Smudging at Holland Bloorview

What to do:

• If you wish to smudge, please inform your Social Worker, Spiritual Care Practitioner, or Hospital Charge Nurse. (Staff: Please refer to the Smudging Policy section 2.0)
• The staff will gather details about the ceremony and coordinate with Building Services. (Staff: Please refer to the Smudging Policy section 6.0 & 7.0).
• The staff will ensure smudging materials are available if needed.
• Depending on the time of day, Building Services or Security will manage fire safety and return only after the ceremony is over. (Staff: please refer to the Smudging Policy sections 8.1, 8.2, 9.6, 9.8, 10.1 -  10.3)
• After the ceremony, the ashes will be handled according to your family's wishes.
• Building Services will air out the room.

Where can I smudge indoors?

Rooms 2W625, 4W245, 4W240, and 4E200  are designated rooms with signage. Availability will vary based on whether the request is during business hours and after hours.

What to do:

At Holland Bloorview, Smudging outdoors can be done anywhere, however we have some suggested smudging areas based on accessibility and convenience of access. 

Please note that at any given time, one or more of these areas may be unavailable due to hospital programming or special events.

If after hours: Inpatient families should inform their nursing team, who will notify the front reception and security so that they can access the building after the ceremony.  After the ceremony, the family or nursing team notify the front reception or security that the ceremony is done. (Staff: please refer to the Smudging Policy, sections 11.0 – 11.5)

Where can I smudge outdoors?

At Holland Bloorview, smudging outdoors can be done anywhere, however we have some suggested smudging areas based on accessibility and convenience of access. Please note that at any given time, one or more of these areas may be unavailable due to hospital programming or special events.

• Cedar shelter near the Jason Smith Research Tower and outside of the cafeteria (to access, exit via the cafeteria door)
• Bigioni Pavillion, Spiral Garden (to access, take exit to Spiral Garden via the automated doors by the Conference Centre/Music and Arts office).
• Paved area in the southeast end of Spiral Garden (to access, walk through the Spiral Garden, past the Bigioni Pavillion, to the southeast corner of the garden).

When smudging outdoors, please observe fire safety practices around dry grass; smudging should take place in an open space.  Smudging must be a minimum of 15 metres away from open windows, doors and building air intake units. 

• Hospitals must make every effort to support requests for Indigenous Smudging ceremonies. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Call to Action #22, emphasizes  the need for hospitals to work with Indigenous families when providing care, and to recognize their healing practices.
• Not supporting smudging and other ceremonies violates  provincial laws and can result in penalties.  Smudging is not subject to the  Smoke Free Ontario Act.  Smudging and pipe ceremonies can happen indoors.
• Smudging  aligns with Holland Bloorview’s mission to provide culturally safe and appropriate care, as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #22