No bereaved parent should walk alone when seeking a dignified farewell for their child.
The Journi May Dignity Initiative is a Canadian public-interest initiative seeking compassionate care, clear information, and meaningful choices following pregnancy loss. Its purpose is to ensure that grieving families are not left to search alone for answers about dignity, remembrance, burial, cremation, spiritual care, or other respectful options.
How the Initiative Began
The Journi May Dignity Initiative grew from the experience of Sarah and Phillip following the loss of their son, Journi May.
At a time of profound grief, they were left trying to understand what respectful options were available to them and where they could turn for help.
Their experience raised a simple question: why should any grieving family have to discover these choices on its own?
From that question came a broader effort to improve information, compassionate support, and dignity for families experiencing pregnancy loss.
The Pregnancy Loss Dignity Protocol
The initiative proposes a Pregnancy Loss Dignity Protocol to help ensure that families experiencing pregnancy loss receive compassionate communication, clear written information, and respectful choices appropriate to their circumstances, beliefs, and wishes. It is not about creating laws and regulations.
Compassionate Communication
Sensitive, respectful communication that recognizes grief and ensures families understand what support and options are available.
Clear Written Information
Families should receive understandable written information about available services, procedures, and lawful options, rather than being expected to know which questions to ask.
Meaningful Choices
Families should be informed about available options for burial, cremation, memorialization, spiritual or cultural support, and other forms of remembrance or respectful disposition.
The Parliamentary Path Forward
The Journi May Dignity Initiative is now the subject of official House of Commons e-petition e-7765. The petition calls on the Government of Canada to develop and implement a Pregnancy Loss Dignity Protocol within areas of federal jurisdiction and to encourage provinces and territories to review relevant pregnancy-loss policies and practices.