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

2011 National Awards for Excellence Call for Nominations is now Open

 

Help us honour the remarkable individuals and organizations in the field of mental health and addictions.  Deadline for Award submissions is November 30, 2010

Celebrating its fifth year, the National Awards for Excellence Program was established by the Kaiser Foundation to recognize the work and extraordinary achievements of individuals and/or organizations in the area of mental health and addictions.

Each year, the Foundation awards seven winners with a 10,000 grant towards a registered charity of their choice.  A presentation will be organized to honour each recipient. In addition, each winner will receive a DVD with highlights from their presentation including any media coverage and will have their story featured on our website.

To nominate someone or to apply for an award yourself is easy.  Just visit the National Awards section of our website for information on our Awards criteria, categories and nominations forms.  

 

2010 Winners for the National Awards for Excellence

The Kaiser Foundation is very pleased to announce the winners of the Foundation's 2010 National Awards for Excellence.

Congratulations to these inspirational and motivated individuals and community organizations who have made exceptional contributions in the field of mental health and addictions. The quality and calibre of the award submissions was excellent making the selection process extremely challenging. The Foundation would like to thank and recognize all the applicants for their dedication and tremendous work in the field of mental health and addictions.

Mike DeGagne (Ontario) for Excellence in Aboriginal Programming:

Mike DeGagne, current and founding Executive Director for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, has worked in the field of mental health and addiction for the past 25 years and has made enormous contribution to improving the health and welfare of Canadian Aboriginal people.

Ilisaqsivik Sociey (Nunavut) for Excellence in Community Programming:

The Ilisaqsivik Society based in Clyde River Nunavut, serves as a model of what a community can accomplish, especially when it draws on the experiences and values of its traditions.

Dr. Patricia Erickson (Ontario) for Excellence in Leadership:

A Senior Scientist in Public Health and Regulatory Policy at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dr. Erickson has made an outstanding contribution to promoting the philosophy and policy of harm reduction in Canada.

Rand Teed (Saskatchewan) for Excellence in Media Reporting:

Rand Teed is the creator and host of the award winning television program "Drug Class". Mr. Teed has committed countless hours raising awareness about substance misuse in Saskatchewan and assisting youth and other in need of emergency counseling.

New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada Society (British Columbia) for Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use Programming:

The NOW Canada Society, which opened its doors in 1998, addresses the needs of a vulnerable population (sexually exploited women) through innovative and effective programs.

Professor Robert Solomon (Ontario) for Excellence in Public Policy:

Robert Solomon is a professor with the University of Western Ontario's School of Law, and an internationally recognized researcher on impaired driving and the role alcohol plays in other types of injuries. He had made a tremendous contribution to improving public policy and saving lives.

Megan Lummiss (Ontario) for Excellence in Youth Leadership:

Ms. Lummiss has shown tremendous strength of character by completing high school, obtaining her degree in social work, and sharing her heartbreaking story with young people. She had been an integral part of Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) - a community coalition since 2005.

More information on the winners and the Awards presentations coming soon.

 

A big thank you to our 2010 National Secretariat

All award entries were reviewed by the National Awards Secretariat, comprised of individuals working in the additions and mental health field. Peer evaluators do not evaluate nominations in a category in which they, or a close colleague, are a nominee or a nominator. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Kaiser Foundation's National Advisory Board for review and final selection. The time and commitment of these volunteer evaluators is greatly appreciated.

The adjudciators for the 2010 National Secretariat include:

Norman Giesbrecht
Public Health and Regulatory Policy Section
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Ontario

Mike DeGagne
Executive Director
Aboriginal Healing Foundation
Ontario

Colleen Dell
Associate Professor
Dept. of Sociology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan

John Topp
Director General
Pavillon Foster
Quebec

Louis Gliksman
Director
Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Ontario

Rebecca Jesseman
Policy Analyst
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
Ontario

Terry Lind
Executive Director
Information Services Branch
AADAC
Alberta

Debra Dell

Coordinator, Youth Solvent Addiction Committee

Laura Goossen

Regional Director

Addictions Foundation of Manitoba

Peter McKnight

Vancouver Sun

Canwest Publishing

Andre Picard

Globe and Mail

Ontario

Renee Ryan

Addictions Consultant

Health and Community Services

Dennis Wardman

Director

Health Promotion & Prevention

FNIH-BC Region

Health Canada

John Weeks

Acting Senior Director

Correctional Service Canada

Addictions Research Centre

 

National Awards for Excellence Alumni Council

This innovative new program was established to help keep the various winners of the National Awards for Excellence program in contact with each other as well as a mechanism to help share ideas and information. The Council is chaired by Michel Person, CEO, of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, and winner of the 2009 Award for Excellence in Public Policy.

One of the Council's key roles is to facilitate the exchange of best practice ideas between the existing community programs across the country via a Foundation-hosted website-based discussion board. The board features news updates and how-to information regarding best practices in prevention and treatment. This board also offers the public direct access to proven programs of excellence. The Alumni Council includes a chair of each NAEP Award Category from past winners. More details coming soon.

 

Check out our PSAs

Visit the Public Service Announcement (PSA) section of our web site and view one of our latest video's "Hope" which aired nationally on network television and various digital television channels. The Foundation has produced several PSAs over the years to help promote public awareness of mental health and addiction issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.