When Wentworth Park in Sydney, N.S., is lit up with candles later this month, Debbie MacRury will be thinking about her son Gregory MacLean. “I never thought that I would be able to take another step, take another breath honestly,” MacRury said of losing her son, who died by suicide on Dec. 3, 2017, at age 28. MacRury said in the months prior to his death, her son had told her and his father he was struggling. Now, she plans honour his memory by telling her son’s story at a walk and candlelight vigil in Sydney on Sept. 10 to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. “I’m not embarrassed with how Gregory died,” MacRury said. “It’s no different than if he had showed up with chest pains. He needed help.” Doug Taylor will be at the walk and vigil in memory of his grandson Dylan Taylor, who was 18 when he died by suicide in January 2023. “Dylan was a very outgoing person, larger than life, always willing to help other people,” his grandfather said on Tuesday. Taylor said there could be between 150 and 200 people at this year’s event - a number he chalks up both to reduced stigma and the amount of people looking for help dealing with a loss. “Like I say, we have a lot of laughs and a whole lot of cries, and it really helps,” Taylor said. “And other people say the same thing to us.” In the nearly nine years since MacLean passed away, his mother said the support she and her husband have received from family and friends has helped her realize they have something to offer to others. “I think if I’m a person who can show someone, ‘Hey, it’s not easy but if we can lean on each other and we can talk to each other we can help lift each other up,’” MacRury said. The walk is set to begin at 5 p.m. at city hall before ending at Wentworth Park, with the vigil taking place at the park’s bandshell. If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available: For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
