The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Suicide is often called a quiet epidemic, but on Monday a group of marchers aimed to shine a light on the devastating problem. About 70 people, mostly students, hoisted banners and handmade kites as they marched down Main St. for the Suicide Prevention Walk. 'We're here to send a message to the community of hope,' said Ebony Donaghy, a member of the Flin Flon and Creighton Suicide Prevention Committee, which organized the walk. Marking World Suicide Prevention Day, held each year on Sept. 10, the walk saw participants march from Neighbours of the North Park to the Garden of Memory beside Mugsy's Deli. The march was led by students Casey Cooper and Zoey Haugerud, who carried a banner announcing Sept. 10 as World Suicide Prevention Day. Behind them, other students hoisted paper kites they made in class. The colourful kites bore inspirational words such as 'hope,' 'love' and 'dream.' Once at the Garden of Memory, the group listened to a brief speech from Donaghy and shared in a prayer to end suicide. Donaghy noted that events were taking place across the world to draw awareness to suicide, with this year's theme being 'Hope and Resiliency.' Participants were treated to free hot dogs and pop to conclude the noon-hour event. Between 2005 and 2009, over 18,000 Canadians committed suicide. Of those, more than 150 were under the age of 15.
