The Existence Project

When Stacey was six years old, he experienced a deep sadness for the first time. As he navigated the world, depression punctuated his story, woven into chapters about bullying, sexual assault and feelings of isolation that didn't match the veneer of normal that defined his life to others. As he grew up, he started looking to fight for anything but himself. It wasn't until he met healthy mentors that he realized what he really wanted was to fight to help others. Before he could do that though, there was an important lesson to learn.

Find out what happened when he realized he had to fight for himself first.

It would have made a great sitcom plot. But for Dar, it was her real life and it required a sense of humour and resiliency. Gunfire in the courtyard, friends pulling punches and characters straight out of crime novels set the stage for an adrenaline-fuelled story that culminated, in some ways, with the tragic end of the life of the man she loved. That's not the whole story though.

Find out why Dar believes you can always change the plot by creating a future that pulls your forward.

New versions of old habits took a toll on Michelle. As her world fell away, nothing truly changed until her perspective on who she was and the help she needed changed too. Six years sober, she describes herself as a grateful alcoholic with deeper self awareness. Find out why she says that when recovery feels like two steps forward and one step back, the best thing you can do is keep stepping into a new version of your reality.

The narrative we're taught is not the whole story. As Matty went deeper into his education – lived and learned – he discovered within himself deeply rooted ideas about trust, masculinity and intimacy that didn't align with the community he sought or the man he wanted to be. Find out why he devotes his time to helping himself and others understand that asking and looking for help, as much as giving it, builds community and connection..

Bankruptcy, health scares and the end of a marriage punctuated "12 months of hell." That wasn't the end of Judith's story though, as life threw more challenges in her path before she found herself exactly where she was meant to be. Ever wonder how "bad things that happen to you can sometimes be the best things that happen to you?".

In 2003, Ken was working as an apprentice ski guide when the group he was leading with his mentor was caught in an avalanche. Of the thirteen people buried in the snow, only six survived. After years of struggling to come to terms with this tragedy, Ken sat down and started to write about it.

Terry thought he grew up in a stable home, and labeled unsettling behaviour as 'normal' to avoid conflict. This automatic response quickly spiraled his entire life into complete emptiness. When he was there, someone reached out a hand to help that saved his life.

Ali Kahn tells the story of his decades-long struggle to open up a dialogue both with others and within himself about unacknowledged – and intergenerational – mental health issues. Growing up with limited access to social services and a mistrust of the system, Ali slipped through the cracks.

Leonard James' story is a first person account of the 'ripple effect' of the residential school system. His narrative explores the residual effects of addiction, depression, guilt, poverty and homelessness that stem from a trauma ridden past.