Ontario Embraces Wind Phones to Foster Grief and Connection

People in Ontario are increasingly turning to a unique method of coping with grief through the use of wind phones, which allow individuals to communicate with deceased loved ones. These disconnected phones, often found in serene natural settings, provide a comforting space for reflection and remembrance.

The concept of wind phones originated in Japan when Itaru Sasaki created a personal space to connect with his deceased cousin. After his cousin died from cancer, Sasaki purchased an old phone booth in 2010 and placed it in his garden, where it was not wired to any telecommunications network but instead had an “earth connection.” This one-way communication method offered him solace as he navigated his grief. Following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, which resulted in thousands of deaths and extensive destruction, Sasaki repurposed his phone booth and placed it on a hill for public use. Today, it remains a place for mourners to connect with their lost loved ones.

The idea has since spread globally, with various organizations repurposing old rotary phones as wind phones. Often designed within a frame resembling a traditional phone booth, these installations serve as a means for individuals to express their emotions. Earlier this year, actor Jamie Lee Curtis highlighted a wind phone located in the Joshua Tree area, dedicated to the memory of her friends’ children who tragically died in a car accident. “This, now many years later, is their gift to us all in honour of their children, Hart and Ruby Campbell,” Curtis shared in a Facebook post.

In Canada, hospices are beginning to adopt the wind phone concept to assist residents in dealing with grief. Debbie Kesheshian, executive director of Hospice Huronia, noted, “The wind phone is a powerful new addition to our grounds, and I’m so proud of the compassionate collaboration that made it possible. It reflects the heart of our mission to offer comfort, connection, and care when it’s needed most.”

According to the town’s website, the wind phone serves as “a symbol of remembrance and respect for those who have passed away.” It aims to foster community bonding and encourage open discussions about loss. Author and poet Athena Kostas articulated this sentiment well, stating, “Grief often silences us, or makes us feel like there’s nowhere to put all the love we still carry. The Wind Phone gives that love somewhere to go.”

As the community embraces this form of expression, National Grief and Bereavement Day is observed on the third Tuesday in November, which falls on November 18, 2023. Organizations highlight the commonality of grief and the feeling of disconnection it can cause among friends and family. They encourage loved ones to reach out to those experiencing loss, offering support through simple gestures such as providing meals, listening to stories, or creating memorial gardens with their favourite plants.

Wind phones can be found across various communities in Ontario, providing a valuable resource for those seeking a way to articulate their emotions and maintain connections with those they have lost. For more information on local installations and their significance, individuals can visit community websites or contact local hospices.