Kirkland Arena

Kirkland arena hosts 7th annual mental health hockey fundraiser

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / August 16, 2025 / Chelsey St-Pierre, Kirkland Arena, Mayor Michel Gibson

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

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PCSM,Kirkland raise awareness on mental health

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / June 7, 2024 / Benoit Langevin, Community Perspective on Mental Health, Jewelle McKenzie, Kirkland Arena

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Hundreds of West Islanders gathered at the Kirkland Arena last Saturday to attend a series of hockey games between teams made up of community organization representatives, Montreal police officers from Station 1 and Station 3, elected officials and retired NHL players. The event was hosted by the Community Perspective on Mental Health organization (PCSM) in collaboration with the City of Kirkland to raise awareness about mental health and bring together the organizations that contribute to the various factions of the community in need of mental health support.

The second floor gathering space was set up from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. where attendees mingled and had the opportunity to visit the thirty community organization table set-ups to learn more about how each organization contributes to mental health initiatives throughout the West Island. At the far end, a finger-food buffet table was set and PCSM representatives walked through the crowds offering drinks and refreshments.

The event Master of Ceremonies and Pierrefonds-Roxboro city councillor Benoit Langevin kicked off the activities with an opening speech shortly before the games began accompanied by Kirkland mayor Michel Gibson; MNA for Robert-Baldwin Brigitte Garceau, Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis, Pointe-Claire mayor Tim Thomas, Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO) mayor Alex Bottausci, DDO city councillor Errol Johnson, Pierrefonds-Roxboro city councillors Sharkie Tarakjian and Catherine Clement-Talbot, PCSM directors Emmanuelle Morin and Patrick Merrigan and former NHL players Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault and Stephane Richer.

Singer and songwriter Jewelle McKenzie dazzled attendees with her presence and many look forward to seeing her performance at the West Island Blues Festival.

The Bikers Against Child Abuse organization also gained a lot of attention at the event as their motorcycles were parked at the arena’s entrance as they greeted people arriving from their tent set up adjacent to the front door.

There was a lot of movement throughout the arena as attendees continued to mingle throughout the afternoon discussing potential collaboration efforts between organizations, cities, municipalities, artists and concerned citizens while enjoying the entertaining competitions between players.

“This organization is fundamental to the West Island community. Mental health is so varied and this organization is so important to helping people in need to get the help that they need,” Gibson said to The Suburban.

Former NHL hockey player Stephane Richer told The Suburban that though the stigma attached to mental health has changed significantly, there is still more work to be done. “If you go back thirty years ago when I was playing (in the NHL), as a hockey player you are supposed to be tough, you are not supposed to complain, you are making money, everything is ‘perfect’ but deep inside people have no clue what goes on inside when you are home and you close the door, it’s a different ball game.”

PCSM director of services Emmanuelle Morin stresses the importance of cooperation between community services and creating community awareness to break the stigma and assist persons on the road to recovery. “It is together that we take care of our village,” she said to The Suburban. n

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