The Kaiser Foundation Objective

To bring awareness that mental health and substance use issues are public health concerns which must be addressed on a national level.

The Foundation’s current priorities are:

The National Awards for Excellence Program

The key element of the Kaiser Foundation is its annual National Awards for Excellence Program. This event honours seven Canadians for their outstanding work in the fields of addictions and mental health. These National Award ceremonies take place in a different province each year to further highlight these issues as national issues as well as to promote the winners’ excellent work. The winners and non-winning individuals and groups from that province are honoured at the dinner. Non-winners from across the country are also acknowledged. Through the nomination process, the Foundation becomes familiar with the programs of numerous worthy groups and individuals working in the fields of mental health and addictions.

Aboriginal Peoples Health Initiative (APHI)

Canada’s North and First Nations, Inuit and Métis people live in unique communities that require specific programs that are socio-culturally and geographically appropriate to address their specific needs in mental health and addictions.

Only with the Indigenous peoples’ involvement, along with the private and public sectors, can mental health and addictions issues be resolved.

In partnership with AFN, Inuit and Métis representatives, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, and academic centres of excellence for mental health and addictions at the University of British Columbia, McGill University, and Dalhousie University, we are developing a five to six year program, not just another study, but a program that aims to make real change in the health outcomes of Canada’s Aboriginal people by supporting and nurturing community lead program development.

National Awards for Excellence Alumni Program

We have created an alumni program for recipients of the National Awards of Excellence.  This exciting and welcome initiative will provide a unique opportunity for recipients to stay in touch with fellow awardees, to encourage future nominations for the Awards, and to provide a useful network of allied professionals in the field of mental health and addictions. 

'Looking for Help?' Community Resource Webpage

The response to the Spring 2009 Public Service Announcement was very positive and also showed a need to put people seeking help in touch with the right community programs. As such, the Kaiser Foundation has put together a special kind of resource page where people who are looking for immediate help can find province-specific community resources for mental health and for addiction issues on this webpage. 

Some of the Foundation’s many other projects have included:

The Directory of Addiction Services, developed in 1987 as the first of its kind in Canada. The Directory provided essential information for people in distress who did not know where to turn for help. It has been widely emulated across the country.

Step By Step: A Prevention Handbook on Alcohol and Other Drug Use, first produced in 1988 to help administrators, teachers, parents, children and youth. It was mandated as a K-12 curriculum resource in British Columbia schools.

Weaving Threads Together, a 2001 report for the British Columbia Government on the future of addiction services in the Province, developed by a Foundation-led Task Group.

Sponsoring and collaborating in numerous symposiums on addictions and mental health involving participants from across the Canada and the United States.

Other Kaiser Foundation involvements include:

Addictions Research: Founding partner and continuing supporter of the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC). The Kaiser Foundation’s body of substance use research is now housed at this centre. Mr. Kaiser serves on their Advisory Board.

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA): The Kaiser Foundation is an active partner of the CCSA, Canada’s National Drug Agency. Mr. Kaiser serves on the CCSA Board of Directors.

University of British Columbia Institute of Mental Health: Mr. Kaiser is a member of the Executive Advisory Board.

Collaboration for Change: A broad-based collaboration addressing addictions and mental health issues in Vancouver. Mr. Kaiser is a member of the Oversight Committee.

Inner Change Society: A Society supporting innovative treatment strategies for addictions. Mr. Kaiser is a member of the Board of Directors.

Round Table on Mental Health & Addictions: Mr. Kaiser is Co-Chair of the Neuro Trust for the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. He is also the Co-Chair of the Roundtable's Canada/US Forum on Mental Health and Productivity, founded by Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson.