Honouring Hannah: A Journey Through Grief and Giving

The loss of a loved one is never easy, and when that loss comes under such heartbreaking circumstances, the journey through grief can feel especially heavy. But in the sorrow, many people find solace in creating something lasting, a testament to the love and memory shared.

Hi, I'm your host, Cara Jones, and this is the Starting Conversations podcast, an initiative of the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention, where we explore personal stories, expert insights, and practical advice to break the silence and stigma.

Recently, I met with Ali Thebert from the Northwestern Alberta Foundation here in Grande Prairie, who shared some information on how their organization assists people who want to start a memorial foundation.

When Andre and Tammy Ouellette were faced with the devastating loss of their daughter Hannah, they wanted to create something to honour her life while giving back to organizations like the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention. We are so grateful to Andre and Tammy for sitting down with us and sharing their journey around setting up the Hannah Ouellette Memorial Foundation through NAF.

Since starting the Memorial Fund, have you seen changes in society when it comes to talking about mental health and wellness? Have you seen things change at all? Or would you like to see more change? Join us in this heartfelt conversation as we explore their journey, the impact of their foundation, and the ongoing need for mental health resources and safe spaces for youth.

Learn more about the Northwestern Alberta Foundation 

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health in Alberta, you can find resources on our website www.startingconversations.ca

Together we can shift the narrative around mental health and end the stigma one conversation at a time.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
The loss of a loved one is never easy, and when that loss comes under such heartbreaking
circumstances, the journey through grief can feel especially heavy.
But in the sorrow, many people find solace in creating something lasting,
a testament to the love and memory shared.
Hi, I'm your host, Cara Jones, and this is the Starting Conversations podcast,

(00:24):
an initiative of the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention,
where we explore personal stories, expert insights, and practical advice to
break the silence and stigma.
This episode is sponsored by Curry's Jewelers, a top-rated jewelry store and
family-owned business in Grand Prairie.
Curry's Jewelers has been a long-standing supporter of the Resource Centre for

(00:47):
Suicide Prevention and their commitment to our mission to raise awareness and
create conversations around suicide and mental well-being is invaluable.
Thank you to Currie's Jewelers team for your support. To learn more about Currie's
Jewelers, you can visit their website, which will be available in the show notes.
Recently, I met with Ali Thebert from the Northwestern Alberta Foundation here

(01:09):
in Grand Prairie, who shared some information on how their organization assists
people who want to start a memorial foundation.
Can you tell me a little bit about NAF and what it stands for?
So NAF stands for Northwestern Alberta Foundation.
So we cover all of northwestern Alberta and we support nonprofit organizations

(01:32):
and charity organizations and help match donors to these causes that they care about.
So they create funds with us and we put them into an endowment account,
which gets invested. And a portion of that investment income is what gets grunted
out within the community.
When Andre and Tammy Ouellette were faced with the devastating loss of their

(01:56):
daughter Hannah, they wanted to create something to honour their daughter's
life while giving back to organizations like the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention.
We are so grateful to Andre and Tammy for sitting down with us and sharing their
journey around setting up the Hannah Ouellette Memorial Foundation through NAF.
So 11 years ago, we set up the Hannah Ouellette Memorial Foundation through Community Foundation.

(02:26):
We thought it was a great way for us to donate money through the Community Foundation,
which goes to SBRC, which is a, the funds never run out.
So Suicide Prevention Resource Center will always receive a portion of those funds forever.

(02:50):
So we thought it was, you know, a good fit for our family and the community
and to support the community. I think that just like donations were happening. There was things like.
Like there was a fundraiser around these bracelets. There had been a couple
of weddings and people wanted to make, instead of like doing an open bar,

(03:14):
that sort of thing, people wanted to make donation in Hannah's name.
And yeah, we didn't want it just to be a one-time donation to the Resource Center
for Suicide Prevention now that they've changed their name.
So, yeah, we thought the community foundation and setting up a memorial fund

(03:36):
was a better way to use those resources long term.
When it comes to youth, prevention is a huge thing, and this fund absolutely
helps assist youth programming.
What would you like to see for mental health awareness prevention in the future

(03:56):
when it comes to safe spaces for youth?
I think just that, I think you hit saying safe, because oftentimes it's not
safe at home. It's not safe at school.
It's definitely not safe online.
So just looking at, you know, what is safe for kids and whether it's bullying

(04:19):
or the gender identity, troubles at home, that sort of thing.
I think that having resources where kids can reach out is extremely important.
Since starting the Memorial Fund, have you seen changes in society when it comes

(04:40):
to talking about mental health and wellness?
Have you seen things change at all? Or would you like to see more change?
There's always opportunity for more change, but I think...
When Hannah died by suicide, and I think the perception around suicide has changed
quite a bit, and I think people are more willing to talk about it,

(05:04):
and, you know, youth let people know that they are struggling,
and there is a place for them to go if they need help.
I think that there has been change, but yeah, there still needs to be the resources
available, I think is a big thing.
I think people are more willing to talk about it.

(05:27):
But I also think that there's still a lot of taboo and stigma there.
I just know for us, that was why, like even in the obituary,
it was clear that she had died by suicide,
where a lot of people like shy away from like the language and the facts.

(05:50):
And so, yeah, we try to be very open about that.
If you'd like to learn more about the Northwestern Alberta Foundation you can
check out their website available in our show notes Thank you for tuning in
to Starting Conversations If you or someone you love is struggling with mental

(06:11):
health in Alberta you can find resources on our website startingconversations.ca,
Together we can shift the narrative around mental health and end the stigma
one conversation at a time.