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.
Junior high students left last week's World Suicide Prevention Day luncheon with a strong message of inner hope. 'We wanted the students to realize that hope comes from within themselves and can be found all around them,' said Fran Labarre, a member of the organizing committee. Students were treated to a pulled-pork luncheon at Pioneer Square last Tuesday, Sept. 10 as they discovered what hope meant to them. Each participant was asked to create a Flag of Hope to be strung together and displayed. Along with the students from Ruth Betts Community School and Ecole McIsaac School, flags were created at the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre and other locations throughout the community. 'These flags captured what and where both students and adults could find hope, peace and happiness in their lives,' said Labarre. Some flags showed music, family, friends and the environment as signs of hope. 'Many students made flags with music symbols on them to show that when they felt sad or disappointed, they could find happiness when they listened or played a musical instrument,' said Labarre. 'Other students drew pictures of their families and friends to show what gave them hope maybe when their school life becomes a little difficult.' Environment played a role in many flags as Labarre says they showed that when students are 'feeling a little down they (can) look to nature _ the sun, the rainbows, the lakes, the Northern Lights _ to pick up their spirits.' This year marked the fourth year of World Suicide Prevention Day activities in the Flin Flon area. In years past students have participated in a walk down Main Street ending at the Memorial Gardens, where shoes are placed as a symbol of reaching out. Labarre says this year's activity had more of an impact on the students participating. '...the students had to really think what hope meant to them,' she said. 'They had to look inwards to think about what picks up their spirits, what makes them feel good about themselves, the hope and belief that things will be good, and good things they can look forward to in life.' Labarre says as the students created their Flags of Hope and enjoyed the lunch there was plenty of enthusiasm at Pioneer Square. 'They wanted to share the story behind their picture with members of the Suicide Prevention Committee,' she said. 'They were also pleased that we were displaying their Flags of Hope at Pioneer Square so others could see all the good things in life that give us hope.'
