MOOSE JAW — After nearly two decades of advocacy, awareness, and education around suicide prevention and mental health, Journey to Hope Moose Jaw has announced it will dissolve this fall.
The organization’s board said the non-profit will officially cease operations on Nov. 1, though its mission will continue through a new legacy fund managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Moose Jaw branch.
“After much soulful consideration, it has been determined by the Journey to Hope Moose Jaw Board that Journey to Hope Moose Jaw has reached the fullness of time and will dissolve as of November 1, 2025,” the board said in a written announcement.
Founded in 2008 at the request of two members of the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group, Journey to Hope became a fixture in Moose Jaw’s mental health landscape. The group hosted workshops, awareness programs, and training events to support individuals struggling with mental health challenges and to help families affected by suicide.
Community events often carried a hopeful and creative focus. One such event was the annual open mic night at The Hive coffee shop, where residents shared poetry, song, and stories about their mental health journeys. Chairperson Della Ferguson described the evening last year as “magical” and said the expression of personal experiences was powerful for both speakers and listeners.
Programs such as Mental Health Week workshops, “safeTALK” suicide awareness training, and the annual “Wise Hope” event in Crescent Park further expanded the group’s outreach. Partnerships with initiatives like Ruck It Up for Mental Health, which raised more than $34,000 over five years for the cause, also strengthened its presence in the community.
As part of its conclusion, Journey to Hope will host two final public events. On Sept. 10, to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day, the organization will hold a walk and “Pass the Torch” ceremony in Crescent Park.
Later, on Sept. 25, a “MENtal Health and Wellness” event at Temple Gardens Centre will feature a roast beef supper, with “Leroy” of Leroy and Leroy as MC and Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary as the guest speaker.
“We will then honour some individuals and groups who are Mental Health and Wellness Champions in our community,” the board wrote. “We want to fill this conference space full with ‘hope’ and ‘gratitude.’”
The newly created Journey to Hope Legacy Fund will continue to finance training opportunities and suicide prevention programs in Moose Jaw. Donors will continue to receive tax receipts for their contributions, and funds will be directed to initiatives that align with the group’s long-standing mission.
“We are eternally grateful to all who have supported the Journey to Hope mission: To raise vital funds in support of suicide awareness and prevention, with the purpose being to promote hope to those who feel hopeless by sharing resiliency information and counselling resources; healing to the bereaved by offering grief information and support resources; and honouring the memory of those who have died by suicide by reaching out to the hopeless and hurting,” the board’s announcement read. “(We are) forever grateful and forever hopeful.”
To donate to the legacy fund, contact CMHA Moose Jaw at 306-692-4240 or by email at [email protected]. The branch is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
