2006 Champions of Mental Health
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The Honourable Steven
Fletcher, Member of Parliament for
Charleswood-St. James Assiniboia,
defeated more than just his
political opponents to earn his seat
in Parliament. He made history on
June 29th, 2004,
when he became the first
quadriplegic to be elected to
Canada’s Parliament. After a car
accident left Mr. Fletcher paralyzed
at the age of 26, he decided not to
take life for granted and chose to
live and promote an active healthy
lifestyle. As Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Health,
Mr. Fletcher has worked to advance
and raise awareness of the issue of
mental health. He was named a 2006
Champion of Mental Health for both
his dedication to advancing mental
health issues and for putting them
on the government’s agenda by
tabling a motion to establish the
Mental Health Commission of Canada.
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Denise Taylor is
a Métis woman who works as an
Aboriginal Policy Coordinator for
Interior Health in British Columbia.
Denise has dealt with mental health
and mental illness challenges both
personally – as a family member,
parent, care giver and consumer -
and professionally, for most of her
life. It was her personal experience
with a mental illness, and the
discrimination associated with it,
that ignited her passion for
tackling the issue and promoting
mental health and addiction
programming for her community.
Through her work with Interior
Health, Denise strives each day to
influence the health system to
better address the challenges
associated with mental illnesses.
Denise was honoured for this work in
2006 when she was named a Champion
of Mental Health.
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Jocelyne Monty
has dedicated herself to changing
the negative attitudes and
behaviours associated with mental
illness. Having personally suffered
from depression, Ms. Monty promised
herself that she would work for the
cause of mental illness and focus on
countering the ignorance and
discrimination associated with it.
In 2000, she joined the Mental
Illness Foundation Board of
Directors and agreed to chair the
first fundraising campaign. With
great enthusiasm and drive, she
traveled through Quebec and Ontario
to discuss the Foundation’s programs
and initiatives with various
business leaders. Her fundraising
efforts have resulted in millions of
dollars being raised for the
organization. Ms. Monty was named a
2006 Champion of Mental Health not
only for her hard work and
dedication to raising awareness of
mental health issues, but also for
her tolerance, understanding,
compassion and support for those who
live with a mental illness.
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Dr. Paula Stewart
MD, FRCPCis a public health
physician who is currently a Senior
Medical Officer at the Public Health
Agency of Canada. She works to
improve the surveillance of chronic
diseases, including mental
illnesses. Her passion for
understanding mental health and
mental illnesses began when she was
a medical student. She found herself
moved by the challenges faced by
those under her care who lived with
a severe mental illness. Dr. Stewart
has delivered workshops addressing
mental health issues since
1999.
In 2002, she produced A Report on
Mental Illnesses in Canada in
partnership with the Mood Disorders
Society of Canada that will inform
the development of mental health
policy for years to come and has
already proven to of great value to
those with a mental illness, to
their families, and to the health
professionals and researchers. Dr.
Stewart was named a 2006 Champion of
Mental Health for her continued work
and dedication to helping Canadians
living with mental illness.
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The Honourable Michael
Kirby has an extensive
public service and academic career.
Since 1970
he has held various senior level
positions in government, but it
wasn’t until 2000 that he found his
niche when he was named Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Social
Affairs, Science and Technology.
Under the guidance of Senator Kirby,
the Committee paid special attention
to addressing the challenges raised
by mental illnesses and addiction in
Canada. The committees efforts lead
to the release in May, 2006 of Out
of the Shadows at Last -
Transforming Mental Health, Mental
Illness and Addiction Services in
Canada, a comprehensive report on
mental illnesses in Canada. Senator
Kirby is extremely well regarded by
various mental health stakeholders,
and was instrumental in the
development of the Mental Health
Commission of Canada, of which he is
presently the Chair.
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The Honourable Dr.
Wilbert Keon is active in
health and economic policy through
his participation on scientific and
clinical advisory boards. He has
membership on several Boards of
Directors and serves as a consultant
to public and private sector
clients. Dr. Keon is also a Senator
in the Senate of Canada and
currently serves as the Deputy Chair
of the Senate Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and
Technology. Innovation has been a
hallmark of Dr. Keon’s career,
having drawn research grants
totalling $66 million dollars.
Senator Keon was a recipient of the
2006 Champion of Mental Health Award
for his work on the senate report
Out of the Shadows at Last
-Transforming Mental Health, Mental
Illness and Addiction Services in
Canada, which was a key component
that lead to the creation of the
Mental Health Commission of Canada.
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