The Dark River Shelter

The Dark River Shelter sits at the thresholds of grief, loss, and transitions – a place of safety for life to endure together.

  • Creative acts of community + systems care

  • Companion and doula journeys in grief and transitions

  • Art, design, and writing projects

Matthew Morales is its Caretaker » tsi Tkaronto (located in Toronto, Ontario)

About its Caretaker

Hello!My name is Matthew Morales (he/they) and I started the Dark River Shelter as a place I needed for myself with the hopes that it becomes a place for others who have also felt lost in grief and transition.While my journey into formal grief work has only begun, it has been carved by the tributary rivers of my life – the belonging and estrangement from faith communities, a meandering career and education, and my own apprenticeship with sorrow and loss.Thank you for finding your way here; may we endure.With care,
Matthew Morales (Summer 2026)

On Career

Matthew continues to practice as a social researcher, designer, and facilitator supporting social impact organizations and communities in making better-informed decisions in their policies and initiatives.He has worked as part of and with organizations across multiple sectors:

  • UNICEF Canada

  • UN Global Compact Network Canada

  • Oxfam International

  • Human Rights Research and Education Centre at UOttawa

  • Research Institute for Aging

  • Ministry of Forests (Province of BC)

  • ... and more.

On Education

He holds an Honours Bachelors of Arts from University of Toronto where he learned how to create and communicate meaning through visuality and language.He holds a Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies from Conrad Grebel University College where he learned to find the openings in personal and societal conflict.Most recently, he completed End-of-life Doula training at Douglas College where he learned more deeply what it means to be with people as they transition in death.

Contact

Upcoming Events

Walk with Watershed Zine

Rooted in Spiritual Ecology the zine brings the readers through a story of the ravines, of loss and grief, of reverence and awe, and gratitude using poetry, contemplative practice and metaphor, and reflection.Suggested use:
Take this zine with you as you walk through the ravines in Toronto. During stopping points, use the contemplative practices to approach grief with intention, presence, and soft repetition.This zine might be for you if:

  • you look to build a deeper intimacy with the Toronto ravines

  • you seek other ways to hold grief and loss

  • you like poetry and visual design

Details:
8-page zine
27.6 x 14 cm (8.5 x 5.5 in)The zine is part of the Walk with Watershed community event, and accompanies any walking experience through the Toronto ravines.A digital version of the zine is available for download. I hope to make physical copies available for purchase in the future.

Thank you!

Click the button below to download the full zine. If you have any questions, or comments, please email [email protected]