Mental health matters, and it is my honour to recognize a member of our community in Durham region who is making an immeasurable difference in the lives and futures of young people across this country.

Mike Shoreman was living an active life as an athlete, coach and paddleboard instructor, with plans and a bright and unfolding future. He was struck suddenly in 2018, however, with a rare neurological condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which left him with permanent nerve damage on his right side. Struggling, and with the heavy prognosis of never being able to paddleboard again, he had to relearn the basics of walking and functioning. Imagine the news, the shock and the depth of emotional challenge that comes with a life change like that.

Mike’s mental health was dealt a very heavy blow, and yet, because of the support he had and the ultimate personal power that wasn’t ready to give up, Mike began his climb back onto his paddleboard and, slowly, his climb out of despair and into hope. He worked hard to get back on the paddleboard and regain his footing. He went from relearning to remarkable.

Mike undertook the challenge of paddling across all five Great Lakes, and with his remarkable, inspiring support team, they did it: Mike Shoreman became the first person with a disability to cross all five Great Lakes.

On World Mental Health Day at Ontario Shores, I joined Mike and community members for the screening of his feature-length film When Hope Breaks Through. Sharing the journey was about sharing the pain and the hope with youth who might also be struggling with mental health and also struggling to stay afloat.

Mike has been raising money and working tirelessly to bring awareness to the need for systems of support for youth mental health. Mike Shoreman is awesome, and I hope that everyone will watch and share When Hope Breaks Through. Thank you, Mike.