Approximately 100 Yukoners came together on Thursday afternoon for a ceremony in remembrance of lost loved ones hosted by Hospice Yukon.

“December is the month that family, friends, neighbours and colleagues come together. It’s also a time when we can feel strongly the absence of ones who are not here,” said Elaine Schiman, the master of ceremonies.

“Sometimes, sadness and grief can be part of what this season brings.”

The theme of the annual Lights of Life ceremony at the Elijah Smith Building was “the little things”, in recognition of how simple actions can help those in mourning feel closer to the departed.

Schiman shared how, since her husband Greg’s death in 2017, she feels closer to him when she makes coffee.

She uses an espresso machine that Greg convinced her to purchase as an “empty-nest gift” after their last child left home.

“This machine is more than just a machine to me, it’s a symbol of the life that Greg and I had together: of the time that we gave each other, and the daily chores (and) rituals that give a partnership meaning,” Schiman said.

She pointed out a table on which brief accounts of such simple memories were displayed in the Elijah Smith lobby, written by Hospice Yukon community members.

They described “little things” like the familiarity of a certain perfume, hearing beloved Christmas songs, making apple pie and carrying on a mother’s traditions.

“This is what we are celebrating in our display: the simple, everyday gestures that are somehow also profound,” Schiman said.

A short address was then given by Gisela Sartori, a clinical counsellor with a specialization in grieving and loss.

Sartori shared her own experiences with loss: the death of her brother, parents and best friend.

She described how each Christmas, she carries on her mother’s holiday traditions, like baking the same treats.

“These are little things, but they are what connect me deeply to her,” Sartori said.

“Being faithful to these little things not only keeps the memories of our loved ones alive, it also lets us know that grieving doesn’t happen according to a plan or timeline.

“We don’t get over losses like these – we learn to fold them into our lives, becoming ultimately stronger, wiser and more human.”

Facing grief and loss takes “outrageous courage,” Sartori said.

She suggested that the little things can act as a guide to deeper awareness of grief.

“The little things are more than memories,” she said. “They are a portal to the transformative power of loss and the greater experience of humanity.”

The first tags of remembrance were then hung on the five trees in the Elijah Smith lobby.

Attendees were welcomed to hang their own tags inscribed with the names of lost loved ones.

Three of the trees were intended for anyone, and one was solely for remembering pets.

The fifth and smallest tree was for remembering children, or for children to hang a tag to remember a loved one.

Attendees were also invited to add accounts of a “little thing” they do in remembrance to the lobby display.

The ceremony was accompanied by music from the Whitehorse Chamber Choir and Persephone Singers.

A blessing was read by Katy Delau, a hospice volunteer, and a poem was read by Mary Martin, a hospice board member.

Yukoners are invited to visit the Elijah Smith Building to hang their own tags on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 18, or from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 19.

Those looking for a more private space can visit Hospice House to hang a tag on the tree there from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays until Dec. 20.

There are also a number of Lights of Life trees at various locations around Whitehorse, including the Kwanlin Dün Wellness space and Yukon College.