Students recovering from teen suicide get new chaplain

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Ashbury College, an Ottawa-based university preparatory school with Anglican roots, has appointed a priest with experience in parish ministry, education and social work as its chaplain.

The school, which has not had a full-time chaplain in the last four years, said in a media release that its students “will truly benefit” from the ministry of the Rev. Beth Bretzlaff.  Students are “still healing” from the suicide last November of grade 9 student Daron Richardson, 14, daughter of Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson, said the school. Richardson’s family had gone public with her suicide in order to raise awareness about youth mental health issues.

Rev. Bretzlaff will be available to students and staff of the school for counseling, and will also act as community service coordinator.

Raised in Shawville, Quebec, Rev. Bretzlaff graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Ottawa, and a master of divinity degree from the Vancouver School of Theology. She was ordained a priest at the diocese of Kootenay in 1993.

Rev. Bretzlaff served as curate and priest assistant at The Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels for eight years. She worked as child, youth and family educator for the diocese of Dunedin, in New Zealand.