Initiatives
Check out past events and initiatives and join us in our upcoming ones dedicated to raising awareness and funds for teen mental health and suicide prevention. Together, we're working to create a supportive community and resources for teens in need. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young people struggling with mental health challenges.
Please note some of these initiatives were organized and executed by community organizations and groups with Brian's Story's participation or simply with Brian and Brian's Story in mind. Full kudos and thanks go to them!
#hopetogethernow
Suicide Prevention Walk
September 10, 2023. Family and friends gathered for the Durham Distress Centre's annual suicide awareness walk in the name of Brian Renaud for Team Brian's Story!
It was a great event with walking (just under 5K), talking, remembering Brian, eating food, raising money and having some laughs while also shedding some tears. We are competely humbled and touched at everyones support and kindness. We are overwhelmed by the love. We cannot thank everyone enough who participated and those who couldnt but continue to show support. Some wore tshirts that were made but everyone wore Brian's Story buttons. Thank you to Grace Meli and Dimples Designs for making the buttons! (Check out Dimples Designs on FB).
Brian loved to walk. He would sometimes prefer it to a drive. He would sometimes walk to clear his head. He also liked running. He would go out for a jog, ran long distance in school and always said he one day wanted to do a marathon. Today was fitting. Today we continued talking and remembering him. Today was for Brian!
Team Brian's Story!
All money raised went to Durham Distress Centre and the work they do with suicide prevention.
School Walk and Tree Planting Ceremony
September 14, 2023. What a day. Emotional but so honouring. Brian's high school Pickering High came together today for Brian and for mental health awareness. PHS invited us to take part in a walk/run in Brian's name that Brian's friends along with the PHS staff organized. It was not mandatory but I will say almost the whole school attended. The amount of students was very touching. After the walk at the end of school, we along with Brian's friends, some classmates, some teachers and the administration gathered for a tree planting ceremony for Brian. PHS planted a tree in Brian's name to forever live on at the school and be a place where students can reflect, remember, and have some laughs thinking about him. The speeches written and spoken from his friends and teachers about Brian and about mental health and vulnerability were amazing. They brought tears and smiles to our faces. Brian certainly has left an impact on the school and a legacy that is truly remarkable to us. It re-affirmed again how he was loved by all. It was such an honour to be there today.
All donations collected by the school were donated in Brian's name to a community mental health program. So amazing!
APMHA HONOURS BRIAN
January 7, 2024. The arena was packed. There were so many Ajax Pickering Raider teams, there were Durham West Lightning teams, there were players, parents, and representatives from other organizations. There was lots of family, and lots of friends of ours and of Brians (now ours). There was a lot of support and love that filled that arena yesterday.
It was an emotional day but a great day for us. Anytime I get to talk about and share about Brian with others is a great day. Having the APMHA organization honour and recognize him is so special to us. He deserves it all.
I wanted to speak to everyone there. I tried to but just couldnt in time. I am so sorry I didnt.
For those not in attendance the organization has created moving forward 3 Brian Renaud scholarships for 17 year old hockey volunteers and workers in the orgsnization entering Post Secondary Education. His name will forever be attached to this and we are humbled, grateful and amazed!
They also presented my family with two amazing gifts that just touched us. Those two memories of Brian will proudly be displayed and looked at often.
We say it all the time here and everywhere, but again we want to thank everyone that made it out and everyone who couldnt make it out but messaged or thought of us, and sent your support and love. WE FEEL IT!
I got a message yesterday from a very close friend of Brian's who amazingly sung the National Anthem at the event. She said "it felt like he was there. His presence is so heavy in the arena."
I know Brian was there. I know he was smirking in amazement. I know he feels the love from everyone. Thank you all for helping do that.
Continue to watch hockey (no matter the team or level) and think of Brian and his love for the sport. Continue to check on each other!
❤️❤️❤️
The game ended in a 4-4 tie. There were no winners and losers yesterday. There were two rival teams who came together in support and battled on the ice yet show respect off the ice to each other and a bigger cause.
With BR91 ( Brian's initials and jersey number) and Brian's Story wristbands for sale leading up to and on the event and special donations from others, the organization raised a lot of money to be donated to mental health causes in our community. Also, the Kingston Canadians collected donations and donated in Brian's name to a local Kingston area organization. This team is all class!
PHS Chess Tournament
The Pickering Highschool Chess Club came together in support and ran a chess tournament in Brian's name. Brian loved chess and was very good at it. He studied the game watching strategic youtube videos and often played (and won) against friends, classmates and online. Raising money and playing chess for Brian, the club raised $200. All money raised will be donated to Durham Mental Health Services.
Winner of the event was James (Lil Bao Wow) Bao.
BR91 Scholarship
The Ajax Pickering Minor Hockey Association is proud to offer the BR91 Scholarship fund to individuals who are actively involved with APMHA. The APMHA is providing three, $2000.00 post-secondary scholarships.
Congratulations to the winners of the first BR91 Scholarship for the 2023-2024 season: Elijah Fraser, Tyler Sly & Cali Tierney!
Good Luck next year in your post secondary education!
Thank you APMHA. Go Raiders Go!
Upcoming Inititiaves
Raising Money for Men's Mental Health
BR91 Hockey Tournament
Brian's Story 10K Marathon
Speaking Engagements
Survivor Support Groups