$5-million donation bolsters mental health support for students at U of C

In the aftermath of the Brentwood killings, the University of Calgary has received a $5-million donation to bolster mental health support to students.

The anonymous donation will fund UCalgaryStrong, a program intended to help students transition to post-secondary education. Students will have access to an online assessment tool called StrengthsQuest, leadership advising and workshops which help students identify their strengths.

The program also provides bystander intervention training.

University president Elizabeth Cannon said the funding is a major boost.

“It allows us to offer a truly holistic student experience, linking community engagement, leadership development and personal wellness,” Cannon said in a press release.

The donation is in response to a stabbing spree at a year-end Brentwood house party on April 15, 2014. Zackariah Rathwell, Josh Hunter, Kaitlin Perras, Lawrence Hong and Jordan Segura died in the attack.

Matthew de Grood, 23, is charged in the killings. A psychiatric assessment to determine if he could be held criminally responsible for the attacks is expected in the next few weeks.

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