CBU Mourns a Great Loss

To the CBU Community,

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the passing of one of our students, Cameron Forbes. At times like this, community is important, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this loss. This is a time of great sorrow for the entire University community. As we grieve together, please know that there are a variety of virtual services and resources available to students, faculty and staff.

As Cameron’s CBU family, we are all heartbroken at the sudden passing of our colleague and friend. Cameron was a unique soul and an extremely genuine and caring person who will be deeply missed within the Chemistry Department, CBU, and in our community.

Cameron’s leadership in and out of the classroom and lab, as well as his generosity with his time and sharing of his knowledge will be greatly missed. Aside from being a natural in the classroom, Cameron was brilliant at the lab bench, he was devoted to his work, learning and his friends at CBU. He will be fondly remembered by his bright smile, tie-dyed t-shirts and lab coats, and his infectious ability to get people chatting.

For faculty and staff:

Grief counselling is available remotely for faculty and staff by contacting Morneau Shepell’s trauma team directly through the Care Access Centre. The team is available 24/7 and there is no charge for this service, which can be accessed by calling 1-844-880-9142.  After making your language selection, select option 3 to make arrangements to speak to a counsellor. I strongly encourage you to reach out and speak to a counsellor should you feel the need.

You can also access the Employee Family Assistance Program (EAFP) online at www.workhealthlife.com, by calling 1-800-387-4765 or by downloading the My EAP app directly to your smartphone.

For students:

For anyone who would like to speak with a counsellor, grief counselling is available today, Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, from 10am – 2pm, and on Monday, August 10, from 4pm – 8pm. These sessions are being offered via phone or video link and can be done individually or in small groups. To make an appointment please call the MaxBell Heath and Counselling Centre at (902) 563-1359 or email at healthservices@cbu.ca.

Additional resources are also available online at:

• 7 Cups – www.7cups.com– a free peer support service for students
• Good2Talk – 1-833-292-3698 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service for students
• Nova Scotia Mental Health Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service

All available health and wellness e-tools for CBU can be accessed at HealthymindsNS. International students who have Guard.me insurance have access to counselling 24/7 by using the keep me safe app. Anyone who feels they are unsafe or needs immediate medical attention should go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

While we respect the family’s privacy at this time, we ask that you keep Cameron’s family, friends and colleagues in mind in your communications and social media interactions.

Due to current circumstances caused by COVID-19 health regulations, plans for a memorial service will be made in the future, and the community will be notified of those details when it is appropriate.

Please join me in extending sincere condolences to the family and friends of Cameron.

Yours very truly,

David C. Dingwall

President and Vice-Chancellor