A new feature-length documentary film by Lindsay native Stephen Hosier that shines a spotlight on the inadequacies of Canada’s social safety net — including child welfare, youth homelessness, the opioid crisis, and mental health — is premiering in Toronto on World Mental Health Day (October 10).

Attila isn’t your traditional documentary. The film has an adjacent connection to more experimental cinema vérité projects that offer a casual onlooker’s perspective, but the narrative feels more tangential than those arthouse endeavours.

Toronto-based filmmaker Stephen and his best friend Richard Csanyi, the film’s co-subject, use the medium to investigate the death of Richard’s twin brother, 28-year-old Attila. Homeless and missing for weeks after being expelled from a long-term care residence as he grappled with addiction and schizophrenia, Attila was found dead on a rooftop in Hamilton, Ontario in May 2020.

The bond between Stephen, Richard, and Attila — who all grew up in Lindasy — reaches as far back as elementary school,

“Since I was a kid, I always knew I wanted to make films,” Stephen recalls. “I was often messing around with our family’s home movie camera. In high school, Richard, Attila, and I started making videos together. Some were for school projects, others were just for fun.”

“In fact, one video Richard and I made together was a homelessness and addiction awareness video for a grade 10 communications class. We watched it together recently. It felt surreal seeing it after all these years, considering Attila experienced those exact struggles later in his life.”

VIDEO: “Attila” teaser

It is that close relationship with Richard that allowed the filmmaker to explore both Attila’s life and the systemic failures that affected both Richard and Attila since their childhood.

“I believe it was our lifelong friendship and the fact that we had been making videos together throughout our youth that made Richard comfortable enough to open up to me about his and Attila’s more troubled past. I also believe that making this film allowed Richard (and me) an opportunity to channel our grief through a creative outlet.”

“I still have my guard up — it’s not easy disclosing secrets,” Richard admits when asked about initially revisiting the past for the sake of Hosier’s documentary. “Stephen has always been close to the top of that list of people I trust the most.”

“When Stephen first started filming, his idea was to pretend that the crew and himself were flies on the wall and to let emotions flow naturally,” Richard says. “There was no process for interpreting grief for an artistic purpose. I was generally sad and grieving throughout the filmmaking process, and dealing with a lot of questions that were left unanswered — questions that needed to be investigated.”

As Hosier’s taping continues, we see just that: the documentary is as much of an examination on Attila as it is a reflective and cathartic outlet for Richard. The audience witnesses Richard release layer after layer of his emotionally hardened shell, gradually becoming more vulnerable and comfortable speaking to the camera about Attila and the disturbing past they share as former children mistreated by the province’s foster system.

“It seems like every week for years, Attila and I would talk about the abuse to a therapist in town,” Richard remembers. “It was easy to talk about things because I knew whatever I shared would stay between Attila and I. It was confidential. It was something we kept between ourselves as well. There was no pressure and it was about open communication with no judgement.”

“With Stephen, it’s similar — just a friend showing support when it was needed,” Richard adds. “It’s always been important to me to have a strong network of people around me and to be supported by my peers.”

According to Stephen, there were challenges in trying to tell a personal story while also bringing attention to timely social issues like Ontario’s broken foster system or addressing mental health.

“There was definitely an element of intimidation with making this film considering Richard is such a close friend,” Stephen explains. “You have a responsibility as the filmmaker to collect all the material you need to and then distill it down into a feature-length duration — in our case approximately 80 minutes. In terms of tying it to contemporary issues, the film spotlights systemic failures which affected Richard and Attila since they were little boys, but also far too many other Canadians, so I believe it will resonate with a lot of people.”

For his part, Richard says Stephen’s film has allowed him to speak on behalf of both himself and his late brother.

“The subject of the film has always felt like it was Attila, even though he’s not around,” Richard notes. “I had to speak for the both of us. Stephen gave me a voice and a platform with hopes that one day there will be justice in (Attila’s) name and healing in my own life, and that similar tragedies could be prevented.”

“This has never been a documentary to me. It’s been a passion project. Having a filmmaker that I’ve known as a friend from elementary school, that would be willing to cross boundaries and ask uncomfortable questions, was not detrimental — it was necessary.”

“Some days were quite difficult, emotionally, considering Richard and Attila have been such close friends of mine since childhood,” Stephen says. “To hear some of the things that they went through in their first foster home, prior to their time in Lindsay, was very troubling and disturbing. At times, I was angry (and) other times, very sad for them.”

“However, throughout the filmmaking process, I always did my best to be a good and supportive friend to Richard, while also remaining the filmmaker with the responsibility of documenting Richard’s experience and his investigation into the life and death of his twin. It was very much a collaboration between Richard and I to make this film, and I consider him a filmmaker as well, not just a main character.”

While Attila occasionally feels like it’s juggling more than it can handle, this approach is probably the most accurate way to depict the introspective turmoil Richard has been bottling up. It also captures an unflinching and affective ripple effect, beginning with sorrowful reminiscing with family and concluding with an impromptu, accidental wake featuring Attila’s street pals enlightening Richard on the impact his brother had on them.

A brilliant sequence towards the end, with overlapping audio of Richard anticipating a reunion with a former acquaintance of Attila’s and the stranger trying to muster up the courage to speak with Richard, is a direct hit to the heart. Just like that confrontation, Attila will provoke unexpected emotion and much-needed discussions.

Attila premieres during Rendezvous With Madness, a Toronto-based multidisciplinary arts and mental health festival that takes place annually in October, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10th — the 75th anniversary of World Mental Health Day. The screening takes place at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor St. W., Toronto). Tickets are pay what you can, and are available online at workmanarts.com/rwm-events/attila/.

After the screening, a panel discussion moderated by filmmaker and film programmer Aisha Jamal will feature palliative care physician and health justice activist Dr. Naheed Dosani, Schizophrenia Society of Canada chief executive officer Chris Summerville (Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and community and crisis worker Diana Chan McNally, with other special guests to be announced.

Peterborough has just planted our first three Little Forests! As part of a GreenUP initiative, these densely planted ‘mini’ forests will grow into biodiverse pockets in our urban core.

If you are like me, then you will have a lot to learn about these trees and how they succeed.

I know they create oxygen, control erosion, provide shade, and purify water. I know they offer habitat, help with traffic calming, and lead to higher property values. I know that walking in a treed area can help boost mood and calm anxiety.

Beyond those facts, I find myself pondering, what actually will help trees take root and grow?

The answer may be right under our toes.

Did you know that there more microbes in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on this planet? When we spend so much time walking on pavement, it is hard to connect to the vast array of life that is taking place in the soil beneath us.

Let’s dig into the topic of soil and healthy soil communities.

For a tree, keeping the area around the trunk and under the branches of the tree undisturbed and free from other plant competitors will help it remain in good health. It will build a strong root network that does not have to compete with other plants.

We recommend using a mulch to protect the roots and create a moist environment for the tree to thrive in.

Microbial life is so important. Just as our gut flora microbiome plays an integral role in our body’s health, the microbiology of the soil around tree roots plays an essential role in the health of the tree.

Tree roots can do their job better when they are aided by mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial microbes. When these ingredients are present in the soil, they help break down organic matter, releasing essential nutrients that the tree can absorb.

Mycorrhizal fungi help trees in many ways. They help roots find water and nutrients in hard-to-access places. As they spread out, mycorrhizal fungi take up essential nutrients like phosphorus, copper, calcum, magnesium, zinc and iron — just like what we need!

Mycorrhizal fungi also protect the tree from harmful fungi, and can even act as underground ‘communication networks’ for trees — a discovery made by Dr. Suzanne Simard, a Canadian scientist at the University of British Columbia who is known for her research on the “wood wide web” or the underground network through which trees talk.

Through this network, trees share nutrients and warn each other about insect attacks, drought, or other dangers.

In exchange, the mycorrhizal absorbs some of the carbon-rich sugars made by the tree.

One way to build soil health is by gathering a sample of soil from a healthy forest environment and brewing a ‘tree tea’ with it.

This soil will be rich in beneficial microbes and mycorrhizal fungi. Bundle the soil up in a piece of material, place it in a bucket of rain water, and let that ‘tree tea’ soak like your morning cup. Sprinkle some compost or molasses to feed the microbes, then water the earth you want to enrich.

Fall is a great time to plant trees. At this time of year, trees have stopped producing leaves and fruit and are putting their energy back into their roots. It is a great time to think about how we care for our trees, by starting with the soil.

The Little Forests planted in Peterborough this fall will need to have their soil networks kick-started with care. To do this, GreenUP will enhance the fungal networks by inoculating them with our own ‘tree tea’.

GreenUP is extending an invitation to community members on Wednesday (October 11) to join Junaid Khan from Trecology for an urban forest hike to make tree tea. We will visit stands that include trees such as maple, birch, cedar, basswood, and black cherry to collect healthy microbes. To find out more information, email laura.keresztesi@greenup.on.ca or follow @ptbogreenup on social media.

The Little Forest project was made possible by generous community and volunteer support.

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 79-year-old woman in Fenelon Falls.

On Monday (October 2) at 7:32 p.m., officers with the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called after the woman was found dead in a residence on Kanata Trail near Cameron Lake just north of Fenelon Falls.

The Kawartha Lakes OPP Crime Unit has begun an investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from members of the OPP Central Region Crime Unit, Kawartha Lakes OPP Community Street Crime Unit, OPP Forensic Identification Services, and OPP Regional Support Team,, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

A post-mortem has been scheduled to determine the woman’s cause of death.

Investigators say they believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no concern for public safety. The investigation is in its early stages and police are not releasing any further details at this time. Area residents can expect to see a large police presence over the next few days.

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation is asked to call Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.khcrimestoppers.com. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.

It was 5:30 in the afternoon by the time Jennie Ireland received the diagnosis she’d been dreading.

She’d spent the day trying to keep busy, but the moment of truth had arrived. She held her breath as her doctor sat down across from her. When she heard the words, “It’s not good news,” life as she knew it came to a screeching halt.

As a 42-year-old single mom with a seven-year-old son and aging parents, the breast cancer diagnosis put her in a state of panic.

“I was completely terrified and desperately worried about the future,” she says. “Getting sick put everything I loved at risk. It could have devastated my life in more ways than one.”

Jennie remembers that time around her diagnosis as a difficult one, when she had to make tough decisions. On sleepless nights, she worried what her illness would mean for her son, Liam. “Would I be able to take him to his hockey practices and help him with his schoolwork? Would I watch him grow up? And my parents — would I be there to help them as they got older?”

Jennie explains what she was most concerned about. “The thought of leaving them all behind was unbearable.”

Jennie refused to give up hope, though. For the many people in our region who have experienced or supported a loved one through a medical crisis — whether it was cancer or one of the hundreds of other reasons anyone could find themselves needing the hospital — they too know how hard it can be. Not only coping with an illness itself, but the impact on all the areas of life.

“That’s why receiving care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre was my lifeline,” says Jennie. “Being able to get care in my community meant less worry and, I believe, had a positive impact on my recovery. Without it, I would’ve had to travel to Toronto, Oshawa or even Kingston, for months on end. But since I was able to get care close to home, I could focus on what mattered most — getting better and keeping life as normal as possible for my son.”

Jennie later discovered that it was because of the generosity of donors that she didn’t have to travel for treatment.

“Because the government doesn’t fund equipment, it’s donors who fund the technology that PRHC’s expert, compassionate healthcare teams use to provide lifesaving care to patients like me,” she says. “Donations really do make a difference. I know I didn’t realize the full extent, though, until I experienced it firsthand.”

Jennie says that once she had a diagnosis, it felt like everything started to happen at once.

“My days were filled with scans, surgeries, and rounds of chemo and radiation,” she says.

That led to her becoming familiar with every corner of the hospital, from the CT and MRI suites in Diagnostic Imaging, to the operating rooms, cancer care unit, radiation suite, and even, on occasion, the Emergency Department.

It’s all this behind-the-scenes, donor-funded care that makes it possible for PRHC to provide lifesaving care — right here in Peterborough — under one roof. This allows patients like Jennie to focus solely on their health without the added stress of arranging travel, meals, and lodging.

“My dad drove me to my appointments,” says Jennie. “My mom cooked dinner on infusion days when I was at my weakest and dealing with chemo side effects. Most importantly, I didn’t have to disrupt my son’s daily routine.”

Now, as she celebrates her sixth year as a survivor, Jennie is embracing every moment with her family with an even deeper appreciation. Every warm hug. Every infectious laugh. Every precious memory.

“Everything,” she stresses. “Because I’m aware of how easily it could all be taken away. So, I’m so thankful for all the ways donors have supported world-class care of all kinds at our hospital.”

Jennie says she was amazed to find out that more than 600,000 people in the region rely on PRHC for patient care. Patients come from the city and county of Peterborough and as far as the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, east Durham, and the Haliburton Highlands.

They come to PRHC for lifesaving treatment for cancer, heart attacks and strokes. For surgery so they can feel good again, and for mental health treatment so they can have hope. They come in emergencies, and when they’re living with chronic conditions. They come to have babies, and sometimes, they come to say goodbye.

This past June, PRHC turned 15 years old, meaning much of the hospital’s equipment is no longer new. Jennie says she became a PRHC Foundation supporter to help the health centre upgrade its technology so that more patients can get the care they need when they need it most, right here. Her support is also a testament to her gratitude for her own care experience.

This past winter, she shared her patient story as a Hockey Mom Ambassador for the Peterborough Petes Pink in the Rink fundraising initiative for PRHC, and she regularly participates in events like the annual Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival that benefit the hospital.

Though fall is officially upon us, it can be hard to fully let go summer — just ask the committee behind the variety show fundraiser coming to Peterborough’s Market Hall Performing Arts Centre this fall.

A group of local and visiting performers are keeping the summer vibes in full swing as they take to the stage for a night of camp-themed live music, entertainment, and laugh-out-loud hilarity at the Keep’n It Campy variety show fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 11th. Funds raised go towards supporting the Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society’s Camp Kerry Ontario.

Although tickets for the in-person performance sold out within three days, tickets for a live stream of the production are still available.

“People can have their own trailer park parties,” says comedian and Keep’n It Campy host Andrew Finlan. “We’re basically extending trailer season into November and we’re hoping that’s a way to further support Camp Kerry and Lumara Society.”

Alongside Finlan, Keep’n It Campy includes special guests Kate Brioux, Linda Kash, Danny Bronson, Stephen Cullen, Paul Crough, Lisa Devan, Bridget Foley, dancers of the Next Generation Dance Company, and more.

While the show is all fun and games, it began with a goal of raising funds for the work done at Camp Kerry. Established in 2007 in British Columbia, Camp Kerry is a four-day family bereavement retreat program, wherein qualified counsellors and trained volunteers support families through music and art therapy, activities, nature, sharing circles, games, memory services, and more.

“Camp Kerry Ontario and Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care are truly one-of-a-kind in terms of where whole families can attend,” explains Angela Gaskell, who joins Finlan on the variety show’s committee. “It’s such a huge impact. You see families there that you just know probably haven’t laughed or done something fun together since the loss of the person they’re grieving.”

Gaskell and her family first attended the retreat in 2014 following the passing of her husband. At the time, Camp Kerry was new to Ontario, introduced with the help of Shelley Hermer, a Peterborough social worker who had previously volunteered at the British Columbia program.

“I was so struck by the healing that I witnessed when I was in B.C. and I knew that we didn’t have anything like that in Ontario,” Hermer explains. “I’ve worked in children’s mental health, so I’ve seen the need for family-based treatment right here as well.”

Now Hermer is Camp Kerry’s regional program manager for Ontario and Atlantic Canada and is preparing for the next retreat, which launches on Thursday, October 12th. After a few years attending the retreat, Gaskell and her family have continued to join the program in volunteer and “mentor family” capacity.

“It made a huge difference for us and so I just want it to continue, and I want people to know what it’s about,” Gaskell says. “[Grief] is a part of life and you’re always going to know somebody that can benefit from such an amazing organization, with tons of things even beyond Camp Kerry Ontario.”

To keep Camp Kerry as accessible as possible, the Lumara Society heavily relies on fundraisers and donations. Currently priced at $750 per family, the cost represents only one-third of the actual amount the organization must spend to send a family to camp. Still, the Lumara Society does not want cost to be a barrier for those looking for support.

“Any fundraising we do is really important, or it would otherwise limit the number of families that we could take and the kind of supports that we can use for them and have throughout the year,” explains Hermer, who adds that all of the proceeds raised at the variety show fundraiser will be used towards Camp Kerry families in Ontario.

As for Gaskell, she is very familiar with the importance of fundraisers. The popular Gaskell Cup hockey tournament began in 2012 as a simple fundraiser for her family when her 33-year-old husband Kirk was diagnosed with leukemia. After Kirk passed away that same year, the non-profit organization HOPE (Helping Others Participate Equally) organized and ran the annual event, which raised $75,000 between 2013 and 2015 to sponsor a room in Kirk’s name at Hospice Peterborough’s then-new residential hospice, and subsequently raised funds for the GPHSF Your Family Health Team Foundation and Camp Kerry. After the pandemic put a halt to the event, Gaskell wanted to come up with an all-new fundraiser.

Enter Andrew Finlan, a retired high school principal and old friend and colleague of Gaskell’s who has always harboured the dream of being a stand-up comedian.

After years spent finessing his skill at Toronto’s Second City after retirement, Finlan has done upwards of a hundred shows and been well involved in Peterborough’s theatre scene. He had also been a camp director for Market Hall’s children’s theatre program for 12 years.

Having not performed since 2019, Finlan was eager to get back onstage when Gaskell asked if he would help her arrange a fundraiser for Camp Kerry Ontario.

“I thought, if I’m going to get back on stage knocking on 60 years old, I want there to be a bigger purpose,” he recalls.

As for the show’s theme, that was all inspired by a purchase Finlan made during the pandemic. Calling himself Bubbles from the Canadian mockumentary sitcom Trailer Park Boys, Finlan became the “proud owner” of a trailer at Spring Rock Camp in Young’s Point.

As for Keep’n It Campy, while all the performers will have free range with their skits and performances, including some audience participation, each performer will include camping stories and experiences.

Finlan himself will kick off the show with a stand-up performance, before later returning to the stage for a sketch parodying his experience at his trailer park. His character Earl, along and his wife Madge (played by Kate Brioux), inherit a trailer park called Sandy Shores they then try to pitch to buyers — which proves not to be easy as Earl is a “hypoglycemic mess with asthma and panic attacks,” and Madge is concerned about their diabetic cat.

Finlan assures his many neighbours at Spring Rock Camp who have already purchased their tickets that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

With in-person tickets for the Market Hall show completely sold out, Finlan encourages people to purchase streaming tickets and embrace the trailer park lifestyle right from their own living rooms.

“Get your pyjamas, a six-pack of whatever you like, Miss Vickie’s chips, and get into trailer park mode,” he says.

Gaskell adds she’s grateful the additional streaming option will allow people from across the country to learn about and support Camp Kerry, especially the many supporters in B.C. where the camp first began.

The Keep’n It Campy organizers are still accepting donations for the gift baskets that will be given away as part of the show. Individuals and businesses can donate entire themed baskets from baking and movie nights to self-care, car detailing, or any other creative ideas they may have. Individual item donations will also be accepted, which the committee will then use to make a basket.

“People come up with all kinds of stuff,” explains Gaskell. “There’s really something for everybody.”

On show night, a $20 ticket will give audience members 25 ballots which they can put into any (or all) baskets of their choice, and winners will be drawn throughout the evening. Proceeds from the baskets will help send even more families to Camp Kerry.

“I love promoting good people and Camp Kerry is good people,” says Finlan. “(We’re bringing) some light energy to the topic of grief so I can model what Camp Kerry and the Lumara Society is already doing.”

Keep’n It Campy takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 11th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Streaming access to the show is available for $35 at tickets.markethall.org.

For more information about making a donation for the show’s gift baskets, call Angela Gaskell at 705-768-8252.

This story has been updated with a correction and additional information about the Gaskell Cup.