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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-09, Page 32Certified General Accountant • Personal & Corporate Tax •Accounting & Bookkeeping •Agricultural Services Seaforth ~ 519-527-1331 Email: wightman@bellnet.ca Brian E. Wightman • Order Buyers • • Slaughter/Feeder Cattle • • Western/Eastern/Local Cattle • • Cattle Appraisals ~ Processing Available • Ross McCall • Matt McCall Office 519-887-9571 Fax 519-887-9171 Take extra care when handling livestock. Play it Safe! Gas Station and Express Mart 39977 Blyth Rd., Blyth 519-523-9090 Open 6 am to 10 pm The tradition of service continues... Clinton Chapel Blyth Chapel 519-482-9521 Christopher M. Smith Mark R. Rushton Amanda Rich Falconer FUNERAL HOMES Huron County Health Unit Supporting Families. Supporting School Communities. Call 1.877.837.6143 Find us on Facebook: Parenting in Huron Jacquie Gowing Accounting, Income Tax and Business Management Services Personal, Farm, Business & Corporate • Monthly Bookkeeping Services • Electronic Tax Filing jgowing623@gmail.com 519-887-9248 Brussels Branch 218 Royal Canadian Legion BRUSSELS 38 King Street, Brussels Open 7 days a week 519-887-9740 CMHA Mental Health Week May 6 - 12 Corporation of the COUNTY OF HURON Huronview and Huronlea Homes for the Aged THANK YOU FOR MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. Helping families through difficult times The Municipality of Central Huron 519-482-3997 www.centralhuron.com Blyth Lions Club Supporting our Community PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019. BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN This Mental Health Week, May 6- 12, Huron County residents have plenty of reasons to be encouraged, as the newly-formed Tanner Steffler Foundation continues to expand its reach. This is the 68th year that Canada has marked Mental Health Week in the House of Commons and beyond. Locally, a number of events were being held, including a run by local radio personality Phil Main around the community, raising not only money, but awareness of mental health in Huron County. The Tanner Steffler Foundation is just entering its second year and co- founder John Steffler says there are plenty of exciting things happening with the foundation and in mental health awareness in Huron County. John and his wife Heather founded the Tanner Steffler Foundation in the name of their son, who passed away in 2017. Tanner was a bright young man who was a lover of music and with dreams of a career, but his struggle with his mental health led him down a path of addiction. In the months following Tanner’s death, John and Heather, both grieving the loss of their son, turned their attention and efforts towards the creation of the foundation in the hope of improving access to mental health resources in Huron County. The Stefflers’ journey dates back to the fall of 2017, when they first spoke to Huron County Council, seeking funding to help get the foundation off the ground. Though their request was turned down, the Stefflers went full steam ahead and began fundraising. Many of those involved with the 2017 International Plowing Match pledged their portion of the match proceeds to the foundation and things began to move with the foundation. The foundation hopes to focus on the mental health of county residents between the ages of 12 and 24. In an interview with The Citizen, John said that at the core of what he and Heather are trying to do with the foundation is that they don’t want anyone to have to go through what they did and they didn’t want anyone else to hit the roadblocks and closed doors Tanner did in his search for treatment. While much of what the foundation is already doing is aimed at raising awareness and erasing the stigma attached to mental health, the organization also hopes to raise $1 million in its first five years to build a resource centre in Huron County. So far, the foundation has raised over $200,000 and reinvested over $100,000 of that back into the community. The foundation has held several events and established partnerships with existing county bodies to improve the mental health Continued on page 33 Making a difference Since its founding in 2017, the Tanner Steffler Foundation has attracted the attention of individuals and service clubs from both far and wife. Last year, for example, the Brussels Optimist Club chose the local charity as the beneficiary of the funds raised from the club’s annual spring dinner and auction. The Stefflers were on hand to receive the cheque from the club. (File photo)