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 third annual Suicide Awareness Walk held Saturday morning.
There was about a dozen people who attended in honour of those they had lost. The walk started with a drumming circle in the parking lot at the Tim Hortons on Massey Avenue and then the small group walked downtown, coming to rest at Cottonwood Island Park.
“Loss and grief are never easy,” Carriere said about the loss of her dad. “It does get easier as the years go on. It’s not something you fully recover from, it’s just something you learn to live with, you know? But I think what we’re doing is honouring him and addressing the mental health issues that go with suicide is probably the biggest thing we’re doing here. We’re bringing attention to it and almost creating a scene here in our city – or trying to anyway. We’re making noise, making sure people are aware of the mental health aspect. People are struggling as we’re coming out of the pandemic so bringing awareness to suicide is so important.”
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.
Darlene Campbell, Norm’s wife, said the walk was in honour of her husband and echoes the path he would’ve walked if he was still here. In honour of his memory Darlene sang the bear song and Ali managed to get through the traveling song with the help of the others in attendance.
The drummers continued performing more First Nations songs including the 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.
