Council donates $1,000 to mental health conference

Olds town council has approved a $1,000 donation for a conference aimed at getting people talking about suicide and depression.

The event is called "The Conversation Has to Happen" and is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites. The event will be free to the public.

"When I look at my community and the region as a whole, with suicide rates and depression rates, I believe that we could support that," said Olds mayor Judy Dahl.

The conference is organized by an informal group of local citizens, led by Andrea Hawiuk, who organizes the annual Moonbeams and Miracles Gospel charity conference.

The publisher of the Olds Albertan is a member of that group.

Chief operating officer Doug Wagstaff told council that the group is working with a community facilitator to find out which aspects of the event are eligible for FCSS funding.

Kaitlin Hrudey is one of five speakers expected to appear. The daughter of former NHL goalie and current Hockey Night In Canada analyst Kelly Hrudey struggles with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Others include Kathy Kemmere, Dr. Jody Carrington, Rick More and former CTV president Terry Coles.

Planning for the conference has been in the works for about a year.

"I hope they will find hope and I believe that's what will happen," Hawiuk said.

"They're not in the boat all by themselves. There are lots of people there, they just don't know it. They just don't talk about it."

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