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amanda todd suicide
Dear Amanda, Happy 18th birthday, honey! I have to say that although each day and year passing that you are gone it has been hard but this year seems to be harder than the others. This year will be more contributions to your legacy that will have impact. This is your graduating year. An event that you talked about and looked forward to since you were in grade school.
I am sure many around the world have read the headlines. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that Amanda's alleged perpetrator would be found in the Netherlands.
Dear Amanda, Happy Valentine's Day! I can remember all the times watching you write out your V Day cards and scrunching up your face when licking the back of the envelopes. After card #15, you couldn't stand the taste. Thanks Amanda for putting a fire under your mom and all the others who care.
I went to Ottawa for the tabling of the new Cyberbullying Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday. It has been a long time coming, and as parents who have lost our children, it is a necessity. The question that I heard the most from media was this one: Do you think this piece of legislation would have 'saved' Amanda? YES.
I wonder how many people know that October 10 is World Mental Health Day all over the world? This also happens to be the same date that I lost the ability to laugh and cry with my daughter in real time. From here on in, I will work to bring awareness to mental health issues on this date. I invite all those who want to help do this each year by Lighting Up Purple for World Mental Health Day.
Back from WE DAY Toronto 2013. What a fantastic event. To be able to listen to the speakers and absorb what they had to say was pretty amazing. And then feeling the energy in the building with over 20,000 youth present. It was certainly one of those magical moments. Although I don't always feel the spiritual world around me, I did feel Amanda's presence at We Day Toronto.
Today was a year to the date when Amanda Todd and I went to Whiterock B.C. to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather of September and take so many selfies of each other. It was a hilarious day. One of which I will never forget as I saw Amanda in the carefree state that she once was just a couple of years back.
It's hard to believe that it has been a year since Amanda initially posted her video to YouTube. And even stranger to see that with combined views from different sources, that there have been over 28-million views. I continue to receive comments from people all around the world about having seen the video for the very first time. I also keep hearing about the positive impacts it has made on those who have watched it. They felt a connection with the video. They thought about their own lives and decided on a change. All these are good things that have come out of this.
School is starting soon. There are many anxious youths out there not looking forward to those first weeks of school. Hopefully this school year will be one where kindness and respect are a focus. Hopefully we won't lose any more young people while we wait.
