450 People In Peterborough Witnessed One Of The Most Powerful Mental Health Events Ever In Canada

About 450 people packed into Trentwinds International Centre in Peterborough on Monday night (November 21st) for an Intimate, special night called "An Evening With Landsberg and Friends" in support of Sick Not Weak and Team 55 Tackles Suicide Awareness.

Celebrities such as Michael Landsberg, Theo Fleury, Jennifer Hedger, Andrew Jensen and Clint Malarchuk spoke with raw honesty to the hushed crowd about their mental health struggles, and the need for compassion and acceptance. "People are fighting battles that you know nothing about, so be kind," Malarchuk said.

The event was trending on Twitter in Peterborough, and here are just a few of the tweets that went out last night and today...

I wanted a story of hope healing & inspiration. The power of "Me Too" @TheoFleury14 No words #SickNotWeakTeam55

— Coach Amy (@amyh44) November 22, 2016

Amazing night with @Team55Tackle! Thanks @heylandsberg and everyone else who inspired mental health awareness in the community #SickNotWeak

— Hannah (@hann_johnston) November 22, 2016

@cmalarchuk Thank you for being brave. Thank you for everything tonight. #SickNotWeak #team55

— Pat McAuley Realtor (@PatrickHMcAuley) November 22, 2016

Powerful stories. It's OK to say #MeToo & ask for help. @Team55Tackle @cmhahkpr @TheoFleury14 @jenniferhedger @heylandsberg @cmalarchuk pic.twitter.com/WWprofCtER

— Mark Porter (@rmarkporter) November 22, 2016

The incredible @wick_22 takes the stage to share how mental illness has impacted her life. #SickNotWeakTeam55 pic.twitter.com/UgFh4OKCIm

— SickNotWeak (@SickNotWeak) November 22, 2016

@TheoFleury14 discusses childhood trauma, mental health & being an NHL hockey player @Team55Tackle #SickNotWeakTeam55 @Ptbo_Canada pic.twitter.com/lrxP9dlnoG

— Ashburnham Realty (@AshRealty) November 22, 2016

Clint Malarchuk speaks about his career & mental illness. Suffered OCD & severe anxiety. @Team55Tackle #SickNotWeakTeam55 @Ptbo_Canada pic.twitter.com/tznNutIjok

— Ashburnham Realty (@AshRealty) November 22, 2016

“People really fear and hate the things they don’t understand. I am a suicide survivor”. @cmalarchuk #SickNotWeakTeam55

— SickNotWeak (@SickNotWeak) November 22, 2016

Big shout-out to @heylandsberg #SickNotWeak & @Team55Tackle 4 bringing 450 people together to share and support each other! Well done! #ETFO

— Sam Hammond (@ETFOpresident) November 22, 2016

A night of courage, laughter, and tears with @heylandsberg @jenniferhedger @cmalarchuk @TheoFleury14 Thanks for all you do. @SickNotWeak 💜

— Mandy Nadeau (@mandynadeau) November 22, 2016

Had an incredible evening w @heylandsberg & Friends, laughing, crying & being inspired by talented, resilient speakers. #SickNotWeakTeam55

— Brent Hughes (@Brent_N_Hughes) November 22, 2016

Tonight was a huge life hilight for me. So many memories, one that will will stay with me 4ever was the @jenniferhedger speech#sicknotweak

— Michael Landsberg (@heylandsberg) November 22, 2016

What a great night n #Peterborough an evening I won't soon forget. Hope inspiration. @jenniferhedger @SickNotWeak @heylandsberg @cmalarchuk pic.twitter.com/kYaIUaBrSs

— Theo Fleury (@TheoFleury14) November 22, 2016

One of the guests in attendance, Laura Crann, summed up this powerful night this way:

"It was truly inspiring when the whole room of 450 people quietly listened to each guest share their stories. Every single person in that room truly reflected on their own lives or thought of someone who lives with mental illness."

Theo Fleury

Perhaps the most impactful line of many on the night came from the resilient final speaker Theo Fleury, who said this: “You can’t help if you don’t have compassion. Please tell someone about what you experienced tonight.”

It was a cathartic night for all in attendance, giving another huge step forward for the mental health movement in Canada. One can imagine this "An Evening With Landsberg & Friends" in Peterborough becoming a sort of travelling roadshow across Canada, having an impact across the country and keeping the conversation going.

Watch these vlogs Landsberg did shortly after the event talking about what this night meant to him...

Uploaded by SickNotWeak on 2016-11-22.

Uploaded by SickNotWeak on 2016-11-23.

Learn more about the mental health resources available in the Peterborough area by visiting the Canadian Mental Health Association's local chapter here.

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