The HOPE North Suicide Prevention Committee held its fourth annual HOPE forum from May 21 to May 23.
Every year the committee receives funding through the province's reclaiming HOPE strategy to host a variety of suicide prevention activities and educational seminars.
Liz Lychuk is a co-ordinator with the committee and helped organize what is the biggest event of the year for HOPE North.
"We network will all kinds of partners through the North, trying to build awareness," said Lychuk, "we prevent suicide by promoting hope, so we talk about increasing social and recreational opportunities for youth."
The forum was also aimed at adults and teaching them about ways that they can provide support and increase resiliency in young people.
This year's forum featured performances and keynote speeches by Robb Nash, a musician based out of Winnipeg, who has spoken to over 850,000 students about issues such as drugs and alcohol addiction, bullying, self-harm, depression, and suicide.
Nash's story is a harrowing one, as he was in a serious car accident at the age of 17 and had part of his skull taken off by a semi truck and was pronounced dead on the scene; his recovery period was a difficult one and he feared that he hadn't accomplished anything or made any positive impact on the world.
Nash had some success in the Canadian music industry but ripped up his record contract to dedicate his time to helping kids through his music and inspiration story.
"I wanted to use my experience, turn it around and share it through music with as many people as I could, so that others wouldn't have to get hit by a truck like me before they made every day count," said Nash.
Lychuk was thrilled to have Nash and his band come to Thompson to speak to the community.
"We were looking for someone who was going to come and fire everybody up and who is really inspirational and that's why we picked Robb," said Lychuk, "his message fits so well with the message we want to give that it's not about overcoming tragedy, it's really about recognizing that maybe things haven't gone so great but what can be done to make things better."
Nash performed for R.D. Parker Collegiate students inside the Letkemann Theatre on the afternoon of May 21 and performed an encore community concert that evening; he also performed for elementary school students during the day on May 22.
The students were captivated by Nash's story and performance and engaged in question periods after both of his shows, which Nash stuck around for each time, and even posed for pictures.
Nash commended the work of the HOPE North Suicide Prevention Committee, and the attitude of the community as a whole.
"Throughout the country of Canada and North America as a whole, the consistency of these issues is insane," said Nash, "things like suicide and self-harm, and some communities are just scared to address it and talk about it. We got the call about things happening here in Thompson and some hardships and tragedies, and the fact that the community is trying to turn things around is an amazing thing."
