It was my honour to present the King Charles III medal to Susanna, in recognition of her enormous contribution to making her community stronger through 30 years of service with the Society of Organized Services in Parksville.. Her leadership in mustering community support to keep essential community services operating during the pandemic was immensely important to children, seniors and their families. Thank you for your work, Susanna and thanks also to your board, staff and volunteers for making a difference in the lives of so many.
Mood Disorders Society of Canada Meeting
It was a privilege to meet with representatives from Mood Disorders Society of Canada recently in Ottawa to discuss the important role of community organizations and peer support workers in helping Canadians with mental illnesses. They spoke about how the chronic underfunding of Canada’s mental health sector limits the ability of non-profit organizations to expand services and meet growing demand. We agreed that investing in community mental health organizations could reduce pressures on the healthcare system and help Canadians who are struggling. Finally, we talked about my Private Member’s Bill, C-414, which is pushing for parity between physical and mental health in our universal, public healthcare system. Canada is facing a mental health crisis and it’s clear we need systemic change so everyone can access care when they need it most.