The Legacy Expo - Ottawa

An opportunity for curious locals and members of the deathcare industry to learn about the helpful & necessary services offered in Ottawa.

Organized by a passionate collective—including When You Die, Damselfly Death Doula —this event is designed to bring together professionals, businesses, and non-profits in the deathcare space to connect, educate, and engage with the public in meaningful ways. We aim to demystify death, break down stigmas, and create an open space for valuable conversations about end-of-life planning and legacy.

The expo takes place on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, at the Glebe Community Centre, with additional Legacy Weekend events happening leading up to it. It’s an incredible opportunity for the community to engage with experts, discover resources, and rethink how we approach death and dying.

Discover the services you may not know exist in Ottawa to help you navigate all things death and dying. Have you recently lost a pet and are looking for a support group? Interested in learning how to talk to children about grief and loss? Want to know what to do to prepare for the inevitable? The Ottawa Legacy Expo is your chance to learn, explore, and network.

The Legacy Expo exists to showcases local supports and resources for people who are:

• Becoming caregivers
• Facing the unknown
• Navigating aging
• Wanting to be prepared
• Or simply curious to learn before it’s too late

At its heart, the Expo is about helping people be proactive rather than reactive. Too often we hear, “I wish I had known about your organization sooner.” The Legacy Expo exists to change that. It is also a powerful gathering space for professionals in death education and end-of-life field to connect, collaborate, and strengthen community.

Demystify and Destigmatize

We aim to transform the way society views death and legacy planning by fostering open and normalized discussions.

Educate and Empower

Attendees will receive invaluable information and tools to make informed decisions about their legacies and end-of-life care.

Build Community

The Expo will create a supportive environment where people can share their journey’s, learn from each other, and find solace in a collective experience.

Check out the two other events happening this weekend:

Death Over Drafts:

Friday May 1st : Death Over Drafts at a local brewery. This is a casual, community-driven event with origins in Los Angeles, California, that brings people together over drinks to have open, meaningful conversations about death, dying, and end-of-life planning.

In the Realm of Death & Dreaming - Film Screening

Saturday May 2nd: A screening of the second film in the When You Die Trilogy: Saying Godbye: Preparing for Death , followed by a discussion and question period. These screenings offer thought-provoking explorations of death and the dying process, featuring perspectives from experts, caregivers, and those with lived experiences.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue, Ottawa, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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