Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker last week designated June as Brain Injury Awareness Month in the City of Mount Pearl. Council was joined in chamber by representatives of the Newfoundland and Labrador Brain Injury Association including Carrie Lynn Shepard, Jennifer Smith, and Nick Mercer during the June 13 public meeting, each of whom has been diagnosed with a brain injury. “All three of us have different injuries, and it’s invisible injuries, as we all know, it’s not like a broken arm that you can see,” said Shepard. “And all across Canada, about 1.5 million of us live with brain injury every day.” Brain injuries continue to be the number one disabler and killer of those under 40 years of age, and the association was developed in 1984 to advocate for brain injury survivors. In the back row, from left to right, are councilors Isabelle Fry, Jim Locke, Chelsea Lane, and Mark Rice. In the front row, from left to right, are Jennifer Smith, Carrie Lynn Shephard, Mayor Dave Aker, Nick Mercer, and councilor Bill Antle. Mark Squibb photo
