Hospice Waterloo Region, GRCA and GRCF launch Wind Phone initiative – offering space for grief, reflection and connection to nature
A new Wind Phone at Dumfries Conservation Area in Cambridge is offering people experiencing grief or loss a quiet place to reflect, remember and feel connected to someone they have lost. The installation is part of a new collaborative initiative between Hospice Waterloo Region, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF) to create a network of Wind Phones across select GRCA-owned properties in Waterloo Region.
Representatives from each organization gathered at Dumfries on September 24, 2026, to celebrate the initiative and their first Wind Phone installation. The Wind Phone offers people experiencing grief or loss a place to pause, express their thoughts and feelings and speak to someone they have lost, allowing their words to be carried on the wind. Originating in Japan, Wind Phones have been established in communities around the world. The phones are not connected to a telephone line. Instead, they provide a symbolic opportunity for people to speak to someone they have lost, share memories, ask unanswered questions or simply express thoughts and emotions. For many people, this simple ritual offers a meaningful way to navigate grief and loss.
“Grief is a deeply personal journey, and everyone experiences it differently,” says Judy Nairn, Executive Director of Hospice Waterloo Region. “The Wind Phone creates a simple, meaningful opportunity for people to feel connected to someone they love and say the things that may have been left unsaid. For many people, nature provides a space for reflection and healing, making Dumfries a fitting home for Waterloo Region's first Wind Phone."
The Wind Phone at Dumfries Conservation Area is the latest addition to Hospice Waterloo Region's longstanding presence in Cambridge. For more than a decade, Hospice has served the Cambridge community, with its Cambridge office and program space now located at the Langs Community Hub. From this location, Hospice provides support at no charge to people navigating advanced illnesses, caregiving, loss and bereavement, as well as opportunities for community members to learn more about end-of-life care and grief.
One of the GRCA’s conservation lands, Dumfries provides people with access to nature and outdoor recreational experiences. The GRCA’s conservation lands are set aside for passive recreational uses such as hiking, and in many cases, offer habitat to a wide range of bird, plant and animal species. These lands have no entrance fee, and no staff members are on site. Services are limited and may include only a parking lot, garbage containers and information signs. The GRCA’s conservation lands are supported, in part, through donations to the Grand River Conservation Foundation.
“While this initiative marks a first for the Grand River Conservation Foundation, it is part of a much larger legacy,” says Ted Smith, GRCF Chair. “We know there is a vital connection between spending time in nature and mental wellbeing. We’re pleased to be working with Hospice Waterloo Region and contributing to their goal of providing care, comfort, and support to people experiencing grief.”
As part of this collaborative initiative, the Dumfries Conservation Area Wind Phone is the first of several anticipated installations at GRCA-owned properties across Waterloo Region, pending funding and site approvals. Additional locations will be confirmed as the initiative moves forward. Hospice Waterloo Region also has a Wind Phone at its Waterloo site, which is expected to open at the end of September.
“The GRCA’s conservation lands provide members of the community with outdoor spaces that support recreation, reflection and connection with the natural environment,” says John Challinor II, GRCA Chair. “We’re grateful for the support of the Grand River Conservation Foundation and this opportunity to collaborate with Hospice Waterloo Region to offer a unique way for people to connect with nature while navigating grief and loss.”
The Cambridge Wind Phone is available to all visitors at the Dumfries Conservation Area, and is located near the trailhead and Hilborn Memorial off of Dunbar Road. It is available to anyone who has experienced the loss of someone important to them.
Learn more about Wind Phones and locations around the world at www.mywindphone.com.
About Hospice Waterloo Region
Hospice Waterloo Region walks alongside people with advanced illness, their families and caregivers, and those who are grieving the loss of someone of importance to them, providing a compassionate presence when it matters most. Hospice Waterloo Region continuously evolves its programming, partnerships, and practices to advance excellence and innovation in compassionate, client-centred hospice palliative care and grief support services. All Hospice Waterloo Region programs and services are provided at no charge to the community.
About the Grand River Conservation Authority
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) manages water and other natural resources on behalf of 38 municipalities and close to one million residents of the Grand River watershed. Through its programs and services, the GRCA works with watershed communities to reduce flood risk, maintain and support a healthy watershed, and connect people to nature.
About the Grand River Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1965, the Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF) channels donations from individuals, foundations, groups and businesses to GRCA projects with limited or no other sources of funding. More than $16 million has been raised to educate kids about the outdoors, restore vital wetlands that cleanse our water, provide habitat that promotes wildlife diversity and offer opportunities for people to connect with nature.
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Media Contacts:
Judy Nairn, Executive Director, Hospice Waterloo Region
Phone (519) 743-4114 x122 | Email judy@hospicewaterloo.ca
Serena Catania, GRCA Supervisor of Communications and Marketing
Phone (519) 621-2763 x 2240 | Email scatania@grandriver.ca