Warning: This story contains references to pregnancy and infant loss that some readers may find distressing. For the 12th year, hundreds of people walked to honour memories and raise awareness and funds for perinatal loss in Saskatoon’s Kinsmen Park. “We have over 400 people registered over 30 teams. So, people have come together to honour a little one. So, it’s really beautiful to see just the big group come together. The...circumstances around the gathering are sad, but the healing that comes from community is so important,” said Krysta Shacklock, executive director of Empty Arms Perinatal Loss Support Services. Empty Arms Perinatal Loss Support Services has been in operation since 2015. The group offers resources for families who have lost a child during pregnancy or up to a year after birth. According to its executive director, the organization was created to meet a need that grieving families saw in the health-care system. “When a family loses a child, it can be a very isolating experience. And it’s hard not only on the families but on nurses and doctors and staff. So Empty Arms has stepped in to kind of supplement that care and to alleviate that healthcare burden by helping families kind of slow down, make memories with their little ones. We have professional photographers and then we produce a beautiful album for every single family just so that they can have those memories of what is a very hard day,” Shacklock said. Prior to the ‘No Foot too Small’ walk, some parents who have dealt with perinatal loss addressed the crowd and shared how the grief that comes along with this type of loss is unique, and there is comfort in connecting with families who have experienced similar loss. “It’s something that often goes unspoken. It shows that there’s a desire for families like ours to be able to go and share that experience, be together with people,” said Jim Billington, a board member with Empty Arms. In addition to being a board member, Billington is the father of Elizabeth Rosie, a baby girl who was born on June 11, 2025. “Two days earlier, we learned that her heart had stopped beating. For us as a family, we spent nine months planning for her, preparing for her. We have two daughters who were going to be her older sisters and were so excited to welcome their younger sister into the world,” Billington said. Billington shared that the process of navigating the loss and available resources was an overwhelming one. It was during this time that he and his family were connected to Empty Arms. “That moment when we learned that her heart had stopped beating, it’s heartbreaking. It’s life-changing. And you don’t know what’s ahead of you. You don’t know what questions to ask. But in that moment, Empty Arms was there for us. And as a family, that support meant so much to us, knowing that we’re not alone,” Billington said. Empty Arms serves several purposes. In addition to the various services offered through the organization, it is also intended to be a space to connect people who are experiencing grief. “Being with a group of people who have kind of walked the same path with you who are willing to just look at it straight on, it really brings hope and healing to that space of, ‘okay, they’re doing okay, I’ll probably be okay. And if I’m not okay, there are all these people to help me as well’,” Shacklock said. In addition to the walk itself, people had the opportunity to include their late child’s name on a memorial display. While the event is rooted in grief and loss, Billington shared that it’s still intended to be a positive experience for those in attendance. “It’s a way to show up for the babies that we had, that we met, that we planned for, and to celebrate them. To say that they made an impact. That we love them. It’s a way to show people that they had an impact on the world. And they still are. And seeing the community today come together and celebrate our baby, other babies, and other families like ours, support them through raising funds, raising awareness, and walking together,” Billington said.
