Fairlie’s Lift the Mask campaign raises over $6,200 in support of CMHA of Northern BC

PRINCE GEORGE – In the three months after Prince George Spruce Kings’ goalie Jordan Fairlie launched his Lift the Mask on Mental Health campaign, $6,270.00 was raised in support of programming put on by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Northern British Columbia.

“I’d like to thank the City of Prince George for the unwavering support throughout the duration of my Lift the Mask on Mental Health campaign,” said Fairlie. “I hope these funds will make a significant impact on the lives of those who are struggling with mental health and am looking forward to seeing the positive impact on our community. I’m glad to be able to raise awareness on such a critical and underrepresented issue within our society and to provide hope, support, and resources to those in need.”

Back in January, Fairlie sat down with the CMHA of Northern BC to pitch the idea and goal of his campaign.

“It’s been a pleasure to walk beside Jordan in his fundraising efforts,” said Sarah Lloyd, Executive Director of CMHA of Northern BC. “We’ve had good talks about community mental health and he is passionate about supporting the mandate for improved access in our region.”

Following the conclusion of the Spruce Kings season, Fairlie and Lloyd recently sat down at the CMHA’s Connections Wellness Centre, located at 2816 Norwood Street in Prince George, to discuss where the dollars raised would be allocated with Fairlie wanting to ensure some of the funds go to support his hometown of Fort St. John. As a result, a portion of the generated funds will go to develop a Peer to Peer support group in Fort St. John. Lloyd hopes this will help the organization continue to establish additional Peer to Peer groups throughout the North and is something the CMHA of Northern BC is actively working towards.

“I’m glad these funds are going directly to supporting those in need of resources related to mental health,” said Fairlie. “There was a need for increased support in rural communities around Northern BC, including my hometown of Fort St. John. It brings me immense joy to know that part of the funding from this campaign will go to support the community I grew up in.”

According to the CMHA, peer support services are an essential part of the full spectrum of mental health services available and has been shown to complement traditional clinical care.

“Evidence shows us that people with lived experience of mental health challenges are uniquely positioned to help others walking through those difficult times (often in conjunction with other services),” explained Lloyd. “Jordan sees this and is keen to see that be available in his home community.”

While Fairlie’s career as a Spruce King is now over, the 20-year-old hopes to continue his community involvement throughout the summer before embarking on his collegiate career with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.