VISION:
Connecting communities, governments, the private sector, and research centres of excellence in a unified effort to make a difference

KAISER FOUNDATION 2008 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE FACT SHEET  

2008 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS:

Excellence In Aboriginal Programming: Peter Macdonald, Principal, And Drama Teacher John Bosma, Eel Ground First Nation School Drama Club, Eel Ground, NB

The Eel Ground First Nation School drama club program uses an innovative approached to the arts to teach students life and coping skills through drama, music and other forms of media.  The program helps students connect to their culture and has inspired students to deal directly with issues common to first nation communities, such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) and teen stress and suicide. Movie versions of the students’ plays have been shown across Canada, inspiring students from other communities to follow the lead of Eel Ground School.

Excellence In Community Programming: Mario Gagnon, General Director
Point De Repères, Ville De Québec, Québec

Point de Repères (PdR) is a health service conducted through needle exchange and related initiatives aimed at prevention of harms, especially blood-borne and sexually-transmitted infections, among intravenous drug users in Quebec City.  It attempts to bring together mobilized users, concerned researchers and sensitized community stakeholders in a concerted endeavour to intervene effectively against the hazards associated with intravenous use.

Excellence In Leadership: Dr. Ronald Abrahams, Family Physician And Medical Director - Private Practice, Sheway, Fir Square Combined Care Unit, Vancouver Native Health - Vancouver, BC

One of Canada’s pioneers in harm reduction, Dr. Ron Abrahams has been applying the harm reduction model of care to substance-using pregnant women since 1984, notably in community settings such as Sheway, a Vancouver pre- and post-natal program for women who are who have current or previous issues with substance use, and the Vancouver Native Health Clinic. He has consistently modeled a non-judgmental approach to care. In 2004, his leadership as Medical Director of the Fir Square Combined Care Unit at BC Women’s Hospital was recognized by Canadian accreditation as a Best Practice area.
 
Excellence In Media Reporting:  Peter Mcknight, Reporter, The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC

For years, Peter McKnight has been a voice for evidence-based discussion on issues largely misunderstood by the public, giving a voice to those who live with addiction or its effects. He has clearly demonstrated a grasp of complex substance-related issues and has been able to present them, in their complexity, to mainstream readers, combining evidence with its application (or often the lack of application to policy or public debate) on a range of relevant social determinants. He consistently writes from a range of perspectives, providing a context which enables readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of relevant issues. 

Excellence In Mental Health And Substance Abuse Programming: Lynda Kennedy, Director Of Development, MPA Berman House (Motivation, Power And Achievement Society), Vancouver, BC

MPA Berman House is a program featuring personalized, high-adventure therapy for men with concurrent mental health concerns. This one-year residency program is unique in that it serves men typically viewed as hard to house, those with severe mental health and substance use problems who are not accepted elsewhere. The program has an extremely high completion rate, with 100% positive response from participants. Staff have demonstrated skill in assessment, motivation techniques and client care. Their success in helping so many clients is testimony to their skills.
 
Excellence In Public Policy:  Dr. Eric Single, Adjunct Prof. Of Public Health Sciences And Prof. Of Sociology (Joint Appt.), University Of Toronto; Scientific Advisor Emeritus, CCSA, Toronto, ON

Since the 1970s, Dr. Eric Single has played an increasingly central role in the conceptualization and assessment of substance use problems and their burden on society. His conceptual models have helped shaped the contemporary framework in addiction, while his broad perspective has set the context for action-oriented policies and practices such as server intervention programming and inclusive programming for people who do not or cannot reduce or stop drug use. His insistence on establishing the evidence base for innovative practices has led to their greater acceptance in Canada and beyond and has contributed to their development and expansion.

Excellence in Youth Leadership:  Daniel McKennitt, Founder and Director
Aboriginal Health Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Daniel McKennitt was born in the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in Manitoba and grew up in Edmonton. Witnessing the devastating effects of problem alcohol and drug use in Aboriginal communities, he entered medical school, determined to help his people. While a medical student at the University of Alberta, he created the university-based Aboriginal Health Group by recruiting other Aboriginal health students from fields of Nursing, Pharmacy and Rehab. He also spearheaded project involving cultural use of
tobacco among Aboriginal youth, raising awareness about traditional uses of tobacco while exposing high smoking rates among Aboriginal youth, and introducing Western smoking prevention tools.

 

KAISER FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS  

Edgar F Kaiser, Chairman, Chairman/CEO Kaiser Resources Ltd.

Joy MacPhail, Vice Chairman, former Minister of Health, British Columbia, and former Deputy Premier British Columbia

Janine Thomas, Secretary, Attorney

Hans Krutzen, Businessman & Philanthropist

Arthur Evrensel, Partner, Heenan Blaikie, LLP

Sue Kaiser, Director, National Awards for Excellence

Dr. Anthony Phillips, Director, UBC Institute of Mental Health

Dan Reist, Director, Communications & Resource Unit, Centre for Addictions research, at University of Victoria

Dr. Richard Vedan, Director, First Nations House of Learning

 

KAISER FOUNDATION NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr., OBC, LLD (Hon.), Chairman and CEO Kaiser Foundation, Chairman and CEO Kaiser Resources Ltd.,  

Dominic D'Alessandro, President and CEO Manulife Financial

Tom d'Aquino, President and CEO, Canadian Council of Chief Executives

Charmaine Crooks, five-time Canadian Olympian and member of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee

Richard Evans, Chairman and CEO, ALCAN

Ivan Fecan, President and CEO, CTVglobemedia Inc.

Gail Czukar, Executive Vice-President, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health

Larry Campbell, Senator, Senate of Canada

Claudette Demers-Godley, Associate Executive Director of Social Work and Community Services, YWCA Quebec

Pierre J. Jeanniot, OC, Director General Emeritus, IATA, International Air Transport Association

Grand Chief Ed John, Political Executive, First Nations Summit

Gordon Macatee, Deputy Minister of Health, Government of B.C.

Philip Owen, former Mayor of Vancouver

Michel Perron, CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

Tim Stockwell, Ph.D., Director, Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.

Hon. Michael Wilson, Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America, Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addictions and Mental Health, former Minister of Finance, Canada

 

KAISER FOUNDATION NATIONAL PARTNERS  

The Government of British Columbia

Government of Canada

Alberta Alcohol & Addictions Awareness Commission

Anonymous

Mr. & Mrs. Riley Bechtel

CIBC

CTVglobemedia

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

Chevron

Coast Capital Savings

Frank and Helen OBE Harquail

Franklin Templeton Investments

Manulife Financial

Power Corporation of Canada

Rio Tinto Alcan

Rx & D Health Research Foundation

The Globe and Mail

The Lohn Foundation