A telephone booth at Calgary's Union Cemetery allows visitors to "converse" with family members and friends who are no longer with them.

Calgary

A unique initiative at Calgary's Union Cemetery is providing a new form of solace for those grieving the loss of loved ones. A telephone booth, affectionately known as the 'Wind Phone,' allows individuals to partake in symbolic conversations with departed family members and friends. While not connected to any real network, this phone offers a significant means for people to leave messages for the deceased, aiding in their emotional processing and grief navigation. 

Originating in Japan, the concept of the Wind Phone has gained global traction, appearing in cemeteries worldwide. It provides a safe and tranquil environment for people to foster an emotional connection with those who have passed, offering an opportunity to keep memories alive and maintain an ongoing dialogue. The act of speaking into the phone reportedly helps mourners feel a closer connection with their loved ones than merely speaking aloud to the air.

The city of Calgary is considering the potential expansion of this program to other locations, recognizing the impact and comfort it brings to participants. This initiative exemplifies how simple, symbolic acts can profoundly assist in the grieving process, providing an outlet for remembrance and reflection.



The 'Wind Phone' helps people grieve the loss of loved ones

Obviously it's a one-way conversation, but in my mind it's leaving a message. Leaving a message to a loved one that's passed on. Really, it's a way to support those that are grieving. Wind phones aren't connected to wires or networks. They're purely symbolic, but they can help people process emotions and connect with loved ones in a safe and peaceful setting like this. Helping people navigate grief and connect to friends and family members who aren't here anymore. And provides an outlet for them to actually continue, continue that memory, reminisce about that individual and share in that ongoing conversation in remembering that one, that individual that is passed on. The idea originates in Japan and now it's catching on in cemeteries all over the world. And the phones can be a big help. I think when people first lose their partner or their child, it would be so special to be able to talk to them. The simple act of picking up a phone and saying a few words is supposed to build a stronger connection to loved ones. I mean, it's two years, so it's not every minute of every day. But when you talk about it and bring it back and see something like this, that might give me a connection that's closer than just talking to the air. It feels like it's important. The city says it's looking at the possibility of expanding the program to other locations in the future. Dan McGarvey, CBC News, Calgary.

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