I hear this quite a bit.

When I tell people I’m a memorial event planner, they pause, tilt their heads, and say, “Wait… I didn’t know that was a thing.”
🤔
When bereaved families find their way to me, they also say "I didn't know people did this!"

While I was probably not the absolute first in the world to create this job or this kind of business, I was one of the first.

In the beginning, I didn't even know what to call myself? Event planner didn't seem specific enough. And I wasn't doing any other kinds of events besides memorials.

I was asked by marketing, PR and other supporting businesses of mine; "What's your title?", "What do other people call themselves who do this work?" and "Who's your competition?".

I said - I don't know and I don't really see anyone else doing this. Event planners? No, they don't have the grief and bereavement experience. Funeral homes? Well, no I don't offer burial or cremation services and also, the basis of my business is to do the memorial somewhere reflective and beautiful, outside the funeral home setting.

I am glad to see other businesses like mine now. There is even a couple here in Ontario now. I don't consider them competition though. What I do, who I am, and how I do it - is pretty unique.

"I Didn't Know Your Job Even Existed". It didn't. I didn’t apply for this job. It really didn’t exist. I got to create it.

💛 www.cofl.ca

Photo at The Broadview Hotel by: Alice Xue Photography