Thirteen years after his death, Cliff KilduffB次元官网网址檚 legacy continues.

A teacher at Happy Valley elementary for 33 years who suffered from depression and took his own life in 2003, he continues to make a difference through the work of the family he left behind.

B次元官网网址淭his is a time right now in our culture when the communication and the conversation around suicide and the conversation around mental health has started B次元官网网址� and needs to keep going,B次元官网网址� said CliffB次元官网网址檚 niece, Carlie Kilduff, a Langford-based teacher, author and spoken word artist.

B次元官网网址淪ome people (he knew) didn't know he died of suicide, so we still have this stigma around where these messages are shuffled away quickly.B次元官网网址�

To keep those messages in the light and help reduce the stigma and shame around mental illness in the community, Carlie has organized Remembering Cliff Kilduff. It's an afternoon of spoken word poetry and storytelling, with music by Terry Brennan, Daniel Oliver Francis and Rude Beauty. It's also a fundraiser, with all proceeds to be split between the Sooke School District and NEED2: Suicide education, prevention and support.

B次元官网网址淵ou don't have to have known Cliff to come. This is a conversation for anybody who has had depression or lived with it, or knows someone who was touched by suicide,B次元官网网址� KiIduff said.

She followed in the footsteps of her uncle and went into teaching in the fall of 2003. In December of that same year he was gone. Carlie went on to teach 10 years, at Edward Milne secondary in Sooke and John Stubbs elementary.

The event happens at the Isabelle Reader Theatre on May 7 B次元官网网址� two days after CliffB次元官网网址檚 birthday B次元官网网址� and remembers the man whose name adorns the gym at Happy Valley elementary.

B次元官网网址淢y greater mission is to continue this discussion, but to (also) really promote that people understand how valuable they are,B次元官网网址滽ilduff said.

Tickets are available at the door at the Isabelle Reader Theatre at Spencer Middle School for $10 per person, on May 7 from 3 to 5 p.m.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com