Ontario Funeral Service Association

Brad Jones, along with his wife, Jody, owns and operates Ridley Funeral Home in Etobicoke.

Brad graduated from the Humber College Funeral Service program in 1991 and has built his career on a steadfast dedication to the families and communities he serves.

He brings extensive leadership experience to his role on the Board, having previously served as Chair of the Toronto District Funeral Service Association.

As a passionate advocate for independent funeral homes and the professionals who lead them, Brad provides invaluable insight into the sector. We are grateful to have his steady guidance on our team as we continue to support the evolving needs of our profession.

Building community is at the very core of what our association does.

​A sincere thank you to the Barclay family for sharing their space and being such incredible hosts. It was a fantastic evening filled with shared experiences, professional development, and plenty of laughs.

​Education Credits + Good Food / Great Camaraderie = a perfect formula for success.

​Eastern Ontario, we will definitely be back!

Mother’s Day can hold so many different experiences; joy, love, grief, longing, distance, and everything in between.

For those who are celebrating today, we hope you’re able to take in those moments of connection, care, and recognition.

If today feels difficult, complicated, or heavy, you’re not alone in that either. It makes sense that a day like this can bring up a lot.

There’s no right way to move through today. You don’t have to feel a certain way or show up in any particular way.

We’re holding space for all of it. For the joy, for the grief, and for everything in between. 💛

We are incredibly moved by the way our funeral service family rallied together to support colleagues in need. This selfless "helping our own" is the true heartbeat of our association.

Thank you, Dayna, Wes, and everyone involved for embodying the very best of us when it was needed most. Your compassion and support remind us that while we spend our lives caring for our communities, we are also here to support one another.

The full story can be found herehttps://ofsaeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CFN-May2026-Cover.pdf

Organ and tissue donations do not stop you from having a funeral. April is Month - Learn about organ and tissue donations at: https://beadonor.ca/

“At least…”

These are two words you probably never want to hear if you lost someone you love.

If somebody sends you an email, card, or starts off a conversation with these two words stop listening.

I’ll give you some examples:

“At least they didn’t suffer.”
“At least you still have other children.”
“At least they’re in a better place.”

The problem with these statements is that they imply that you should actually be grateful for what happened. They belittle your pain. People that say these things to you want to point out to you how your situation could be worse.

Seriously…when you lose someone you love could your situation be worse?

I think not.

Here’s the thing…all these statements do is make it worse.

I heard many “at least they’re not suffering anymore” comments after my losses. But for me, there were no “at leasts.” There was only one thing that overshadowed everything else, including every reason to be grateful and every reminder of how my situation could have been worse, and that was the loss of the people I love.

My spouse…my dad…and so many others. And their absence (despite sometimes knowing it was coming) was extremely painful. It brought an end to all that could have been and now would never be.

And there were no "at leasts” in that.

I didn’t even think there should be any.

There should be no shame in loss or pain. We shouldn’t be made to feel guilt for being sad someone we love died.

In my opinion, it’s just not okay to tell someone grieving how they should or shouldn’t feel.

You aren’t weak just because you’re mourning someone you love.

“At least”…that’s what I think!

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

April is BeADonor Month, and it is wonderful to see the vital partnership between the Ontario Funeral Service Association and the Trillium Gift of Life Network recognized in this way.

OFSA members remain deeply committed to supporting the organ and tissue donation process, and we are proud to continue this life-saving work together. A special thank you to our Executive Director, Karen Ayres, for her leadership and dedication to such a meaningful cause.

PICTURED: Dean Brombal, Brad Jones, Karen Ayres and Benjamin Roberts

The Provincial Donation Champion Award recognizes professionals who play a vital role in the donation process and have consistently demonstrated their commitment to saving lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation. Congratulations, Karen and thank you for your dedication. Thank you to the Ontario Funeral Service Association (OFSA) members for their continued support of Trillium Gift of Life Network.

“OFSA is grateful for this recognition and remains committed to supporting TGLN when and where we can.” — Karen Ayres, Donation Champion

facebook.com/YourOFSA

Sadly, scamers dont take holidays.

Police are encouraging people to ensure they only access obituaries from known and trusted funeral home websites.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AkmhfEJwb/

As we move through the middle of Passover, we wish our Jewish community and famlies continued peace and reflection.

​Whether you are spending these days with family or holding the memory of a loved one close, we hope this season of renewal brings you comfort.