While honouring and celebrating the life of Jamie Turner through music, the Jammin’ For Jamie (J4J) event has been organized for the purpose of increasing awareness, improving perspectives and getting people to talk about mental illnesses in our local community.
Jamie Turner and his brother-in-law Tim Tokarz had known each other since they were children.
Ever since the day in 2012 that Turner passed away from mental health-related issues, Tokarz has missed him.
To this day, Tokarz wishes he didn’t have to put on an event like J4J and could just have his friend back.
“I’d give anything to have him back, but he had a really rough go near the end,” said Tokarz. “Jamie was a registered nurse and saw a lot of things that most people don’t. When you already have mental health issues, then add in the post-traumatic stress that Jamie suffered from the job he did, it’s a really bad mix.”
It was at Jamie’s funeral that a family friend suggested to Tokarz that the community should pull together and do something in remembrance of Jamie.
That set the wheels in motion to create a concert event that would not only honour their lost friend, but hopefully help raise money and awareness for those suffering in silence.
The first J4J show in 2013 was a great success – both in terms of fundraising and healing.
The event featured only local bands.
“We had 400 to 500 people out to the first show and raised over $20,000,” said Tokarz. “It was really good for everyone, but especially our family and friends who needed to feel like they were doing something for Jamie. The second year we raised about the same and helped fund a program at Georgian College called Skills For Safer Living, a course that teaches people how to deal with mental health issues and how to stay on this side of the grass, as we say.”
Liz Grummett, Manager of Resource Development for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Simcoe County, is helping connect the event to the Start Talking Campaign.
The campaign assists in getting the word out for fundraising efforts like J4J to help make them a success and to help reduce or end the silent stigma related to issues of suicide and mental health.
“When you speak with Tim Tokarz, you get a sense of how much the family wants to let Jamie’s legacy live on,” said Grummett. “You also see that they are very interested in continuing not just a legacy, but also making sure no other families go through this kind of loss.”
While Start Talking has awareness-raising events, fundraising for community assistance is also a goal of the CMHA organization.
Funds raised at the J4J show will not only help support the CMHA and the Suicide Awareness Council, but also the Team Conter Foundation in support of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
“Lots of people suffer a great loss due to the consequences of mental health issues and doing something about it helps with the healing,” said Grummett. “Our aim is to direct funds to areas of the community that need them, as well as to help with a wider range of promotion. Suicide awareness is finally starting to be discussed and not just swept under the rug.”
The Jammin’ for Jamie show this Thursday night at the Roxy Theatre, features internationally acclaimed band Honeymoon Suite, as well as two local bands.
One of the local bands, One Knight’s Stand, features Tokarz who will perform a song he wrote after Jamie’s death called, “It’s Gonna Take Me Awhile.”
Tickets are available at Tropical North in Downtown Barrie and online at www.admirallive.ca. Doors open at 7 PM.
