Chestermere Library Hosts First-Ever Death Cafe

Last week, the Chestermere Public Library hosted a unique event that invited residents to confront a topic often avoided in everyday conversation – death. The event, called a Death Cafe, took place on Wednesday, February 5, marking the first time this global initiative was introduced in Chestermere.
While the name might initially raise some eyebrows, a Death Cafe is not what many might assume. It’s not a somber gathering or a memorial event. Rather, it is a casual, open space for people to gather and discuss death without any specific agenda, objective, or predetermined themes. The aim is to create a comfortable environment where individuals can engage in discussions about mortality, explore their thoughts and feelings, and increase awareness of death, a topic that is often considered taboo in Western society.
“The Death Cafe organization has been around since 2011, and while they’ve held events in many places, this was the first time it was hosted here in Chestermere,” said Spencer McDonald, the marketing and social media coordinator for the Chestermere Public Library. “We were inspired by another library that held a Death Cafe, and we decided to bring it here as an opportunity for people to explore the topic in a supportive environment.”
Participants in the event were invited to join a group-directed discussion on death, facilitated by the library, where no specific themes or objectives were outlined. The idea was simply to offer a space for open dialogue without any pressures or expectations. McDonald explained that the library’s primary goal was not to provide grief support or counselling services but to create awareness around death, a concept that is often distant in modern-day life.
“Western society tends to be very removed from the idea of death. We don’t talk about it much, and many people don’t know how to approach it,” McDonald continued. “This event is designed to help normalize these conversations. It’s a safe space for people to reflect, share their experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of mortality.”
Death Cafes have been hosted in various locations around the world since their inception, offering an informal setting for people of all ages to come together, express their feelings about death, and discuss their perspectives. The initiative has been praised for helping individuals process their emotions and engage with what can often be an uncomfortable subject. It’s also seen as a way to bring people closer to understanding the end of life, helping them confront it with greater acceptance.
The Chestermere Public Library hopes that this inaugural Death Cafe will pave the way for more conversations about death within the community. By addressing the topic in a respectful and unstructured way, the library is helping residents understand the importance of having these conversations and breaking the silence surrounding a topic that affects us all.
The library plans to continue offering more programs that foster open discussions on difficult topics. According to McDonald, the library aims to provide a space for residents to explore important aspects of life, death being one of them. “If we can offer a place for people to connect and talk about these things, it’s a perfect opportunity to make meaningful change in how we view life and death,” she said.