Brian and Alex Ennis. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

legacy to live on

Red Deer’s Team Alex mental health organization to close as founder battles dementia

Aug 17, 2023 | 11:11 AM

A Red Deer organization which made its goal the prevention of suicide, and awareness of mental illness, is closing up shop due to some sad circumstances.

Team Alex was launched in the wake of the suicide death of Alex Ennis, who was affectionately known as “Al,” in May 2019.

Brian Ennis, Al’s father, launched the organization along with mental health training for minor sports coaches and scholarships.

Ennis’s family recently revealed on the Team Alex Facebook page that Brian has begun dealing with dementia.

“Brian has been the driving force and had the original passion for this, and not that the rest of us don’t share that passion, but it would be too hard to continue without him,” says wife Marianne Ennis, speaking to rdnewsNOW.

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“Team Alex was really healing for Brian following Al’s passing. He wanted to honour Al and make him proud, but we also wanted to ensure other families don’t have to experience suicide.”

Ennis says if people would like to see the legacy of Team Alex and what Brian put into the organization live on, they can donate to other suicide prevention and mental health programs, such as Smiles Thru Lindsey, The Outreach Centre, and Canadian Mental Health Association.

“Brian’s legacy was always about giving back to the community. He’s always poured his heart and soul into everything, and has such a big heart, is generous and kind,” she says. “That’s how he’d want to be remembered. Even as he declines, he still has that generous, kind and loving spirit about him.”

Though Team Alex is ceasing operations, Red Deer Pond Hockey, which was founded by Brian, will continue facilitating the training, and it will host an annual Alex Ennis memorial hockey tournament starting this season.

Additionally, Red Deer Pond Hockey will administer scholarships previously offered under Team Alex, and will permanently have a Team Alex Mental Health patch on their jerseys.

READ MORE: Mental health training starting for central Alberta sports coaches in honour of lost Red Deer man