Letter from the Editor Normally, this is the space where I share a light story from my life, tease a few upcoming articles, or reflect on events happening around our com- munity. I had every intention of doing that again this month. But yesterday, something happened that completely shifted what I felt needed to be said. I learned that someone I knew had taken their own life.
I’m no expert in mental health, but I’ve known enough people who have struggled to understand that it isn’t about blame. Someone can have supportive parents, good friends, caring partners and access to therapists and resources — and still feel trapped by what’s happening in their own mind. Sometimes the pain convinces them that there is only one way out. I don’t judge him. I’m heartbroken that someone so young is gone. I can only imagine how much he must have been carrying, and how deeply his family and loved ones will feel this loss for years to come. If there’s anything I hope comes from this, it’s a reminder that help does exist. That reaching out matters. That there are people who want you here, who will listen, who will sit with you in the hard moments. It may not feel like it, but you are not a burden, and you are not alone. In the meantime, hug the people you love a little tighter. Ask how they’re doing — and ask again tomorrow. Let people know they matter, even if they don’t expect to hear it from you. That’s how we look after one another.
We weren’t close friends, but we had worked together in the past. We had crossed paths often at business events, chatted, caught up, shared laughs. He was easygoing, fun-loving, and always seemed genuinely interested in how others were doing. We were more than just Facebook acquaintances, though not deeply connected. Still, the news hit hard. What struck me most was the outpouring of love I saw afterward. Post after post spoke about how much he meant to people, how he made them feel seen, how he showed up. It became painfully clear that this was someone who touched many lives and will be deeply missed. The idea that he struggled enough to take his own life is mind-boggling. Any death is tragic. Losing someone young to illness, an accident, or circumstances beyond their control is devastating. But suicide often carries an added weight — an unspoken judgement, a sense that it was a choice; that it was somehow ‘their fault’. I don’t believe that.
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, help is available. In Canada, you can call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566, available 24/7, or text 45645 in the evenings. Someone is there to listen.
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Page 2 Real Living • Winter 2026
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