Humboldt Broncos crash survivor brings mental health talk to North Bay

A survivor of the deadly 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash is in North Bay, Ont., for the next couple of days, talking to students about resiliency and not giving up when the chips are down.

Tyler Smith, 27, was a former forward with the team. He stepped aside from hockey after the crash when he realized his mental health was a battle he could no longer ignore.

Resiliency even through the darkest of times, that’s the message Smith hopes to get across to students in the next couple of days.

“Having conversations with 13-year-olds about survivor’s guilt is something that I never thought I would have to have conversations about,” Smith said Tuesday morning at the North Bay Police Service detachment.

He is keynote speaker at a youth symposium hosted by the North Bay police and will be speaking at four schools.

“Mental health is such a concern in the community in general, no matter your age,” police chief Daryl Longworth told reporters.

“It will give them that hope and that permission that it’s OK to put your hand up and ask for help and to talk to people.”

Smith has no memory of the April 6 tragedy that claimed the lives of his 16 teammates, coaches and other staff members. He said that the lack of recollection is a “blessing in disguise,” as the tragedy marked a turning point in his life.

He recognized the importance of prioritizing his emotional well-being, choosing to hang up his skates to focus on his recovery.

“During the hard days, what gets me through? I think people. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons why I keep doing this,” he said.

“There are a lot of really amazing people in the world.”

After recovering from his physical injuries, he returned to the Broncos for 10 games.

Now, he goes on cross-country speaking tours, talking to children and adults about the path to reflection, healing and self-discovery.

“Mental health is not a battle to be won. It’s a journey to continue walking and finding your people that can help you walk,” he said.

During his speeches, the schools will have mental health support services on site for anyone who needs help.

During Tuesday’s Jac Lyons Hockey Exhibition, Smith joined Longworth and the Lyons family dropping the puck in the ceremonial faceoff.

Big cheer

Students cheered and roared for him when he was introduced, and Smith smiled and waved and put his hand over his heart.

Smith is the founder of Not Alone Co., a mental health awareness clothing line and social enterprise dedicated to facilitating conversations around trauma, PTSD and mental health.

A portion of the proceeds is donated to charities and foundations across Canada, including Jack.org, helping to create safe spaces and resources for those struggling.

He also uses his voice as the co-host of the podcast Speak Your Mind, alongside NHL veteran Riley Sheahan. The podcast focuses on normalizing conversations about mental health by featuring diverse guests from sports, entertainment, and beyond.

He says he wants to inspire others to talk about their battles because speaking about them will help people get through the pain.

“Everyone’s fighting something and everyone’s got a story,” he said.

“We can’t compare our stories. We have to find a common ground.”