Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Henry Ly for his leadership in the Father's Knowledge Circle, a weekly meeting run by the North Okanagan Friendship Center Society in Vernon, British Columbia. The circle creates a respectful, supportive space for fathers to come together and share knowledge and stories. Speaking at the knowledge circle took me back 20 years, to the day I suddenly found myself a single father with my three young kids, living in a motel room. Things worked out for me, but for far too many men the extra stress can be deadly.
Single fatherhood is a growing demographic in our society, and the challenges and lack of support can be overwhelming. Nearly a million Canadian men suffer from major depression annually, and 75% of all suicides in Canada are men. Volunteer support programs like this save lives. Thanks to leaders like Henry Ly and programs like Father's Knowledge Circle, dads have a place to turn and a community that says to them that they are not alone.