By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca
Community members gathered at the Acton branch of the Halton Hills Public Library on Sept. 10 to unveil Halton’s fifth Garden of Hope, marking World Suicide Prevention Day.
Featuring hand-painted rocks adorned with messages of kindness and encouragement, the installation offers a permanent public space designed to foster connection, reduce stigma and spark conversations about mental health.
The garden also features a QR code that links visitors to mental health resources and community services.
Organized in partnership between the Halton Hills Public Library and the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Acton installation follows last year’s garden at the Georgetown branch.
Building hope through community
Beverly King, chief librarian and CEO of the library, emphasized the vital role libraries play as inclusive community hubs.
“Creating welcoming spaces where people feel connected and supported is an important part of who we are as a library and as a town,” King said. “Every painted rock represents a message of hope or encouragement from someone in our community — a reminder of the strength that comes from supporting one another and that no one is alone.”
Mayor Ann Lawlor highlighted the collective responsibility required to address mental health challenges, noting that suicide prevention requires collaborative action across families, neighbours, organizations and all levels of government.
“May this garden of hope serve as a lasting reminder that every life has value, every person deserves support and even the smallest message of hope can make a difference,” Lawlor said.
Targeted advocacy and personal testimony
Melanie McGregor, chair of the HSPC, detailed the origin of the annual initiative, which grew out of pandemic-era neighbourhood walks where painted rocks provided unexpected encouragement during challenging times.
“You never know where that connection could come from,” she said. “It could be seeing the Garden of Hope and having a message resonate, encouraging people to reach out to resources.”
Aligning with this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative,” McGregor announced upcoming coalition campaigns specifically designed to support men and youth — two key demographics identified through regional research.
Nelson Borges, founder of Capillary Wave Community — a grassroots mental health organization based in Burlington that serves Halton Region — shared his own journey with severe anxiety and panic attacks while working in the construction industry.
He said men account for nearly three-quarters of suicide deaths in Canada and 82 per cent of confirmed suicide deaths in Halton in 2022.
“One of the biggest challenges we face with men’s mental health is that many men spend their entire lives learning how not to talk about what hurts,” Borges said.
What started as a peer support group with five members has expanded to 400 registered members. Through that expansion, Borges has seen the power of connection.
“Men don’t always need someone to fix them,” he said. “Sometimes they need somewhere they can take the armour off, and that connection saves lives.”
Maria Estrada, program manager at Unsinkable Youth — a free mental health and peer support program for youth aged 16 to 26 provided by the charity Unsinkable — drew on her own experience with anxiety, depression, self-harm and multiple suicide attempts to make the case for naming suicide directly and creating spaces where young people feel seen as full human beings — not just diagnoses.
“When we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, we talk a lot about statistics,” Estrada said. “But I am not a statistic, I am Maria. I use my lived experience so that no 12-year-old has to navigate this alone.”
More information about suicide prevention and local resources can be found on the HSPC’s website.
Individuals struggling with mental health can call the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 1-877-825-9011 or Distress Centre Halton at 905-877-1211.