By Sheldon Spackman

Local musician raising money and awareness for CMHA on ‘Let’s Walk’ journey

Sep 11, 2018 | 6:21 PM

A local singer-songwriter is hoping to hit the right note with central Albertans by inviting them to join him on his ‘Let’s Walk’ journey for mental health this month.

Ryan Langlois of Red Deer began his initiative September 4 and is walking one hour a day for 30 days in hopes of raising awareness and money for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Central Alberta Region.

Both a husband and father, Langlois says he’s lived with depression and anxiety for a number of years and has come to learn it’s a daily process and something you have to learn to live with.

“The walk is in all kinds of ways, trying to represent that journey,” he explains. “I can walk with a bunch of guest walkers and people that have had similar stories or with friends. Basically walk for half an hour then turn around and come back.”

Langlois says he’s been taking his walks in and around the Waskasoo neighbourhood so far but plans to visit a variety of locations in the coming weeks.

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“I’m going to be going out to Sylvan Lake to walk with some people, take a trek through Bower Ponds this week, kind of wherever we feel like going,” he adds. “I have some songwriting friends, some artist friends, I’ve got some people that have stepped forward through the Canadian Mental Health Association that have some stories that they want to share, so they’re going to walk with me.”

Langlois says his Let’s Walk journey which continues until October 4, is an attempted to turn a negative into something positive.

“I’m hoping this will start something that will continue and maybe do some good,” he explains. “I’m hoping to raise $1,000 so it’s moderate but for me a lot of this is ultimately about allowing a platform for people to tell their stories and raising awareness.”

Christine Stewart, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association – Central Alberta Region says Langlois came to them a few weeks ago to inform them of his intentions to raise money and awareness for the organization.

“We talked at great lengths about his own struggle with mental health and wellness and the things he does to keep himself well,” says Stewart. “He does daily meditations and he goes for a walk almost every day anyway, so I think it’s 30 pounds of weight he has on his back to symbolize the weight that people that struggle with mental illness have to carry on a daily basis.”

She says mental illness doesn’t just go away but you have to address it in some way and not just tell people to ‘suck it up’.

“The main message for people to get out of Ryan’s story is he’s a successful musician in our community, a lot of people know The Boom Chucka Boys and it’s just so exciting to me when people aren’t afraid to come forward and say, ‘Hey look, this is my struggle too’,” says Stewart. “Stop pretending like it’s a bad thing. It’s very normal and ask for help, get a support system and that’s what he’s doing.”

Elsewhere, One Hundred Men Red Deer announced Monday evening that the Canadian Mental Health Association – Central Alberta Region was voted as the latest recipient of their fundraising efforts, handing over roughly $6,000 for the local branch of CMHA.