The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • A5

Ly Giesbre When Davin brother died by suicide 23 years ago, there was very little public discussion about mental illness. was a di cult thing to talk about at the time, and I think nobody really knew how to address it, and there was still such a stigma around mental health and said Stachoski. people know how to talk about it, it almost becomes like you lose memories of your loved ones because not able to properly grieve or share stories or talk about it, because an uncomfortable Watching the stigma around mental illness and suicide slowly decrease over the last two decades has been said Sta- choski, but he believes there is still a lot of improvement needed. To continue this shift, Stachoski is helping organize Huddle Up for Suicide Prevention, an event that aims to bolster awareness of suicide and encourage people to talk openly about mental health. Huddle Up for Suicide Prevention began in Calgary in 2016, when Clym Atkin and Jill Viccars teamed up with the Calgary Stam- peders and decided to take action after their brother-in-law died by suicide.

The annual event expanded to Edmonton, and will now be held in Regina for the first time on Saturday. Stachoski said the goal is to eventually host Huddle Up for Suicide Prevention annually in every CFL city across Canada. know a heavy topic, but we want this to be a fun he said. lot of people that are going to attend, their lives have been touched by suicide but a lot of them are just people who believe in the While he wants people to feel free to share their experiences at the event, Stachoski said there is no pressure to do so, as he also recognizes that not everyone will be ready or willing to talk about suicide. Fellow Regina organizer Stephanie Streifel lost her brother-in- law to suicide in May.

She hopes raising awareness of suicide and opening up conversation will help those a ected realize they are not alone. feel guilty, and that guilt turns into shame. It really goes back to the question, could we have done di said Streifel. amazing how you start talking about it and next thing you know, everyone has a story about a friend or a family member that lost It seems like everybody is a ected by this topic, but nobody opens up and talks about Early tickets to the event included a ticket to the Saskatch- ewan Roughriders game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday and entry to Decades of Music a post-game party featuring music from the 1960s through at The Exchange. These are no longer for sale, but tickets for just the Decades of Music party are still available online or at the door for $20.

The Decades of Music party will feature local musicians Mackenzie Jackson, Vintage Children and The Bystanders playing covers from the and respectively. DJ Majors will be playing music from the Doors open at The Exchange at 8 p.m. on Saturday, with music to start at 8:30 p.m. All proceeds will go toward the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Friends for Life program, which provides workshops on mental health and suicide prevention. Time to talk openly about suicide, mental health, event organizers say Huddle Up for Suicide Prevention organizers Stephanie Streifel and Davin Stachoski say while a heavy topic, this should be a fun event.

TROY FLEECE Frid Oc tO 4 2019 Le -POs A 5 SASKATOON A police search is on for Jonathan Dufraine, a 38-year-old man considered armed and dangerous, in connection with a homicide in northern Saskatchewan. An arrest warrant has been issued for Dufraine, who faces a manslaughter charge in connection with the Oct. 2 death of Zane Kiseyinewakup in Big Island Lake Cree Territory, RCMP said Thursday in a news release. Police urged anyone who sees Dufraine to not approach him and to instead call 911 immediately. Dufraine was last seen in a grey 1996 four-door Chevrolet Lumina with Saskatchewan licence plate 077 LPV.

According to police, he frequently visits the Big Island Lake Cree Territory, Loon Lake, Makwa Sahgaiecan First Nation and Ministikwan First Nation areas. He is described as 5-6 and 130 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing grey jogging pants, a black sweater, a red ball cap with a black brim, black shoes and a red bandana tied around his neck. The Saskatchewan RCMP major crimes unit is investigating, with assistance from Pierceland and North Battleford RCMP. Big Island Cree Territory is approximately 105 kilo- metres northwest of Meadow Lake, near the Saskatchewan-Alberta border.

Postmedia News RCMP seeking suspect in Oct. 2 death.