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To Save A Life Event Went Even Better Than Expected – There Is Still Work To Do

Jan 17, 2011 | 1:56 PM

The two day event at the EA Rawlinson Centre on Saturday, January 15th & Sunday, January 16th was very successful.

Having over 700 people attend the event and the majority of them being youth was incredible.

Many students from the local public & seperate schools were in attendance along with students bused in from First Nations reserves.

It was great to see parents with their kids, school teachers and social workers bringing kids from their schools, youth leaders & youth groups that had all come out to see the film 'To Save A Life'.

Even though the film ran for almost two hours and dealt with some very serious issues and deep provoking thoughts you knew the kids were very much engaged in the film as the humourus one liners came out the theatre would be in an uproar of laughter.

At the end of the evening there was a powerpoint presentation called Awareness Facts that brings to light the raw facts of suicide and how it is very real and how it's infiltrated society locally and globally.

Mayor Jim Scarrow did a heart felt opening message that captured the hearts the 400 people in attendance. Councillor Jayne Remenda did the opening message on the Sunday evening and did a fantastic job of speaking and to prepare the viewers for the events of the evening. As well we had Dennis Serfas on Saturday & Doug Kinar on Sunday representatives from the CCRT (Community Compassion Response Team) to do the the debrief and closing remarks.

The TSAL Event featured the following participating Community Groups and Social Agencies: Addictions Services, CCRT/Victim Services, PA Outreach, LG Solutions, ISKWEW, PAGC Holistic Wellness Centre, Catholic Family Services, Family Futures, RCMP-Victim Services, Bernice Sayese Centre & Canadian Mental Health Association.

We would like to publicly thank all these Organizations and Groups for supporting and being apart of a very successful event. Thank-you to all the volunteers that gave willing of their time to be a voice and to help our community know that there are people that care about what you are going through and you are not alone. Thanks to Parkland Ambulance and all ASIST caregivers for being present.

We are looking forward to going forth to other communities and schools.