OTTAWA – Senator Rob Black will join Centre Wellington Ward 4 Councillor Neil Dunsmore on Sept. 27 for the conclusion of his 500-kilometre walk from the Centre Wellington Township Office to Ottawa in support of mental health awareness.
The final leg of the “Steps to Stop the Silence” walk coincides with the annual Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service in Ottawa. On Parliament Hill, Senator Black and Councillor Dunsmore will honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep Canadians safe and those living with mental illnesses.
“Stopping the silence matches the message that I want to give,” Dunsmore said. “We have to talk to each other and when we are struggling, we can’t sit in silence anymore. There’s no shame in asking for help.”
“Canadians from across the nation, including many in rural and farming communities, are living with mental illnesses,” said Black. “Councillor Dunsmore’s work on mental health awareness is invaluable, and I hope that his advocacy encourages our communities to discuss the mental health crises we are facing today.”
Dunsmore’s walk is raising funds for the Cody Shepperd Project, which supports those affected by mental health issues. Cody Shepperd was a Centre Wellington District High School student who died by suicide in 2017.
