A Lantzville man who lived with schizophrenia is being remembered as the inspiration behind a re-branded stretch of trail promoting mental wellness.
The Rotary Club of Lantzville's mental fitness trail project added 10 markers along two kilometres of the E&N Trail between Clark Drive and Ware Road, offering users a place to exercise both mind and body. The trail was officially unveiled on Friday, July 12.
Rotarian Mark Taylor said the project was influenced by Adam Ojala, a Lantzville man who was unhoused and who befriended residents who cleaned up forested areas.
Mark Swain, Lantzville mayor, said Ojala was known for not only keeping his campsite clean, but also picking up garbage and drug paraphernalia around town. Lee Forsyth remembered coming across Ojala while cleaning up backwoods areas.
"We started telling him what we're all about and he was deadly against drug use … it really upset him," said Forsyth. "He would clean up any discarded needles or used pipes or new pipes. He was always afraid that children were going to find this stuff and get hurt."
A memorial bench was set up at the halfway mark and the trail's history is told, along with Ojala's story and the line "Stay. Tomorrow needs you."
Michelle McLennan, Ojala's sister, said he faced many struggles.
"He suffered with schizophrenia, and with COVID it was really hard with no services and no places for anybody to go," McLennan said to the News Bulletin. "When he came out to the bush, I know it was the first time probably in his life, he found peace. Then he lived out here for years, and nobody knew. He cared for the grounds. His tent was a home."
The project was done in collaboration with District of Lantzville, Vancouver Island Crisis Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Signs also feature QR codes directing people to mental health supports.
Lyndsay Wells, Vancouver Island Crisis Society education community education program coordinator, said there are 24-hour Island-wide crisis lines, crisis services and the national 24-hour distress line, accessed by dialing 988.
"Anyone in Canada can call that line or text … the whole idea being that in Canada, no calls go unanswered. There's always somebody there to support," said Wells.
Taylor believes the mental fitness trail is the first of its kind in North America and hopes others are established. A club focus over the past year has been raising awareness of mental health issues and Rotary hopes the trail assists with that.
"Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days and different people experience that differently ... But just like our bodies, we can exercise our brains in different ways," said Taylor. "When we do that, we can help build up some resistance to be able to cope with some of those stresses and strains. So the signs along the trail here are intended to give you the chance to try some exercises that will maybe help build that resilience."
McLennan said she pleased with how everything turned out.
"I like the QR codes because we do live in a digital world these days and a lot of people … don't ask for help. So to be able to walk and flip that QR code as you're walking, maybe it'll encourage more people to ask for help."
