ALBERTA FUNERAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
Education Seminars
Save the Date for October 20th and 22nd 2026.
AFSA is pleased to present this year’s Fall Sessions will be presented by Pierre-Maxime Fugère, CFSP.
- Edmonton (Glenwood Funeral Home) – Tuesday, October 20
- Calgary (Eden Brook Funeral Home & Cemetery)– Thursday, October 22
Each day will feature two half-day programs designed to strengthen professional skills in funeral service.
Morning Session – Creating a Peaceful Facial Expression & Advanced Tissue Restoration Techniques (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
This session will focus on practical, safe, and effective embalming techniques designed to achieve a natural and peaceful appearance while respecting musculoskeletal anatomy.
Topics will include:
- Creating a natural and peaceful facial expression
- Advanced tissue restoration techniques
- Anatomical considerations influencing facial expression
- Restoring facial volume during arterial injection
- Manipulation techniques to improve tissue positioning and presentation
The morning session will also include an in-depth module on the care and embalming of bariatric decedents, covering both operational and technical considerations.
Topics will include:
- Initial call and case assessment
- Required equipment and available resources
- Preventive health and safety measures
- Safe transfer and handling procedures
- Pre-embalming positioning techniques
- Proper shoulder and neck positioning
- Safe lifting and support points
- Determining the appropriate embalming solution volume based on body weight
- Pathological conditions commonly associated with morbid obesity
- Formaldehyde concentration requirements for bariatric cases
- Arterial injection techniques specific to obese decedents
- Treatment of hollow organs
- Additional restorative and preservative procedures
- Positioning techniques that visually reduce neck fullness
- Surgical restorative techniques for the face and neck
- Dressing techniques
- Corrective cosmetic application
- Casketing considerations for bariatric decedents
Afternoon Sessions – Advanced Restorative Art & Postmortem Reconstructive Techniques (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
The afternoon presentation will focus on managing the most challenging restorative cases and demonstrating how modern restorative art can make viewings possible even in situations once considered impossible.
Topics will include:
- Preparing advanced decomposition cases for viewing
- Restorative techniques following water recoveries and drowning cases
- Management of insect activity (maggot infestation)
- Advanced postmortem reconstructive surgery
- Cranial reconstruction
- Facial reconstruction techniques
- Restoration following traumatic injuries
- The use of modern restorative materials and prosthetics
- Incorporating cinematic special-effects techniques into restorative art to achieve highly natural and dignified presentations
Throughout the presentation, participants will learn practical methods that combine traditional embalming principles with advanced restorative procedures, allowing families the opportunity for a meaningful final farewell, even in the most complex cases.
Lunch and coffee breaks are included with registrations.
These sessions are open to all AFSA member firms and their employees at no charge.