Former Sphere Media president Marlo Miazga (pictured) is working on a memoir and an accompanying documentary about the 2020 death by suicide of her 14-year-old child, Mars.

The memoir and the doc, both bearing the working title of Ground Control, centre on the events of Nov. 13, 2020, when Mars walked in front of an oncoming train at Toronto’s Ossington subway station. According to a release, Miazga will delve into the mental health struggles that led Mars to their heartbreaking decision, and offer a critical perspective on the deficiencies of the Canadian healthcare system in addressing this endemic issue.

Random House Canada has slated a January 2027 release for the memoir, which Miazga will co-author with National Magazine Award-winning journalist and podcaster Katrina Onstad.

Miazga and Onstad are also collaborating on the prospective documentary project, alongside Toronto-based writer and producer Greg Beer. The team is currently working to pull together financing for the doc, with the aim of going into production in summer 2026.

The plans for the documentary were first reported by C21.

In a statement, Miazga said: “I recognize this opportunity comes with the profound responsibility of sharing the agonizing lessons I’ve learned. It’s a vulnerable exploration of the space a parent must navigate after such an event. As a filmmaker and corporate leader, I feel compelled to tell this story to highlight the urgent need for better mental health support and to address the epidemic of youth suicide.”

Miazga, who had overseen the unscripted and kids divisions at Sphere Media for the last five years, departed from the Montreal-headquartered outfit this past summer. She joined Sphere following the company’s 2020 acquisition of Bristow Global Media, where she had served as president and CEO.

The book deal for the Ground Control project was brokered by Jody Colero and Steve Osgoode of Toronto’s The Story Division, alongside Random House Canada president Sue Kuruvilla.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, Canada’s national suicide prevention helpline.

Image courtesy of Sphere Media