Just weeks after telling her family about the night of her alleged sexual assault, Rehtaeh Parsons celebrated her 16th birthday with a new tattoo.
The image of a crow feather, splintering off into the shapes of flying birds, was supposed to symbolize a new beginning, Parsons' mother said.
At the time, the teen was struggling to cope after four boys allegedly sexually assaulted her, photographed the incident, and distributed the photos around the community.
After the incident, Parsons was viciously bullied online, and, in April 2013, the 17-year-old took her own life. The four boys were never charged with sexual assault, though two of them were charged with creating and distributing child pornography. One received a conditional discharge for producing child porn, while the other received a one-year probation for its distribution.
Now, more than two years after her death, Parsons' mother, Leah Parsons, is honouring her daughter's life the same way Parsons celebrated her 16th birthday: with tattoos.
Parsons' mother has teamed up with Halifax's Six Points Tattoo Parlour to hold a two-day fundraiser, starting Wednesday and continuing through Thursday, which is also World Suicide Awareness day.
Over the two-day event, Six Points artists are inking fundraiser participants with semicolon tattoos for $30.00.
All proceeds go towards the Rehtaeh Parsons Society, which works to raise awareness about and prevent sexual assault.
Like each of Parsons' tattoos, the semicolon symbol carries significant meaning.
"When a writer uses a semicolon it means that he/she could have ended the thought, the story etc., but chose not to," the Rehtaeh Parsons Society website says.
For Parsons' mother, the punctuation mark is a reminder that sometimes life has pauses, or moments of struggle, but that doesn't mean it's the end.
"I wanted to raise conversations so people can talk about their struggles. A lot of times our culture and society tell us that if we do A, B, and C then we have a beautiful life, but that's not true," Parsons' mother told CTV Atlantic.
Tattoo artist Joseph Monk said part of the semicolon's appeal comes from its simple shape and direct message.
"Sometimes, less is more. … It doesn't have to be a crazy, intricate design to be meaningful and to stand out," he said while shading in a black curve on a woman's wrist. "It's kind of right to the point."
Less than an hour into the fundraiser, more than 60 people had already registered to get a semicolon of their own, and Parsons' mother said she expected hundreds of supporters in total.
For many, participating in the fundraiser is a way to honour loved ones who have struggled with mental health issues.
"Rehtaeh was one of my very first friends in life, and I recently just lost an uncle to suicide, so it's very important to me to represent and stand up for the people who need help," said Caroline Stewart, one of the supporters at the fundraiser.
For others at the tattoo parlour on Wednesday, the semicolon represented their own personal journeys.
"I suffer from mental illness," Lesley said after receiving her tattoo. "I've had depression, anxiety, and all of that. And it just seemed like a really good way to remind myself that I'm not those issues.
"My story's not over yet, either," she said.
With files from CTV Atlantic
