Twenty to 30 people gathered in front of City Hall for a Suicide Awareness Rally on Friday. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Rallying as one

Prince Albert comes together to raise awareness about suicide

Aug 8, 2020 | 11:44 AM

Prince Albert showed their support for Tristen Durocher on Friday at a Suicide Awareness Rally in front of City Hall.

Around 20 – 30 people gathered to join organizers Jennifer Lenny and Joyce McKenzie to show their support. During the Rally individuals came forward in a circle and shared their stories about how suicide has affected them and their families and how they want to see change.

They also handed out suicide awareness ribbons to those who came to hang up wherever they please. Some were hung up on the Diefenbaker bridge. There were 144 ribbons because according to the organizers that is the average of deaths by suicide per year in Saskatchewan.

On July 31 Durocher and Christopher Merasty set out on a suicide prevention and awareness walk called Walking With Our Angels from La Ronge to Regina, which took 28 days. Since then Durocher has been on a hunger strike at the Saskatchewan Legislature asking the provincial government for an emergency legislative session to talk about a solution.

Joyce McKenzie hands out ribbons at the rally for people to tie it wherever they please. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

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McKenzie told paNOW she’s been following the story of Tristen and wanted to show her support and said Durocher has shown determination.

“We had lost so many young people and we don’t need to lose anymore before something is done. Something should be done like today would be a good day to have it done,” McKenzie explained.

“We’re standing in solidarity with him, we’re gonna support him and I hope other people will stand up also to support this hunger strike he has put himself on.”

She added she hopes people will wake up and stand up and realize what Durocher is doing. She said she things suicide is also a problem in P.A. as well.

“Our young people don’t know where to turn to or there’s not enough resources for them to go and talk with their problems to somebody they can trust,” she said.

Sheryl Kimbley was invited to the rally to speak about her experiences and to raise awareness. She has known Durocher for 15 years and said Durocher is doing what seems to be the impossible for many people.

“We’ve been saying for years we need to do something and put something in place for our young people in Northern Saskatchewan and suicide overall has affected our province,” Kimbley said. “Statistics have shown quite clearly that suicide is a pandemic, it’s a real thing, it’s a real tragedy that’s happening almost weekly in our communities.”

She said Tristen walked for those who have taken their own lives out of desperation, lack of resources, and those who feel like they don’t have a voice and nowhere to go.

“I’m proud of him. Did it take a youth to do this? I think so because what does it mean when the National Chief of Canada comes to sit in his teepee and sit with him,” she said. “We’re taking notice and he’s scaring people and he’s putting the fear of what can happen when we get fed up.”

She added Durocher said it was wonderful news the rally was being held in P.A.

“What this means to Tristen is that he’s not alone and that people are taking notice and people are coming behind him anyway they can,” Kimbley said. “He knows everyone can’t be in Regina, he knows that everybody can’t be in a hunger strike or walking with him. So it means so much to know he has this backing.”

Those who want to help Durocher and bring awareness can donate to westandtogether@menofthenorth.net.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca