Not Forgotten Memorial
Remembering and honouring community members who have died while experiencing homelessness in Chilliwack.
Every life deserves to be remembered
Since 2023, Ruth & Naomi’s Mission has hosted the annual Not Forgotten Memorial, a candlelight gathering honouring community members who have died while experiencing homelessness.
Held each December, the memorial creates a space for people to come together, speak the names of those who have died, and acknowledge lives that mattered. It brings together people with lived experience, family and friends, service providers, staff, and members of the wider community in shared remembrance.
Why we gather
People experiencing homelessness are our neighbours, friends, family members, and members of our community. Each person has a name, a story, and inherent worth.
The Not Forgotten Memorial was created to ensure that those who have died are recognized and remembered with dignity. By gathering publicly, we make space for grief that can too often go unseen. We also affirm something deeply important: no life should pass without acknowledgement, and no person should be forgotten.
The memorial reflects Ruth & Naomi’s Mission’s commitment to seeing the value in every person and walking alongside our community through both hope and loss.
How the memorial takes place
Names are gathered
Approximately six weeks before the memorial, community members are invited to submit the names of people they knew, cared about, or considered neighbours who have died over the past year.
Our community comes together
The outdoor memorial is held each December, rain or shine. Past gatherings have included candle lighting, Indigenous drumming, poetry, music, and words of reflection.
Each person is remembered
During the service, the names are read aloud slowly and respectfully. This simple act gives our community an opportunity to remember each person and honour the lives that have been lost.
A place for shared remembrance
Over the years, the Not Forgotten Memorial has become a meaningful gathering for the broader Chilliwack community. It is a place to grieve together, to support one another, and to recognize the relationships and stories behind every name.
Some people attend to remember someone they knew personally. Others come to stand alongside those who are grieving. Everyone is welcome.
Where Remembrance Continues
At our shelter, participants tend a memorial garden in honour of friends and loved ones who have passed. It is a quiet place for reflection, remembrance and connection; a living tribute cared for throughout the seasons.
The next Not Forgotten Memorial
Information about the next memorial, including the date, location, and process for submitting a name, will be shared closer to December.
For questions about the Not Forgotten Memorial, please contact Ruth & Naomi’s Mission at info@ranmission.ca or 604-795-2322