She lost her dad to suicide on May 26, 2019.
He was 50 years old and his name was Norm Campbell.
Ali Carriere put a call out through Facebook for those who wished to join her for her second annual Suicide Awareness Walk held Wednesday morning.
There was 11 people who attended in honour of those they had lost. The walk started with a drumming circle at the parking lot at the Tim Hortons on Massey Avenue and then the small group walked downtown to stop at places like St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Fire Pit that is a drop in centre for those at risk and on the street.
“This event is partly to honour my dad and also because in our community our numbers for suicide rate is so high and the whole idea of everyone being isolated and not feeling like they can reach out or anxiety is holding them back from reaching out. It’s like the more isolated you are the worse your mental health gets so it’s kind of nice for people to know that you can still reach out and we’re here for you. We need to stand up for one another.”
Ali said her dad was an awesome person who was deep in his spirituality. He had struggled with addiction and that was as a result of being a second generation survivor of residential school. Norm’s mother Evelyn attended Lejac residential school, Carriere explained. Norm was the youngest of ten and the only son.
“He had a tough childhood,” Carriere said. “He was a tough dad and he struggled with addiction and street life and was in and out of relationships. Unfortunately, his mental health got the best of him.”
Carriere brought a homemade poster along for the event. It said ‘don’t hold yourself back from reaching out.’
Darlene Campbell, Norm’s wife, said a few words before the drumming and the walk took place.
“We thought the way to honour him was to walk on the anniversary of the day that he passed to follow the trail and the path he would’ve walked if he was still here and acknowledge those people in his life that are still on the street and to show our support for them as well,” Campbell said.
The drummers then performed the Grandmother’s Song, the Bear Song and Honouring the Day song. Soon after the small group headed toward downtown.
Anyone needing to reach out call the Northern BC Crisis Line 1-888-562-1214 or Canadian Mental Health, Northern BC branch at
250-564-8644 or toll free (BC Only) 1-866-564-8644.
