Digging Deep
The Digging Deep podcast by GFD is created for time-pressed bereavement professionals, who want the knowledge and inspiration they need to navigate a complex and evolving sector.
Episodes
Change is coming. How are you adapting?
The Canadian deathcare sector is changing! Part two of the 2026 FSAC conference panel discussion hosted by GFD’s President and CEO, Heather Kiteley, continues, with panel guests Kirstie Smolyk (Park Memorial, Alberta), Jamie Merk (Park Funeral Home, Saskatchewan), Shari Yearwood (New Haven Funeral Centre, Mississauga), and Rachel Drew (Founder of Cadence). This episode is all about navig...
How are you adapting to change? How are you allowing it to affect you?
Listen in on the latest episode of Digging Deep for an interesting panel discussion at the 2026 FSAC conference, hosted by GFD’s President and CEO, alongside a wise panel of women: Kirstie Smolyk (Park Memorial, Alberta), Jamie Merk (Park Funeral Home, Saskatchewan), Shari Yearwood (New Haven Funeral Centre, Mississauga), and Rachel Drew (Founder of Cadence...
In the latest episode of Digging Deep, GFD President and CEO Heather Kiteley speaks with Ryan Crean, Chief Executive Officer of Kearney Funeral Services in Vancouver, British Columbia, about balancing independence with innovation in a changing deathcare sector.
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The conversation continues!
In part two of our panel discussion from GFD’s 65th Annual General Meeting, hosted by Digging Deep's Heather Kiteley and GFD President and CEO, we explore perspectives on the future from the next Generation from the wise voices of Calvin Carter (Dignity Memorial), Meghan Henning (Lakefield Cemetery & Crematorium), Jimmy Cardinal (Cardinal Funeral Home), and Andrew Guthier (Merrit Funeral Home).
L...
Recorded at GFD’s 65th Annual General Meeting, Digging Deep host and GFD’s President and CEO, Heather Kiteley, sat down with a panel of four dynamic voices from the next generation of deathcare professionals to discuss the future of the sector. Featuring panel guests Calvin Carter (Dignity Memorial), Meghan Henning (Lakefield Cemetery & Crematorium), Jimmy Cardinal (Cardinal Funeral Home), and Andrew Guthier (Merrit...
Behind every beautiful cemetery is a team of dedicated people committed to serving families and preserving memories.
In episode 39 of Digging Deep, GFD’s President & CEO Heather Kiteley is joined by Christina Furtado-Burke from Woodlawn Memorial Park in Guelph, Ontario, to explore what life behind the cemetery really looks like.
From everyday responsibilities to meaningful connections with families, the conversation highlig...
What happens when we begin to see cemeteries as more than a place of remembrance?
In episode 38 of Digging Deep, GFD’s president & CEO Heather Kiteley sits down with Nick McCarthy, Director of Marketing, Communication and Community Outreach at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario, to discuss how cemeteries can become welcoming spaces that bring communities together.
Their conversation explores innovative outreach, meaningf...
Honour. Duty. Care.
In episode 37 of Digging Deep, President & CEO Heather Kiteley speaks with Allan Cole, Owner and President of MacKinnon & Bowes LTD., about repatriation and military farewells, sharing powerful stories behind these final journeys.
A deeply moving conversation.
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What does the future of deathcare look like?
In episode 36 of Digging Deep, President & CEO of GFD and FSAC Board Member Heather Kiteley connects with Pam Moss, Executive Director of the Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC), to discuss FSAC’s vision and the path forward for the profession.
A must-listen for those shaping what comes next.
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The funeral profession is evolving – fast!
In episode 35 of Digging Deep, President & CEO Heather Kiteley sits down with Brett Denning, Owner and Funeral Director of Denning Funeral Homes, to discuss the changing landscape of the funeral sector and what it means for the future.
Insightful, relevant, and forward-looking.
Stay connected!
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Why do final resting places matter so deeply?
In this episode of Digging Deep, President & CEO Heather Kiteley sits down with Marc Bisson, Managing Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, to discuss the lasting significance of final resting places. Together, they explore how these spaces provide comfort, connection, and a sense of legacy for families navigating loss.
From evolving preferences to th...
Legacy is not just what we inherit; it is what we build.
In episode 33 of Digging Deep, GFD’s President and CEO Heather Kiteley speaks with the President of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, in Ottawa, Ontario, Sharon McGarry. They talk about leadership, succession, and shaping the future of funeral service. Sharon’s story is a compelling reminder of how deeply family, legacy, and innovation can intertwine within funeral se...
Part Two is Here.
In this continuation of our Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC) 2025 panel discussion led by GFD’s President and CEO Heather Kiteley, featuring Patrick Curry, Becky Steckly, and Ryan McLane. This episode challenges us to understand Canadians' thought processes and their views on death.
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What Canadians think about death and what deathcare professionals assume are not always aligned.
In episode 31 of Digging Deep, President and CEO Heather Kiteley hosts a dynamic panel discussion recorded at the 2025 Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC) conference. Panellists Patrick Curry, Rebecca Steckly, and Ryan McLane explore the realities behind consumer attitudes toward death and funeral planning.
This is part one of a ...
Is funeral service evolving the same way across Canada?
In episode 30 of Digging Deep, President and CEO Heather Kiteley sits down with Patrick Curry, President of C.L. Curry Funeral Services Ltd. in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to explore how trends differ between Ontario and Nova Scotia. From cremation to personalization expectations, regional nuances matter.
Stay connected!
Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest podcast, episode highligh...
On March 11th, we recognize and celebrate the dedication of funeral professionals across the country on National Funeral Directors Day.
To honour this day, we are releasing a special bonus episode of the Digging Deep podcast, featuring our President and CEO, Heather Kiteley, reading a heartfelt “Love Letter” to the sector.
This message is a tribute to the compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment shown by funeral...
It is time to celebrate the impact of the deathcare sector.
In episode 29 of Digging Deep, Heather Kiteley, President and CEO of GFD, is joined by Bradd Tuck, Executive Director of the British Columbia Funeral Association (BCFA), to discuss the importance of positive perception, advocacy, and professional pride within the sector.
This episode shines a light on the meaningful work being done every day and why it matters.
An inspiring a...
Every community has its own way of honouring life.
In episode 28 of Digging Deep, Heather Kiteley, President and CEO of GFD, is joined by Chris Clements, Owner of Beaverlodge Funeral Service in Beaverlodge, Alberta, to discuss funeral customs and rites of passage in Alberta.
This episode highlights how tradition, culture, and community shape meaningful service and why understanding regional perspectives matters in deathcare.
A thought...
The future of deathcare does not stop at borders.
In episode 27 of Digging Deep, President and CEO of GFD Heather Kiteley speaks with Jayson Gordon, President of Service Corporation International Canada, about the trends shaping the deathcare sector across North America.
From evolving consumer needs to sector-wide transformation, the conversation offers a strategic look at where the sector is headed and how professionals can stay a...
Behind every profession is a story worth telling.
In episode #26 of Digging Deep, Heather Kiteley, President and CEO of GFD, is joined by David Root, Alberta Funeral Service Association (AFSA) Past-President and General Manager at Pierson’s Funeral Service in Calgary, Alberta, for an honest and insightful conversation about a life dedicated to funeral service.
From leadership and legacy to the deep sense of responsibility that ...
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