Weekend family event in Brigden supporting mental wellness

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A family-friendly event supporting mental wellness is planned for Saturday at the Bridgen Fairgrounds by a non-profit foundation created in memory of Sarnia-area veteran Sgt. John Little.

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Operation Talk 2 to Me Johnny, formed in 2023, supports mental health initiatives for veterans and first responders and its initial event was a “ruck” march organized in November 2023 from the armoury in Sarnia to a cemetery in Wyoming where Little is buried.

Little enlisted at 18 and served two tours in Afghanistan with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he died by suicide in November 2021. He was 36.

Saturday’s event begins at noon with activities for children, displays by local first responders, vendors and an obstacle course team relay race at 3 p.m.

It’s a chance for kids to “interact with our everyday heroes,” said Lisa Mason, Little’s sister and president and co-founder of the foundation.

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“We do have representatives from police, fire and EMS (emergency medical services) who are all going to be on-site” with “their trucks and their gear,” she said.

There also will be an inflatable obstacle course for kids, face painting, paramedic students offering a “teddy bear picnic” style first aid activity, and music by the band Cornerstone, Mason said.

“And then, we’ve got some food trucks and some vendors, mostly mental health related,” she said.

A memorial obstacle course will begin at 3 p.m. with four teams competing.

Admission is free during the afternoon.

That will be followed in the evening by a dinner at the fairgrounds and a dance with the band Scott Manery and the Barnburners.

Information can found online at www.opt2mj.com/event-list.

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Tickets to the dance can be purchased at the door beginning at 8 p.m.

Funds raised will go to Veterans and Everyday Heroes, as well as Three Oaks Cabin.

“Because we are a family that has been affected by untreated, or not-treated-enough mental illness, we really wanted to make sure we were bringing in families,” Mason said about the event.

Saturday’s goal is to welcome as many people during the afternoon for some fun and encouragement to have conversions to “help start breaking that stigma,” and “making it about mental wellness, as opposed to mental illness,” she said.

It’s also about helping adults have conversations with children about mental wellness “in a way that is at their level,” Mason said.

“It’s unlikely we will solve the mental illness stigma in our lifetime, but it’s very possible we could do it in theirs.”

Little attended the former South Plympton central school and Lambton Central Collegiate in Petrolia. As well as a soldier, he was a poet and songwriter who played guitar and loved horses.

Recently, Little was awarded a Canadian Forces sacrifice medal and family members received the silver cross, Mason said.

“It’s a big step for mental wellness and the mental health conversation in the military,” she said.

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@ObserverPaulM

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