City raises mental health and suicide prevention awareness with the completion of a new White Heart mini park

The City of Saint John is proud to announce the completion of a beautiful new White Heart mini park at the corner of Chelsey Drive and Douglas Avenue, in collaboration with NBM Railways and Operation White Heart.

Gary Brown Sr. launched Operation White Heart in 2022 to raise awareness and fight the stigma around mental health and suicide prevention. He says each heart helps people through their own struggles and grief. They are a simple symbol that is spreading love, compassion and empathy.

Brown believes that Operation White Heart is something we all can take part in, “It promotes conversations about mental health and suicide. Each heart spreads messages that ‘You’re never alone’, ‘It’s OK not be OK’, ‘You matter’, and ‘We care.”

Over the past few years, the City has worked with Operation White Heart to install several smaller white hearts along Harbour Passage. City staff identified the lot near the Reversing Falls Bridge as an ideal location for a new installation. After confirming the land ownership with NBM Railways as part of the New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) line, the City secured the necessary permissions, and the mini park project was set in motion.

Recently, the City partnered with the New Brunswick Community College to offer an in-house horticulture and landscaping course for eight Saint John Parks employees. As part of their practical training, the students were tasked with designing and building the mini park.

The newly completed park features a flagstone walkway lined with white roses, leading to a large white stone heart. At the end of the walkway, visitors will find two granite benches made from recycled curbing, a nod to the City’s historical infrastructure. The white heart is prominently displayed on a slope in front of the benches, with a raised garden of white roses and a Magnolia tree above it. The garden, constructed from recycled granite curb stones, bears the inscription “You Matter,” engraved by a City parks employee who volunteered his time and skills.

"We’ve created a peaceful, welcoming space for reflection and support,” says Steve Bishop, City of Saint John Public Works Superintendent. “Our hope is that the park offers comfort to those who visit, serving as a reminder that there is always hope, and help is never far away."

The completion of the park coincides with Operation Lifesaver (OL) Canada’s Rail Safety Week, which runs from September 23-29, 2024. This annual event raises critical awareness about rail safety and related issues, including mental health and wellness. OL Canada notes that 73 Canadians were killed or seriously injured in railway trespassing incidents last year alone, with many of those being intentional suicides or suicide attempts. OL Canada launched its Today is Better (operationlifesaver.ca) campaign to show how reaching out for help can make a huge difference for individuals, their loved ones, and entire communities.

There are currently 677 white hearts across Canada. Any money raised from the installations is invested into mental health programs, with a focus on Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.

If you’re in crisis, there is help.

If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 9-1-1.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline.

Government of New Brunswick: Addictions and Mental Health Provincial website with information on mental health and addictions supports and services

Addiction and Mental Health Helpline: Call Toll-Free: 1-866-355-5550. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.