Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
Autumn 2018
At MDAM we always have good news to share Autumn   is traditionally a time of thanksgiving and of remembrance and at Mood Disorders we have embraced these sentiments whole heartedly as we officially celebrate our 35 th  anniversary helping to reduce the stigma of mental health disorders, while striving to give hope and recovery for all those that need us.

Government House tribute:  On October 16 th  we were given a wonderful tribute when Her Honour, the Honourable Janice C. Filmon C.M.,O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and His Honour, the Honourable Gary A. Filmon P.C., O.C., O.M., L.L.D., generously hosted an anniversary celebration for us at Government House. We are grateful to their Honours for their support and their kindness.

Thanksgiving dinner  for our staff and volunteers was celebrated at Tina Holland’s home with turkey and all the trimmings.
A big thank you to Tina for once again opening her home to us and sharing this day with us.
 
Remembrance day , November 11 th  heralded a national change in attitude towards the often invisible illness that affects so many lives. The National Silver Cross Mother for 2018, is Mrs. Anita Cenerini, whose son Pte. Thomas Welch died by suicide 3 months after returning from service in Afghanistan in 2004. This is the first time in history that the Royal Canadian Legion has bestowed this distinction upon a mother whose child died by suicide. This autumn has truly been one of change, remembrance and thanksgiving.

Our Annual General Meeting October 2 , resulted in the election of 3 new board members and the re-election of 3 returning board members. It was very well attended and we were privileged to have the Honourable Cameron Friesen, Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living for the Province of Manitoba joining us. Minister Friesen spoke about initiatives being undertaken to improve the mental health of Manitobans and decreed the week of October 1 through 7 th  as Mental Illness Awareness Week. 
Introducing the 2018-2019 Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba Board of Directors  
In alphabetical order
Walter Wai Tak Chan
Walter was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Canada since the age of seven. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Social Work at University of Manitoba. His dissertation is about leadership practices in the psychiatric consumer and survivor movement in Canada.  Walter is a childhood abuse survivor and a current user of psychiatric services, and he learned peer support approaches within the disability movement. Walter would like to practice peer support in mental health and other spheres of life as well.
 
Walter has served on a number of boards and task groups, most recently S.Scope and the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba. He is a member of the National Network for Mental Health, the Alberta Network for Mental Health, and the West Coast Mental Health Network.  
 
Walter is learning Anishinaabemowin - Ojibwa and hopes one day to become conversationally fluent with guidance from Anishinaabe elders and teachers.
 
Walter is a past secretary for MDAM and is in his 6 th  year on the Board.
Lisa LaBossiere

Lisa is a partner at the law firm of Myers LLP. She is member of the criminal department practicing primarily in the areas of Criminal Defence and Child Protection. Lisa began her career with Myers LLP in 2004, working in the criminal department as a summer student. She articled with the firm in 2006 and was called to the bar in 2007. Since beginning her practice in 2007 Lisa has appeared and advocated for clients in all levels of court in Manitoba and also the Supreme Court of Canada. Lisa sits on the Board of Directors for the Mood Disorder Association of Manitoba and is a member of the executive of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba. She also volunteers her time assisting students and lawyers with continuing legal education by speaking at conferences, the University of Manitoba as a guest lecturer and at the Law Society of Manitoba as a small group facilitator.

Lisa is in her 5th year on the MDAM Board.
Dwight MacAulay

A native of Killarney Manitoba, Dwight recently retired as Chief of Protocol for the Government of Manitoba. He is the only Manitoban to ever receive the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and has served on numerous boards including the CNIB, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Commonwealth Society. He is past president of the Winnipeg Press Club and has a TED Talk on Protocol. Dwight spent his early career as a television and radio personality in Brandon and he spent 2 years as Chief of Protocol in South Australia. He has extensive experience within government and the media and he wants to assist MDAM to further their work reducing the stigma of mental health disorders. Dwight is in his first year as a Board Member.
Pamela Mann, Board Chair
 
Pam is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and has worked as an investment advisor, helping clients manage investments for over 30 years. She has seen first hand how mental health impacts social and financial well being.  She is past president of the Saskatchewan Orchid Society and a board member of the Women’s Health Research Foundation of Canada. She has been a volunteer at MDAM since 2009 when she moved back to Winnipeg from Saskatoon.
 
Pam is a great believer in mental health education and advocacy and has a personal goal to promote the teaching of coping skills, resiliency training, anti-bullying, conflict resolution and healthy decision making skills in schools province-wide. She firmly believes the key to a healthy socio-economic community begins by providing early mental health supports along with confidence building skills for all children.
 
Pam has been a board member for 6 years, and is in her second year as Board Chair.
Jim McCarthy, Secretary
 
Jim resides in the municipality of Springfield with his wife Darlene, is in his third year as a board member and is currently serving as the board secretary with MDAM. Jim's career with Manitoba Hydro spanned 35 , retiring as a manager. Jim was elected as the Reeve for the municipality of Springfield from 2010 - 2014. As a graduate of the Canadian Institute of Management and Public Sector Management, Jim brings many skills in the area of management and governance. In addition Jim has been a Kinsmen for three decades and has been involved in the Andrew Dunn Walk since its inception 12 years ago. He is very involved in fundraising and risk management. Jim's life has been impacted by friends who have been challenged by mental health issues and he would like to assist where he can in making a difference. 

Jim is in his first year as Secretary.
Jeremy Ruban, Vice-Chair

Jeremy works as an associate investment advisor at Richardson GMP advising clients on a variety of wealth management issues. A board member since 2016, he came to know the organization through the gala and his interest in improving community health and wellness. Jeremy says it is a privilege to serve on the board and support the great work our staff and volunteers do on a daily basis. He also serves on the board and is actively involved in Grace Point church in Point Douglas. Married to a school psychologist and father of two young girls (with a baby on the way at Christmas!) doesn't leave as much time for golf and hockey with friends, but he wouldn't trade it if he could. 

Jeremy in in his second year as Vice-Chair.
Marilyn Sidhu
 
Marilyn came to Canada over 30 years ago, was eager to learn the language and culture and volunteer her time to worthy causes. She soon volunteered with   the White Guild at the Health Sciences Center as a candy striper and muffin shop clerk. Today Marilyn is a community Pharmacist with over 20 years of experience. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Winnipeg in 1994, and her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Manitoba in 1998. That same year, she began her career in retail Pharmacy with Shoppers Drug Mart in the Polo Park Mall. Over the next 7 years, she built her practice, and developed her business skills by taking on the Pharmacy Manager role at the Polo Park location, while volunteering with both the College of Pharmacist's Standards of Practice Committee, and The Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week Committee. In 2005, she switched from retail Pharmacy Practice to the role of Pharmacy Operations Specialist at the Winnipeg Regional Office of Shoppers Drug Mart, where she refined her business, human resources and marketing skills. In 2009, Marilyn returned to community Pharmacy as Associate/Owner of the newly opened location at 2512 Main St. The following year, she began her tenure as Peers Representative, and eventually taking the role of Chair in the Peers committee (Manitoba and Saskatchewan). In this capacity, she represents owners' business interests, in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart Corporate office. She relocated her Franchise business to the 43 Marion St location in 2011, and most recently has taken on a second store, located at 917 Portage Ave. She is passionate about supporting her community, and has made it her mission to bring awareness and support to organizations devoting their efforts to mental health, especially in support of women's mental health. 
 
Marilyn is in her first year as a MDAM Board member.
M ichelle Walker
 
Michelle is a registered nurse with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing, postgraduate diploma in Occupational Health Nursing, and certificates in Management Development, Applied Management - Organizational Effectiveness, and Workplace Mental Health Leadership.  Her expertise involves disability case management, and the implementation of successful modified work and wellness programs. She has served on the Quality Assurance Committee as well as in the capacity of Board Director and Chair for SCE Lifeworks, a not-for profit organization that provides individualized community support services for people living with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. She works as Senior Consultant, Health and Wellness, for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. She is looking forward to using her education, experience and daily interactions in supporting individuals living with mental health conditions to assist and serve on the board of the Mood Disorders Association.
 
Michelle is in her first year as MDAM Board Member.
Steve Zacharias, Treasurer
 
Steve grew up in West St. Paul, Manitoba, and currently resides in Winnipeg’s north end. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, and the CPA Western School of Business. He is currently employed as a Senior Associate in the assurance practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
Steve aims to add value to the MDAM finance function and to help oversee its continuing growth, and is both passionate and motivated to contribute his skills and experience to the organization.
 
Steve is in his first year serving on the MDAM Board.
Welcome New Members of our Staff Family:
Stewart Ferguson, one of our 2 new Coordinators for Volunteers for weekdays
 
Stewart has been involved with Mood Disorders for the past 24 years and now is a co-ordinator of volunteers scheduling. Over the years Stewart has taken many of the courses including Mental Health First Aid, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness. At University of Winnipeg he has taken courses in Criminology and Deviant Behavior. At MDAM he has been a facilitator for many groups including: Bi-polar, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Family and Friends, and he has also worked as a facilitator for MB Schizophrenia Society. He enjoys photography, has a free lance business and he has taken photos for the MDAM newsletter. Thank you to Stewart for many of the photos in this newsletter!
Shelley Flitcroft, our new Outreach Director

Shelley has worked for MDAM for 9 years as an Outreach Manager, serving the Interlake Region. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of working in Manitoba’s rural communities, partnering with outside organizations and creating programming to fit the needs of the community. Shelley is a steadfast mental health advocate for young and old, all of her efforts are aimed at stigma reduction, increasing education and offering support to those in need.
Her compassion for others comes from a place of lived experience with mental illness and trauma. Living each day in recovery herself, she understands and lives the struggles that the journey can involve. Hope is her guiding force so, in turn, she shares it with others! 

Shelley loves dogs!! She was a dedicated local dog rescue volunteer for 3 years, fostering and successfully rehoming 16 dogs before taking a break from rescue in 2016. She loves cooking creative new meals, tending her flower gardens and spending time in nature. Above all though, she loves spending time with her husband, nieces, nephews and 3 dogs.
Shawn Levesque, one of our 2 new Co-ordinators for Volunteers for weekdays

Shawn has been involved with MDAM for the past 10 years and is one of MDAM’s 3 Co-ordinators of Volunteers. Shawn has been the facilitator for the group: Addictions and Mood Disorders for 8 years and facilitator for the group: Trauma and PTSD for the last 5 years. Shawn draws on his own life experience and education to help others, and says he looks forward to coming to MDAM because it helps his own mental health.
Aly Raposo, our new Women's & Youth Programming Coordinator

Aly received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Manitoba in 2018. During the past few years Aly has worked tirelessly to advocate for mental health and has been an invited speaker, facilitator and a researcher in this field. She has designed and facilitated a workshop on mental health for international students. She has given interviews to CTV and the CBC on the challenges surrounding mental health issues! 

Aly is currently finishing up a research project at the University of Manitoba which builds on her earlier Active Living Centre: Women & Inclusive Gym Hours initiative and her co-production of Take Back the Campus, a film made by Code Breaker Films about safer campuses. These initiatives have earned her some tremendous awards in the past few years including: the University of Manitoba Emerging Leader Award, 2018; CBC Manitoba Future 40 Finalist, 2017; YMCA-YWCA Young Woman of Distinction Award, 2017; and the Achievement Award, Arts Celebrating Arts, University of Manitoba, September 2017. 

Aly was listed as one of the 8 Influential Millennials in Winnipeg to Watch in 2017 and was nominated for CAMH Difference Makers in 2017 and shortlisted for CAMH Face of Mental Health in 2016. 
Rose Roulette, our new Black Eagle Transitions Program Facilitator

 Rose is an off band member of Sandy Bay First Nation of Treaty #1. She was born in Gladstone, Manitoba and was raised in Langruth, Manitoba. ​She holds a diploma for Community Support Worker from Herzing College. She is also an Aboriginal Language Specialist in Ojibway after earning her diploma from Red River College. The knowledge she has gained as an Aboriginal Language Specialist has given her the opportunity to work with students at the University of Winnipeg’s Language Lab,  teaching Ojibway.

She has also worked at the Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre Inc in the Head Start Program as a Teacher’s Assistant then advanced to Senior Mentor.

Rose believes being compassionate, empathetic, reliable and altruistic are qualities that are needed to work with people from the many vulnerable sectors of the community. Her life experiences have taught her to help those who want to be helped, giving them support and guidance in order to learn new healthy lifestyle skills. She believes it is important to  Identify the needs and wants of Indigenous youth in order to help them.

She comes from a Traditional and Ceremonial background with extensive knowledge and experience that she will use to help the youth. Rose understands that the youth are our future and we need to help and educate them to understand and deal with mental health issues to ensure a better healthier future for everyone.
Hayley Sinclair, our new Office Manager and Fundraising Assistant

Hayley Sinclair is a recent Winnipeg transplant from Vancouver, BC and brings with her a wealth of experience managing non-profit programs. She is the author of several published toolkits based on engaging with community to promote harm reduction and Mental Health. They include: Crystal Clear – Working With Active Users of Crystal Meth, You Are Not Alone – The Intersection of Violence, Substance Use and Mental Health for Women and Ulead – Easy 1 Hour Workshops for Peer Groups. 

Hayley has her BA (Sociology) from SFU and her diploma in Non-Profit Management and Fundraising from B.C.I.T.

Hayley loves speed skating, curling, professional wrestling, early morning dance parties, pop-up community picnics and yelling at cars while commuting by bike across the city. She lives the sober life in the West End of Winnipeg.
Mike Wilson, our Weekend Volunteer Coordinator

Mike Wilson began his involvement with MDAM in 2014 and soon after starting volunteering. In September 2017 Mike joined MDAM as a staff member and in his role of Weekend Coordinator he launched, supervises and maintains weekend peer support operations at MDAM. Mike brings the strength and empathy of his own lived experience with a mood disorder to his role and the support that he provides for his peers and volunteers.

Mike earned his Applied Counselling Certificate from the University of Manitoba in 2012. Prior to working at MDAM Mike worked for the provincial government, coordinating and dispatching emergency responders and liaising closely with health and community service providers to assist vulnerable Manitobans in immediate crisis.  
In addition to his work at MDAM, Mike has volunteered with the Canadian Mental Health Association and currently is a member of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s Mental Health Advisory Council. Mike is proud to work for an organisation that has helped him and so many others and passionately believes that our strongest supports and solutions come from those with lived experience within our own mental health community. 
Past & Upcoming Events
Autograph signing in support of MDAM with NHL superstar Josh Morrissey!
Above: Arnold Chew, Josh Morrissey, Tara Brousseau-Snider and Rachel Westman.

We are grateful to Arnold for his continuing support through the Tree of Life Campaign, Growing Women’s Health and the Shoppers Love. You Run.
Since 2011 Arnold has held a hockey signing with a Winnipeg Jets player and all the proceeds have been donated to MDAM. This year we were thrilled to have Josh Morrissey signing autographs! The signing was held at the Shoppers Tuxedo store where Arnold is an Associate and owner.
Carmyn Aleshka and Upside Down Tree Donated $28,000
A big thank you to Carmyn Aleshka, founder of Upside Down tree and creator of KidThink who raised $28,000 through The Comedy Night fundraiser.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
The Honourable Cameron Friesen Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living presenting the decree proclaiming October 1st through October 7 th  2018 as Mental Illness Awareness Week in Manitoba, seen here with MDAM Executive Director Tara Brousseau Snider and Board Chair, Pamela Mann at the AGM.

A big thank you to Minister Friesen for coming to our meeting and helping to increase the awareness and treatment of mental health issues!
Government House 35th Anniversary Celebration
A big thank you to their Honours for hosting this special 35 th  anniversary celebration for MDAM!
SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. presents Alexa Joy Potashnik & Self Care Through Creative Practice December 13th 2018
Founder and President of Black Space Winnipeg, Alexa Joy Potashnik has demonstrated a firm commitment to community development and social justice, influencing initiatives across Winnipeg that promotes diversity and inclusion for BIPOC communities. This year Alexa was the lead organizer of the  Afro Prairie Film Festival  (Central Canada's first Black Film Festival) and founder of the annual Afrocentric artist showcase  Nuit Noire . While establishing safer spaces for Black folks and people of colour, Alexa's work continues to challenge white privilege, dominance and supremacy through grassroots activism and encourages demonstrations of Black, radical advocacy. Alexa has been a speaker for WE Day Canada, presented at Ted X University of Winnipeg and now sits on the  Community Advisory Committee  with the City of Winnipeg. Recognized as one of CBC's  Future 40 Under 40 , Alexa continues to push against the status-quo, ensuring that there are platforms for the BIPOC voices in society to be seen and heard.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Mindfulness
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is recommended as first-line treatment for most mental health conditions. However, many people do not have access to CBT due to long waiting lists. Luckily, MDAM offers a CBTm 4 week workshop for those who need help now!

Visit our website f or upcoming dates
Turning Pages
The Turning Pages Program is a new and innovative 6 week community-based mental health program offered by Mood Disorders Association ofManitoba in partnership with the University of Manitoba. This program is geared towards individuals 50-70 years of age who are struggling with sadness, anxiety, or later-life transitions. 

Visit our website to register
In the Mood Gala on February 23rd 2019
To help us continue to expand the important services we offer, MDAM is hosting the 2019 In the Mood Gala on February 23rd, 2018 at the Fort Garry Hotel in the Grand Ballroom. 

We are celebrating two major milestones at this years Gala; not only is this the 10th anniversary of our Gala, but it is also the 35th anniversary of MDAM! Our In the Mood Gala continues to be our most significant fundraiser each year and its success is critical to maintaining and growing the services we offer. This event celebrates those who have positively contributed to the field of mental health care through the Hope, Healing and Health awards. The evening includes a four course dinner and silent auction followed by live music and dancing. For more information contact Rachel at RachelW@mooddisordersmanitoba.ca .

To purchase tickets or to sponsor the event visit our website.
Help Support Us!

Your donation allows MDAM to provide help, hope, and recovery to people of all ages suffering from mental illness. MDAM heavily relies on the generosity of people like you to continue to offer support services and resources to those who need it most, at no cost. So please donate and help us continue to help others help themselves.

Thank you so much for your generosity and Support!