Meet Heather
The human behind Every Moment Matters
Your calm in the storm, a soft place to land.
Thank you so much for visiting. I'm truly glad you're here, and I'm honoured to share a little of my story with you.
A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER
My name is Heather MacLeod. I'm a Dementia Navigator, Facilitator, Educator, Consultant, and End of Life Doula serving families and communities on Vancouver Island and beyond.
But more than credentials, I'm someone who:
🌻 has walked this path
🌻 understands the weight of watching someone you love change
🌻 gets the exhaustion that comes with caregiving
🌻 understands the deep need for support from someone who truly gets it
You might notice a fluffy golden sidekick in my work.
Meet Riley, my 6-month-old Golden Retriever, companion, and eager work pup.
He brings a gentle warmth to each day and is learning how to offer comfort and connection right alongside me. Whenever possible, Riley and I will be there together, offering warmth, presence, and a gentle golden glow.
How I Found This Work
I was born and raised in the community of Qathet (also known as Powell River) on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Today, I make my home in the peaceful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, where I'm surrounded by the nature that grounds and inspires me. I'm Mumma to four beautiful children and Nana to nine wonderful grandchildren who fill my life with joy.
I enrolled in the Conscious Dying Institute's Sacred Passage Doula Program and completed the training just months before my father passed away at age 87. The wisdom I gained helped me care for him, show up for my family, and hold myself with tenderness throughout his transition. I will forever be grateful for that guidance, it allowed me to not only support and comfort my family, but to care for myself as well.
After Dad passed away, I felt an even stronger pull to understand dementia more fully. How it shapes lives, how it impacts families, and how we can support those living with it in kind, respectful, and meaningful ways.
My search led me to Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care® (PAC), where I trained to become a Dementia Facilitator, Educator, and Consultant. I am so very grateful to have this community of support as well.
Today, I am privileged to work as a casual employee at Providence Living at The Views in Comox, where I support individuals experiencing typical aging as well as those living with all stages of dementia. Walking alongside residents, families, and communities in such meaningful and tender moments is an honour I don't take lightly.
This work is not just my profession… it is my passion, my purpose, and the heart-centered, holistic space where I know I'm meant to be.
Working With What Remains
Here's what I hold in my heart as I do this work
When you know one person with dementia, you know one person with dementia. Everyone is unique. Every journey is different. There's no formula, no one-size-fits-all solution and that's not only okay, it's beautiful.
My Philosophy
I don't focus on what's been lost or what someone can no longer do. Instead, I invite you to explore what remains, what's still possible, and how we can create meaningful moments together.
I work with the whole person: practical needs, emotional well-being, spiritual connection, and end-of-life considerations because all of these pieces matter.
The Language I Use
You'll notice I use words like:
"invite,"
"wonder,
"consider,"
"think about."
I don't tell you what you "should" do.
This isn't about fixing anyone or forcing change. It's about meeting people exactly where they are, with curiosity and compassion.
My Role
I'm here as your calm in the storm. A soft place to land. A listener who cares and will work alongside you, one piece of the puzzle at a time.
Whether you're a care partner, someone living with dementia, or a community member wanting to help - it is a privilege to walk this path with you.
I look at challenges, not problems. I focus on what CAN still be done, not what can't. Nothing is impossible sometimes we just need to look at it differently.
I look at challenges, not problems. I focus on what CAN still be done, not what can't.
Nothing is impossible sometimes we just need to look at it differently.
How I Support You
I bring together training from two powerful frameworks that allow me to serve you holistically:
Sacred Passage Doula Program
Conscious Dying Institute
As an End of Life Doula, I guide individuals and families through the North Star Guide Planning process. A holistic approach to end-of-life planning that goes far beyond advance directives and wills.
This tool helps you create a vision for what matters most in your final months:
✓ Ceremonies
✓ Vigils
✓ Meaningful moments
✓ After-death care
Ideally created long before death and updated every five years, North Star Guide planning ensures your wishes are honoured and your loved ones know how to support you.
I also facilitate grief support groups for anticipatory grief and bereavement, providing a safe space for those navigating the many losses that come with loving someone with dementia.
Positive Approach to Care® (PAC)
With Teepa Snow
As a certified PAC Facilitator, Educator, and Consultant, I teach practical, hands-on techniques for working with people experiencing brain changes.
This approach honours the person living with dementia and provides care partners with tools that actually work in real-life situations.
I offer workshops and training both online and in-person throughout the Comox Valley and beyond.
Together these trainings allow me to support families through every stage of the journey—from early diagnosis and daily challenges to end-of-life planning and grief support.
Current Work
I'm grateful to work as a casual employee at Providence Living at The Views in Comox, where I have the privilege of supporting individuals experiencing typical aging and those living with all stages of dementia.
This hands-on experience keeps me grounded in the real, day-to-day realities of dementia care and allows me to continually learn alongside residents and their families.
A Little Bit More About Me
I'm a nature lover, a silver lining seeker, and someone who believes in the healing power of connection. I'm curious by nature, always learning, always asking questions.
And yes, I have a sense of humour, because even in the hardest moments, laughter and lightness matter.
I'm also deeply spiritual. I believe in honouring the full journey of life, including its ending.
For me, touching the leaves of a tree and letting it ground you isn't just a metaphor—it's a practice that reminds us we're part of something bigger.
And of course, there's Riley.
My golden companion is learning how to bring comfort and joy to this work, and his gentle presence has already touched so many hearts. He's a reminder that sometimes the best support comes in unexpected, fuzzy packages.
When People Work With Me
They Often Say Things Like...
💭 💭 💭
"I didn't know that was possible."
"You should teach a class."
"When's your next class? I'd love to take it."
"Where do I enroll?"
What I hear beneath those words is...
Relief...
Hope...
A sense that maybe, just maybe;
this journey doesn't have to be quite so
overwhelming.
That's what I want for you too.
🌻 🌻 🌻
My Hope for This Work
I don't claim to have all the answers. What I do have is a deep commitment to caring, to listening, and to researching what I don't yet know. I hope the things I share will help transform lives for the better, even as we navigate a disease that can feel overwhelming from diagnosis onward.
It doesn't have to be that way.
I want to be known as the listener. The challenge supporter. The soft place to land.
Someone who maybe didn't have all the answers but cared deeply and did everything she could to support you well.
Because every moment matters… even the hard ones. Especially the hard ones.
And I am honoured to be part of yours.
Let's Connect
If you're a care partner feeling overwhelmed, someone living with dementia seeking support, or a community member wanting to make a difference I'd love to hear from you.
Let's start with a conversation. No pressure. No "shoulds." Just an honest discussion about where you are and what support might look like.
Riley and I look forward to meeting you.
