By Sydney Alexandra, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On Monday, September 29, Burlington unveiled its newest addition to Spencer Smith Park Pier — a bright yellow bench designed to spark conversation and raise awareness around suicide prevention.
The initiative was led by Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns and consultant Charmain Tulloch, formerly a senior communications advisor with the House of Commons of Canada. The bench itself was created by Peggy Lee, a landscape architect for the City of Burlington.
The yellow bench may appear simple, but for Kearns, it represents much more than a place to sit.
“On the outside, it may look simple, steel and paint, a place to rest — but this bright yellow bench will be a beacon of hope, a symbol of our shared commitment to mental health, and a place that invites connection and conversation,” she said. “We all have stories, and each one of us faces challenges, uncertainty, and moments of feeling overwhelmed or alone.”
The project was inspired in part by the Friendship Bench campaign, launched in 2017 after lives were touched by suicide at a North Vancouver high school. Since then, similar benches have appeared across Canada as reminders of the importance of open conversations around mental health.
Along with the bench, a plaque has been installed that lists support resources and helpline numbers for anyone in need. Kearns hopes it will serve not only as a memorial for those who have lost their lives to suicide, but also as a way to connect people who might otherwise struggle in silence.
“Sometimes the silence that comes with those struggles can feel heavier than the challenges themselves,” Kearns said. “That’s why we’re here today, not simply to break the silence, but to lift each other up, to remind our community that support is real and that no one needs to carry their burdens alone.”
She added: “Imagine someone sitting right here, joined by someone else asking, ‘How are you? Really?’ Imagine a passing stranger offering a kind word or an understanding smile. This is what connection looks like, and this bench is here to start those conversations.”
Kearns also spoke about her own experience of losing her mother, acknowledging how personal this initiative is for her.
“Let’s build a space where seeking help is met with understanding and support, and where the smallest gesture, like sitting together on a bench, can mean the world,” she said.
The yellow bench now sits at the edge of Spencer Smith Park Pier as a bright reminder that mental health matters and that conversations, no matter how small, can make a difference. As Kearns put it, the bench is not just a place to rest: it is an open invitation to care for one another, to ask questions that matter, and to listen without judgment.
