"Walk with Wes" For Youth Mental Health, News (Grey-Bruce Highlanders AAA Minor Hockey Association)

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Jun 09, 2013 | vcrawford | 5968 views
"Walk with Wes" For Youth Mental Health
On June 6, 2013 OSCVI gathered with other Owen Sound schools (West Hill and Sydenham) to celebrate the life of Highlander Hockey player Wes Cameron #37.  Wes sadly left us in 2011, but today his teammates rallied to organize one of many
"Walks With Wes"

We were privileged to have Mrs. Yolanda Camerson (mom), Ms. Jackie Ralph (Canadian Mental Health) and Mayor Deb Haswell in attendance as the students talked, walked the track and then took the tiny #37 sweater (over 700) and put them together as a sign of unity into the letters W-E-S. 

The whole event was an attempt to bring to light the importance of team and the need for us to work together to ensure everyone has a way to access mental health services when they need them most.  Wes' mother Yolanda gave a very heartfelt address to the students, while Highlanders Connor Paton, Lauchlin Elder and many other teammates from Quikfeet and other teams walked in his memory.  The students at OSCVI did not all know Wes, but they have adopted him into the Falcon family. 

The first year of the "Walk with Wes" campaign supports the on-line counselling services for youth in Grey-Bruce. The event was held at 11 different schools throughout Grey-Bruce to bring to light the issues surrounding mental health.   The OSCVI raised over $1,400 (and growing) to support the cause and, as Stephen Kiss (friend and MC stated), "It was a chance for us to remember our friend, community member, teammate and just all around good guy." 

Great job and further proof that together the Highlanders and our Grey-Bruce students are living up to the OSCVI school goal of "Making a Difference" in the world around them.  It's about more than hockey ...

Submitted by  Matt Pickett (Principal)


Photo credit to OSCVI Teachers, Mr. Michael Ewing and Mr. John Fearnall.  Check out all the pictures in the photo gallery @