Michael Brooke
The first Legacy Expo took place in Toronto, Ontario Canada in May of 2024. It was founded by Michael Brooke, who’s hospice volunteering experience had profoundly impacted his life, especially when he was helping his father through his final days with cancer.
His father was able to have a peaceful death surrounded by loved ones. Michael saw the good that hospices can provide and it helped him realize that he needed a shift in his life. So in 2018, after selling his publishing business he started work at a funeral home, attending over 750 funerals.
Being surrounded by death gave Michael a profound appreciation for life. Witnessing so many family and friends saying goodbye to their loved ones inspired a new business idea, one where he could help capture people’s stories. Out of this new idea came the idea for the Legacy Expo, an event designed to demystify death, educate on legacy planning, and build community. This type of event had not existed in Toronto, and Michael wanted to make it not only accessible to those working within the field, but to the general public who will all need this valuable knowledge at some point.
In May 2024, the first Expo was born. It featured 17 exhibitors and had 150 attendees coming in off the streets. The When You Die Project was lucky enough to be one of those first exhibitors, and see how much the public appreciated having such important information all in one place. By December 2024 Toronto had seen three expos, and Heather Kirk of Damselfly Death Doula travelled to attend the third one. Michael’s hope is that the Legacy Expo goes coast to coast to provide people with educational resources about death and dying, and a community to foster that information. He is delighted to see the Expo spread to the nation’s Capital and is hopeful that it will only continue to grow.
Our mission is to shift the narrative from one of taboo and fear to a space of open dialogue, learning, and community strength.