By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Hundreds of West Islanders gathered at Kirkland Arena for this year’s Perspective communautaire en santé mentale (PCSM) hockey tournament, an event that has become a cornerstone for community engagement around mental health. The City of Kirkland provided the arena free of charge for the day, offering crucial support to PCSM and its mission.

The festivities began on the second floor, where thirty different organizations set up tables to share information and resources tied to mental health. Attendees mingled over a buffet of hot meals and desserts, pausing at each table to learn more about the wide network of support available across the West Island.

Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson told The Suburban, “We are very proud as a city to support this event. I encourage everyone to look at PCSM and get to know how they can contribute to this great cause.”

A surprise awaited guests as three Lamborghinis rolled onto the arena floor through the Zamboni doors, drawing a crowd of excited onlookers. People rushed to take pictures with the cars, adding an extra layer of excitement to the afternoon. The main event, a series of hockey games featuring politicians and organization members, brought a playful sense of camaraderie to a serious mission.

PCSM Director General Patrick Merrigan spoke to The Suburban about the event’s growing impact: “We are two great members of the West Island community. Every year this event is growing.” The expansion was clear both in the turnout and in the number of organizations eager to collaborate.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis, speaking with The Suburban, reflected on the positive force the event represents: “I like to think of this as positive mental health. We need to harvest a positive outcome by supporting our resources.”

Île-Bizard Mayor Doug Hurley told The Suburban that, as a former police officer, he intervened on approximately 100 calls each year related to mental health. Hurley explains the importance of looking out for one another: “Learn the symptoms and look around you to help your loved ones.”

PCSM Clinic Director Emmanuelle Morin emphasized the need for openness and collective action: “Together we can change the taboo surrounding mental health.” Joan Lee, President of WIBCA, underscored the urgency and value of continued support: “Mental health is at a height and it needs so much attention. We need this organization to continue doing what they do and we will continue to support them.”

Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas spoke candidly to The Suburban about losing five close friends to suicide and his ongoing advocacy for a psychiatric unit at Lakeshore Hospital: “There are long-term consequences institutionally when we don’t have resources.” For Thomas, mental health is a fundamental issue he hopes to tackle both through his support for local organizations and his efforts to strengthen public institutions.

MP for Lac-Saint-Louis Francis Scarpaleggia described PCSM as “a pillar in the constellation of organizations addressing mental health.” He acknowledged the challenges the community faces in the wake of the pandemic, adding, “One of the great things about our society is that we can speak openly.”

Brigitte Garceau, MNA for Robert-Baldwin, highlighted the prevalence of mental health challenges, noting, “One out of five [people are] suffering with mental health.” She praised PCSM’s approach: “They develop a rapport with those they serve to help them achieve their potential in life.”

DDO Mayor Alex Bottausci stressed the need for unity: “It is not a me problem and it is not a you problem. It is an us problem, an everybody problem. It is important to come together, rally together and expose it as much as we can to unite the community as one.” DDO City Councillor Errol Johnson added, “It is important for us to show the need and to contribute.”

Bikers Against Child Abuse, represented by Road Captain “REKKER,” told The Suburban, “This is a great opportunity to connect with other organizations and offer our help to intervene in cases of child abuse.”

As the crowd filtered out after the last hockey game, the day’s message lingered: supporting mental health is a shared responsibility, and through open dialogue and community effort, real change is possible. n