'It just really hit home for me': Saskatoon student sends cards to Fond-du-Lac following plane crash, suicides

With a simple card and a message of hope, a University of Saskatchewan student is hoping to let the youth of Fond-du-Lac know they are not alone.

Aimen Aziz, 20, was in Fond-du-Lac last year as part of a Science Ambassadors program, teaching students at the local school.

She was touched seeing the closeness and the bonds between people, which struck her when she heard about a Dec.13 plane crash that claimed the life of a teenagerand two youth suicides that followed on the heels of the crash.

"Because I know just how strong that community is, and to know that they're going through so much pain at this moment, it just really hit home for me," she said.

'Positive thing out of such a negative situation'

Aziz decided to try and collect some cards to send to Fond-du-Lac as messages of sympathy and hope. Her professors also agreed to spread the word and friends and others began to reach out, saying they too would participate in sending messages.

The response came as a welcome surprise.

"It warms my heart and it's a positive thing out of such a negative situation to be able to see the love and support that's coming out of the community here," she said.

Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon agreed to be a drop-off location for the cards, with Aziz saying she plansto send whatever cards canbe collected in the next week to Fond-du-Lac.

Alex Mercredi, principal at Father Gamache Memorial School in Fond-du-Lac,says it's a good way to let the youth know they have not been forgotten.

'Thinking of us in our darkest hours'

"I think it's really a good gesture and that's certainly a bridge of the gap of understanding, respect, empathy, sympathy and caring notion of Canadian people."

He noted there are mental health professionals working in the community, as well as suicide prevention workshops taking place, but there is a long road to go. The cards will be a "beacon" to all the youthsimpacted by the events of the last couple of months, he said.

"I'm glad people are still thinking of us in our darkest hours."