

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BERNIE THE SAINT BERNARD - CO-FOUNDER

Bernie the gentle giant bounced into Angela's life as a four month old pup. Bernie was found

out on the cold winter streets by an animal rescue group. She was deaf since birth, had no tail, 

and wasn't one bit concerned about any of these things. The story of how Bernie adopted her

fur-ever family was published in Dogs in Canada magazine.

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Bernie's undeniable connection with kids was the piece that solved the alternative grief support

puzzle and inspired using therapy dogs in Bernie's Buddies workshops.

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Bernie also visited with other youth organizations, community groups, schools, and summer

camps from 2009 to 2016. Bernie died in 2017 at the age of 9 but her legacy lives on through

the four-legged volunteers and their handlers who are so important to our programs.

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VOLUNTEERS

We're proud to have committed volunteers to help us provide programming - their participation in our vision creates a positive impact in supporting bereaved children. 

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