Canadian Mental Health Association

North East Alberta Region

Annual Report 2015—2016

We are in interesting times. The world as we know it has changed so dramatically. Not

only has the world changed but our country and Region have also changed. With the

economic downturn in the oil patch and the recent wildfires in our Region, we could easily

feel hard pressed and discouraged. But it is precisely these events that have summoned

our courage and strength to go on, to revise, rebuild and remain determined.

There has been a shift in our demographics as many residents did not return after the

evacuation. Some residents lost their homes , businesses lost workers and did not reopen

so there is a sense of loss and upheaval. We are all feeling these emotions as we try to

make sense of what has happened and where we are at the present time. Many groups,

organizations and individuals both within the Region and outside have made significant

contributions to our efforts to cope and adjust to the reality of where we are today. For

their kind thoughts, prayers and support we are thankful!

With so many changes in such a few short months how does an organization like CMHA

Wood Buffalo move forward? We do so with hope and courage. We continue to offer

excellent programs and services aimed at meeting the needs of individuals and their

families with mental illness. We carry on the excellent tradition of being responsive to the

opportunities and needs of our communities and we demonstrate sound financial

responsibility and stewardship. We take one step at a time.

I would like to take this time to thank our staff who kept our office going in spite of their

own difficulties. Thank you to our board members both past and present who supported

decisions that had to be made when we did not have all of the facts. To our partners and

sponsors we could not have done it without your generosity. Thank you to the individuals

and families living with mental illness, we want to continue to meet needs and earn your

trust.

As we move forward, we build on the successes of the past and embrace the challenges of

today as we look to a brighter tomorrow. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your

president.

Respectfully submitted by,

V. Thompson

Vincella Thompson, PhD

President

President’s Message

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Vincella Thompson President (2015 & 2016)

Lana Hodder Vice President (2015 & 2016)

Melanie Ramage Treasurer (2015 & 2016)

Tanya Lopez Secretary (2016), Director (2015)

Melissa Cormier Secretary(2015 & 2016)

Pam Young Director (2015 & 2016)

Matthew Scott Director (2015 & 2016)

Crystal Baldwin Danson Director (2015 & 2016)

Chere Colley Director (2015 & 2016)

Geraldine Sillery Director (2015 & 2016)

Diana Noble Director (2015)

Christal Goodyear Director (2015)

STAFF

Jane Barter Executive Director (2015 & 2016)

Karen McMillan Executive Director (2015)

Sabrina Morrison Consumer Advocate (2015 & 2016)

Sandra Bank-Imudia Consumer Advocate (2016)

Carolyn DeGrace Mental Wellness Program Coordinator (2015 & 2016)

Emma Jones Events Coordinator (2015 & 2016)

Gabriela Galeana Office Assistant (2015)

Ina Brenton Office Assistant (2016)

Suellen Ware Friends for Life Coordinator (2015 & 2016)

Kathy Palmquist Fun Friends Coordinator (2015 & 2016)

Monique Williston Consumer Advocate Assistant (2016)

Canadian Mental Health Association Wood Buffalo Region

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Community Events & Campaigns

Throughout the year, CMHA staff, board members, and volunteers take

part in a variety of special community events and programs. In addition to

conferences and public forums, CMHA was involved in the following

community initiatives:

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Mental Health Week

Adopt-a-Trail

Consumer Christmas Dinner

Seniors Month

Senior’s Expo

Senior’s Resource Committee

Community Registration Day

STHT (Support Through Housing Team)

United Way “Seeing is Believing” Tours

CHAT (Community Housing Agencies Team)

Homeless Connect

Keyano College Orientation Day

Peter Pond Mall Wellness Fair

Volunteer Management Breakfast

Community Registration Day at MacDonald Island Park

Anti-Stigma Campaign at Keyano College

Information booths at MacDonald Island Park

Urban Market

Make Noise for Mental Health ACAC Campaign

Bell Let’s Talk Campaign

World Suicide Prevention Day

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CMHA Fundraising Events

CMHA Wood Buffalo held a variety of successful fundraising events in

2015—2016. These fundraisers would not have been possible without the

tremendous, ongoing support from community members and local

businesses, along with the hard work of our staff, board members, and vol-

unteers. The events included:

Annual Charity Jam & Silent Auction

Annual “Taking off the Blindfold” Golf Tournament

Canadian Tire Community BBQ

Sponsor a Bed Program

Open House & Bake Sale in support of the United Way

Annual Online Auction for Mental Health

Casino Night at Boomtown Casino

REMAX Community Drumming Circle

Clara Hughes Luncheon

March Mullets for Mental Health

Jordan Tootoo & Fort McKay Hockey Society Event

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Education & Services

It is our mandate to provide Mental Health programs and services that are

responsive to local needs. We provide training and workshops on a variety of

topics affecting individuals in our community including:

Empowering Women’s Self esteem

Empowering Teens

Anger Management for Adults

Anger Management for Youth

Friends Programs (Anxiety & Resiliency )

Stress Management

Mental Illness Support Group

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Mental Health First Aid Training for Adults

Who Interact with Youth

Basic Facilitator Training

Mental Health and High School Curriculum

Healthy Relationships Plus Program

Living Life to the Full

Mental Health Works

Psychological Health & Safety Advising

Consumer Advocate

Our Consumer Advocate offers a referral service to clients, facilitation of support groups, assistance in goal planning, information and resources, and advocates on behalf of clients to fulfill their basic needs and human rights.

Our Consumer Advocate works cooperatively with the Community Mental Health Services and other local agencies to provide assistance and support to those living with a chronic and persistent Mental Illness.

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Our Supporters

Alan Reeve

Andrea Organ—Stella & Dot

Amber Razak

Alberta Health Services

AMA

Ameco

AMP

A-Z Rentals

Blankies and Bums

Blissful Occasions

Billboard Direct Promotional

Billboard Direct Graphics & Design

BoomTown Casino

Boston Pizza Fort McMurray

Brett Campbell

Brooke McMillan

Brooke Yantzi—Arbonne

The Brick & The Brick Sales Team

Bumper to Bumper

Campbell’s Music

CNRL

Canadian Tire

Caribou Flowers & Gifts

Chef Clarence

Cheryl Cooper

Chocolates and Candlelight

City Centre Auto Wash

Coles

Culligan

David’s Tea

Diana Noble

Drop Dead Darling

Dunvegan Gardens

Earls

Egyptian Gold

Electric Lace Photography

Enbridge

Erin Stinson

Excess Beauty

Extra Foods

Finning

FMIC

Fort McMurray Catholic School District

Fort McMurray Hotel Group

Fort McMurray Public School District

Fuji Japanese Restaurant

Gary John

Golden Years Society

Grace Wills

Harvard Broadcasting

Heather Thomas

Heather Mead

Higher Health

Home Hardware Building Centre

HVAC

ID Innovative design

Ivan Magdic

Janene Hickman—Stella & Dot

Jean-Marc Guillamot

Josee

Judy Hansen

Just Kidding

KAOS 91.1

Karen Larkin

Kathy Barnard

Kathy Bowers

Kelvin Sawatzky

Keyano Athletics

Keyano Theatre

Kinette Club of Fort McMurray

Landmark Cinema

Liana Wheldon

Liebherr Canada Mining

Lifeforce Herbal Healing Centre

Lorsim Services

Live Bar and Grill

MacDonald Island Park

Marks Work Wearhouse

Margie Cunningham

Mayor’s Office

McMurray Law Office

Men In Black Moving Company

Meyers Management Consulting Group

Michael Hill

Miskanaw Golf Course

Mitchells Café

MNP

Moxies

My IT Pro

Northern Lights Quilters Guild

Northstar Ford

Nufloors

Oil Barons

Oranj

Peter Pond Shopping Centre

Phyllis Kelly

Pizza Hut

Printing Unlimited

Prime Social Kitchen

Quality Inn and Conference Centre

Razors Edge

Raven Truck & Motorsports

Red Arrow Motor Coach

Remax

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Rogers Broadcasting

Russell Thomas

Safeway Downtown

Sangsters Peter Pond Mall

Stacy Whalen

Save on Foods

Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre

Scott Muir– SMS Equipment

Shoppers Drug Mart Downtown

Sobeys Thickwood

Sobeys Liquor Store

Sophia Jacob

Sport Chek

Staples

Stillbrook Spa

Surben Farms

Stokes

Suncor

Syncrude Days of Caring

Sysco

Sweet Escape

Telus Fort McMurray

The Final Touch

Woosh Transit Services

Tracy Meyers

United Way of Fort McMurray

Vera Fustic

Vincella Thompson

Wood Buffalo Brewing Co.

Wood Buffalo Regional Library

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Volunteers

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Alfred Hoffman

April Mantha

Ashley Vaksdal

Barry Duncan

Brett Edwards

Brooke McMillan

Candice Critch

Catherine Gouthro

Chere Colley

Cindy Guitard

Crystal Baldwin-Danson

David Barrett

David Connell

Emily McMillan

Emmanuelle Stathopoulos

Forbes Ploszaj

Gabriela Galeana

Gayle St. Denis

Gemma Borbon

Helen Duncan

Helen Hutchins

Hona Huber

Jake Hewell

Jackie Wolfe

Jacqueline Jones

Janeen Felix-Samson

Janet Torres

Janene Hickman

Jenn Hearn

Johnny Childs

Joshua Leblanc

Judy Norman

Karen Larkin

Karina Gillies

Katelyn Bruce

Koralee Samaroden

Kristan Troy

Krishna Trivedi

Kristen Chalmers

Lana Hodder

Linda Matychuk

Lisa Brown

Lisa Gagne-Anderson

Lise McIlveen

Loren Chisholm

Loriley White

Mary Thomas

Matthew Scott

Matthew Leduc

Marlene Boyle

Melanie Murrin

Melanie Ramage

Melissa Cormier

Monique Williston

Naomi Syrenne

Nick Ford

Nigel Mugodo

Olive Wooden

Pam Young

Pat Pestell

Rob McMillan

Ruth Hoffman

Sara Rosenkranz

Scholastica Adeyemi

Shannon Nash

Sinai Marcano

Stacy Whalen

Stephanie Myrick

Sunny Ahmad

Taner Miller

Tanya Lopez

Tyler Dea

Tyler Jones

Taylor Jordan

Valeria Winters

Vera Fustic

Vera Scott

Vincella Thompson

Media Award

Mix 103.7

Business Award

Canadian Tire

Unifor Local 707a

Professional Award

Fort McMurray Public School District

McDonald’s Fort McMurray

Outstanding Service Award

ID Innovative design

Electric Lace Photography

CMHA W.P.C Volunteer Award

Taylor Jordan

CMHA Volunteer Award

Katelyn Bruce

Krishna Trivedi

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2015-2016 Award Recipients

Certificate of Appreciation

Meyers Management Consulting Group

MIB Moving Company

MNP

Prime Social Kitchen

Oil Sands Rotary Club Fort McMurray

Kinette Club of Fort McMurray

Davids Tea

Rotary Club

Chef Clarence

Ali ‘Sunny’ Amhad

RBC

Karen Larkin

Rogers Broadcasting

Enbridge

Oil Barons

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2015-2016 Award Recipients

Main Supporters

United Way of Fort McMurray

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Alberta Health Services

A special Thank You to all of our Board

members who will be moving on to new

opportunities.

We thank you for your support and

commitment to the Canadian Mental

Health Association family here in the

Wood Buffalo Region.

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Board Recognition

Vincella Thompson (Presidency)

Lana Hodder

Pam Young

Geraldine Sillery

Melissa Cormier