MOOSE JAW — In commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day that fell on Sept. 10 and in reflection of the valuable work done each day by Journey to Hope Moose Jaw, the non-profit is hosting a fundraiser and suicide awareness program by the name of “Wise Hope” later this month.
The free event will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Crescent Park amphitheatre.
“It’s open to everybody and anybody who would like to come and attend,” announced Donna Atsu-Bowyer, a board member and trainer with Journey to Hope Moose Jaw.
“It’s an opportunity for families who have lost somebody to suicide, regardless of what year it was… just to honour (that) person….”
This year’s event will include a few more options including rock painting, a memorial table, and bio dots. Rock painting will include a painted message of hope and everything is provided.
“You can paint a message, either to the person you’ve lost, or… to other people and take that back with you,” she said. “I know in some communities I’ve seen rocks that are painted with a slogan or a message and they leave it on walking paths… sometimes (you) will come across a stone with a message of hope on it.”
The memorial table will include pictures, messages, and other ways to remember loved ones.
“We’ve also asked people (to) … bring a picture… of the person they’ve lost,” she said. “We’ll have an area where those pictures will be set up, and it’s a way of honouring that person.”
Bio dots are similar to mood rings that were first made popular in 1975 and change colours based on body temperature.
“It’s a little dot that you put on your hand or wrist, and it helps you to recognize your mood,” Atsu-Bowyer explained. “So, if you’re feeling agitated or depressed, you’ll have one colour. If you’re feeling happy it’s blue; if you’re feeling really down, it’s black.”
This year’s quilt is titled "Stratosphere" and measures 60 inches (152.4 cm) by 60 inches.
“Every year we have a quilt that we raffle off and it’s made and donated by Joyce Aitkins in honour of her husband, Gordon, who died by suicide. She makes these quilts… with love and then she raffles them off.”
Guest speaker Sharol Sommerville will then share her message of hope to all in attendance.
Following the program, guests are invited to join in a reflective walk through scenic Crescent Park where they can wander as they wish or sit and meditate. The walk begins at 11:30 and will conclude with the sound of African drums.
“We (will) have little messages around the park that people can walk around to, and just maybe think about the person they lost and remember them,” she said.
Atsu-Bowyer said a few individuals have stumbled on the program in previous years and decided to stick around.
“It gave them an opportunity to reconnect with their feelings… and they found it very fulfilling to be able to take part in it,” she recalled.
Anyone experiencing feelings of suicide is invited to attend and the safe, welcoming environment will include trained, certified, and compassionate staff who can also provide helpful resources.
All proceeds support Journey to Hope’s ongoing programming including its upcoming Safe Talk suicide awareness training courses. Board members don’t receive payment and everything raised is reinvested in the community.
To learn more about Journey to Hope Moose Jaw, visit ‘Journey to Hope Moose Jaw Inc.’ on Facebook or call 306-631-4315. For e-transfers or pledge forms, email Info@HopeSummit.ca.
Donna Atsu-Bowyer can be reached by email at DonnaAtsu@gmail.com.
