Thank you for this interesting and disturbing story. I am a member of "The F.O.R.C.E." (www.bckidsmentalhealth.com), and am wondering if we might have contact info for Diane Levesque in order to assist her with her advocacy, and to connect with other parent groups across the country who might be similarly willing to assist. If it is not possible to pass along Ms. Levesque's email address or other contact info, could my email please be forwarded to her?
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I would like to share my own experience about this case and the conditions of Sacha, and how they compare to myself. I am a recovered alcoholic who has not had any drugs or alcohol now for over 22 years. However, unbeknownst to me, from my family ancestry, I have suffered from bipolar disorder and obviously had many emotional and mental problems even after sobriety. I was gratefully diagnosed by a brilliant psychiatrist. He said, at that time, that with 8 suicides in my father's side, that no one should be treated for my illness more than myself. I have never physically hurt anyone, however I have had trouble with over active rage for a few moments, 3 times in the past 10 years. Otherwise, with no alcohol and proper medication, which I follow absolutely religiously, I have had a productive and mostly happy life since. I have a great relationship with my wife, we own a beautiful home, have 2 cars.
To share some of my time during drinking and bipolar, I had many blackouts (as that doctor observed about Sacha). Some were serious. During one I blacked out and put my friends car deep into a bush in London, Ont. I was lucky to survive. Thus my life really has been no difference from Sacha's. I understand.
It is blatantly obvious to me that Stockwell Day doesn't have much of any idea what he is talking about. Let me tell you all that I have accomplished since treatment and sobriety. I have finished a degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo, and am qualified as a therapist and life coach, (I missed the dean's list by 1.7%), subsequently traveling throughout the USA, I acquired another degree, (ICADC), and am qualified to work as a drug and alcohol counselor in 50+ countries, thirdly I have a degree in SIPAR, Studies in Personality and Religion. So tell me that Sacha is dangerous to the "safety and security" of Canada....that's absolute BS. Granted, Sacha needs some help, needs to dedicate himself to recovery. It's not easy. But it can be done, else the ultimate result is death or permanent incarceration. Sacha has to know that. My thoughts on what he did..... well, certainly they were leaning towards criminal, however we cannot judge him on what "might have" happened (shot someone), but only what "did" happen. We can only judge reality. Thank God for what did happen.
So these are my experiences. Lives can turn around. My new voyage did not start until I was 36 years. He is so so, so much younger, that he truly has a great chance to build a happy and productive life. I truly believe that. Good luck to you three. He needs another chance. He needs help and treatment
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I just have a comment on the article pertaining to the man in a Florida Jail. I am totally behind this young man's Mother. Obviously, this man needs help and from Florida's Correctional Systems reputation, I do not believe this man will obtain the assistance he requires. It sickens me that this young man is labeled a threat to Canada and is not allowed to serve out his time in his country of origin, where he can receive the help he requires. Meanwhile we have career criminals who get away with serving little or no time at all and our in and out of our justice system their entire life. Who is the threat to society ? This young man has realized he has done something wrong and is not trying to run from punishment. It also sounds like he really wants to make an effort to turn his life around. You can forward this message to Stockwell Day if you wish. Let this man come home! Is there any way we can start a petition to bring this man home to the Canadian correctional system?
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Last night I saw this really sad report about this young man's ordeal.
Still my eyes are full of tears for the injustice being done, creating a sad future for Sacha.
As soon as I saw his face and his expression, I saw his innocence. As Dr. Merry Haber said this was a "moment" of foolishness considering Sacha's health. He is not a CRIMINAL nor a danger to society, no way.
This is a young man that needs the country's attention and help to bring him to Canada. I am so sad that Mr. Stockwell Day cannot see this. Does he have children?
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As a Canadian Citizen, I am stunned by the treatment of this young man who obviously needs medication for a physical condition in his brain chemistry that affects his behaviour and decisions. This is cruel and unusual punishment. Are we in North America??? Is a diabetic denied insulin when he/she is imprisoned? Is someone who develops cancer or already has cancer denied treatment and left to rot in prison? Is a pregnant woman ignored and left to give birth in her cell with no assistance? It's frightening to me that a representative of the Canadian Government, Stockwell Day, is so grossly ignorant to this Mental Health issue that affects so many of us through friends, family and co-workers. Every single one of us is connected to someone who suffers from Mental Illness, it's part of being human. Most of North America is on some sort of pill or other for depression, anxiety etc. or smokes pot, or drinks alcohol...yet we still can't face the fact that we ALL suffer from some sort of imbalance. All OF US!!! Stories like these ones are WAKE UP CALLS!!! WAKE UP EVERYONE!!! It's horrifying to imagine the repercussions Stockwell Day's decision will have on this young man's and potentially many others' existences. He needs MEDICAL HELP. This is unethical, immoral and criminal. This doesn't reflect well at all on Canada and its understanding of Mental Illness or of common decency and compassion for fellow human beings and life in general. Stockwell Day is torturing this young man by not allowing him to get treatment or to receive the medication he needs and by not allowing him to at least be closer to home in Quebec. This is NOT right. How will Stockwell Day be held accountable? I am disgusted by him. He should resign and get an education. He should not be allowed the authority to make these decisions -- he doesn't have the compassion or the wisdom. I'm ashamed of him as a representative of Canada.
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I was appalled at the story concerning Mr. Bond. I would certainly be willing to sign a petition to Stockwell Day and the rest of the government to immediately consider his transfer back to Canada. I am sure thousands of others would sign too.....Why don't we put on some pressure???
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We think he should be brought home to his own Country. That way he can be close to his family. I know, I'm an ex con.
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I was recently diagnosed with dysthymic disorder. It's a mood disorder, also considered to be a mental illness just like bipolar disorder. Although what I have isn't as severe as bipolar disorder, I can understand what this young man is going through when it comes to having a mood disorder. I think he shouldn't be shunned away in a Florida prison, he should be home, in Quebec in an institution, getting proper treatment to help with his disorder. I think him being in a prison in Florida will make his disorder worse, which in the future, if he has one, and without the proper treatment, it could be a danger not only to himself but to others. I think once he receives the proper treatment that is necessary for his disease, he'll be able to accept full responsibility for his actions and serve another sentence, one that is less dangerous to him physically and mentally. In this day and age, people have a tendency to judge others who are mentally ill as being dangerous and they don't really understand the turmoil that the sufferer is actually going through.
Mental illness is not to be taken lightly and I think this boy really needs the proper treatment in a proper facility in order to really help him. Don't just give up on people and toss them aside like trash, even if they are mentally ill. I'm sure this boy couldn't control his actions, and with the right care eventually he'll be able to. Please give him a chance, don't give up on this human being like so many others have given up on the mentally ill. Give him the care he needs, and allow him to have the future that he deserves just like anyone else.
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I just watched Kathy Tomlinson tell the story about the young man who is being held in a prison in Florida. The entire story made me want to cry but then when you quoted Stockwell Day I felt more like screaming!
It is this kind of thing that will prevent me from ever voting for a Conservative Government, EVER, ever again. I rue the day I decided to give them a chance in the last election.
Please, please keep this story in the lime light. I guess the only thing a person like me can do is pray. I will do that.
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I could not believe that news story about the young bi-polar man in the Florida prison. Please help this family and get that young man back to Canada where he can be helped with medication. Furthermore, he probably shouldn't even be in prison due to the fact that he was mentally ill at the time of his alleged offense. This is a disgusting way to treat a mentally ill person - by not treating his condition.
What is the matter with Stockwell Day? I cannot believe what he has done to this family by putting closure on this tragic issue.
I hope you can forward this e-mail to him. He should be ashamed of himself.
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I am just sickened with the thought that Stockwell Day would respond with such a cold, cold heart to the request of Sacha Bond wanting to come back and serve his prison time in Canada for his wrongdoing!
For the love of "humanity", how could Stockwell Day deny Sacha this request knowing that he is bi-polar? How can he not have the heart to at least try to help this person......Sacha needs help desperately. Just because he gave up taking his medication for his sickness does not mean you give up on a person. He needs help desperately.
You do not give up trying to help a person especially when help is so very needed. Stockwell Day is turning his back on a Canadian who is in a desperate situation. I pray God will give Sacha the Love and Faith he needs to keep him strong, and someday soon he will be back in Canada serving his time in a Canadian prison where he will get all the help he needs to live a "normal" life.
I hope CTV will do all they can possibly do to help Sacha return to Canada. My prayers are with Sacha, his mother and brother.
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I was saddened to hear of Sacha Bond's incarceration in a US prison. I understand what his family is going through because my 25 year old son
is serving a 9-year sentence in Colorado and I also have a sibling with bi-polar disorder. We have applied for Jeremy to return to Canada to serve his sentence. While he has plead guilty for his crime and understands that he must deal with the consequences of his actions, I, like Sacha Bond's family think he should be able to serve it in his own country. To our knowledge the US has approved his return but the paperwork for Canada apparently didn't get to its destination. We are unsure whether it was a problem in Canada or the US. The documents have been resubmitted and we hope to hear something soon.
What about the Canadian's serving prison sentences in the US.
My son had no previous criminal record (YO or otherwise), not even a traffic violation to my knowledge. He graduated high school, attended university for 2 years before he made some very bad choices that led him to where he is now.
These young men have no hope of rehabilitation in US prisons.
Stockwell Day.......are you listening? Sacha Bond and my son will eventually return to Canada (whether you approve or not for THEY ARE
CANADIAN CITIZENS) and if they serve their full prison sentences in US prisons they may very well be a threat to national security when they return. They are incarcerated with hardened lifetime criminals and it is survival of the fittest. The only way to survive in such an environment is to become meaner, harder and tougher than the rest.
My thoughts and prayers are with Sacha and his family.
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I can see a U.S. court convicting this man. They don't know better. It's pathetic that Canada's Conservative Government will not stand up for a Canadian citizen under these circumstances. Shame on Stockwell Day and Steven Harper, who claim to be church going people. Have they not heard that the whole concept of Christianity is based on understanding and forgiveness? I can see hardened criminals spending 20 years in jail, but this man had no record and was not in his right mind at the time due to a medical condition. He obviously deserves leniency. Too keep him in prison and deny him medication for his condition, is nothing short of barbaric. It's a form of torture and is simply not acceptable. Based on this type of attitude, we may as well jail all mentally ill people. This smells of the dark ages. Wise up Mr. Day!!!
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Stockwell Day must arrange for the young man to receive proper medical treatment IN CANADA !!!!
Stockwell Day must pay attention to Canadians abroad!
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I think there will be many Canadians who agree that he should serve his time in his own Country, closer to his family and where he can be properly medicated and maybe even have a chance of a decent life when he is eventually released. He deserves a second chance. He didn't actually kill anyone. He made a mistake that has really only harmed himself. I feel very sorry that our government has chosen to waste his life in the US prison system.
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I feel for the young man being held in Florida and his mother. My son struggled for 19 years with mental illness, was hospitalized several times, and only got the help he needed after I was diagnosed with cancer. I hope that the government does the right thing -- brings this young man home and gets him the treatment he needs.
