Forty or more people stood quietly in a half circle behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center early in the morning on Sept. 1, remembering their relative and friend, Russell Seeber.
A cross pounded into the ground at the bottom of a large tree marks the place where SeeberB次元官网网址檚 life ended tragically after a 48-hour standoff with RCMP. Friends have left offerings in SeeberB次元官网网址檚 memory.
B次元官网网址淗e was a lost soul,B次元官网网址� said a woman who welcomed him into her family when he was 21 years old. B次元官网网址淗e had a really rough life.B次元官网网址�
Those gathered in the early morning chose to remember the positives, sharing brief stories of how Seeber touched their lives. One talked about sharing many conversations with him while sitting on a makeshift bench formed by a fallen log, underneath the tree.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 holding onto the good memories we shared,B次元官网网址� another said. B次元官网网址淗e was a good person. He always stood up for me. He was a really good guy and itB次元官网网址檚 such a shame. He will be missed.B次元官网网址�
Some talked about SeeberB次元官网网址檚 struggles with addiction and his mental health, saying he did try and ask for help. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so hard to get into treatment.B次元官网网址�
Many of the people gathered were health care, mental health outreach or social workers and volunteers who had all known Seeber and tried to help himB次元官网网址攎any in his final days. A family member said he was glad to see so many people come out to show their support for Seeber and his family.
Later, Alice Sam of the Grassroots Homelessness Coalition Society talked about the difficulties of getting immediate help for people in crisis, beyond what first responders do. She said the Alberni Valley needs a 24-hour crisis response team that can advocate for people who need help right away.
Sam spends her time speaking with and advocating for people who live on the streets in Port Alberni, and with those who are deep in the throes of addiction. She said she has spoken with people who want help and have been told there is a two- to three-month wait.
She said itB次元官网网址檚 worse for Indigenous people who have become lost on the street. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so many things that should be in place for post-residential school, post-day school. ItB次元官网网址檚 frustrating.B次元官网网址�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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