Mental Health Matters: Honours, awards presented at mental health event
By Mila Joubert on June 22, 2019.
Just in time for the beautiful weather, Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region (CMHA-ASER) wrapped up another successful year with highlights, refreshments, and awards to outstanding community members that support mental health awareness on June 17 at the Hockey Hounds Arena in Medicine Hat. This article will share an overview of the event and the awards that were given. CMHA-ASER hosts an annual general meeting every year, and encourages public attendance for the opportunity to share successes, stories, financial positioning, and to celebrate compassionate community members and partners. The event is always jam-packed with special anecdotes, appearances from board members, speeches from the executive director, Cori Fischer, and president of the board Nick Gale, and delicious refreshments. The following will review the awards given and their descriptions: The Mental Health Promotion Award is awarded to an individual living with a mental illness or an immediate family member of a person experiencing mental illness. This award is given in recognition of effort to attack stigma and/or support the development of self-help initiatives or facilitates consumer participation. The person who won this award was Toni Garlock. The Al & Pat Craig Memorial Award is an award for someone’s distinguished volunteer services at CMHA Alberta Southeast Region. It is awarded to a volunteer holding a current membership who has given much time and effort in direct service or has promoted the goals of the association throughout the region. This year, Alice McNeil was the winner of this award. The Communications Award is for providing assistance with CMHA Alberta Southeast Region’s promotion efforts. This award was created to honor those representatives in the media who have made outstanding contributions to the coverage of mental health issues and/or shown regular and continuous interest in promoting the association’s goals and objectives and/or given special assistance in promotion of a special event. This year, the person who won this award was Jen Grier. The Workplace Wellness Award is won for demonstrating the promotion of mental health and co-operation between employers, employees and community agencies within the workplace. It is awarded to any organization from the public, private or voluntary sector, union or employee association that has demonstrated the promotion of mental health in the workplace and co-operation between employers, employees and community agencies within the workplace. The winner of this award was CF Industries. The Professional Care Award was created for someone who provides exceptional addiction and mental health services. It is awarded to a professional, a mental health worker of organization that has exhibited special creativity and effectiveness in the provision of mental health care. The professional who won this award was Cst. Travis Funk. The Special Service Award is for financial support of CMHA Alberta Southeast Region. It is awarded to a service or club, group or business that has aided the association through financial or special service. This year, the winners were CanCarb & Staff, and STEP Energy & Staff. The Community Networking Award for Exemplary Community Leadership was created by CMHA Alberta Southeast Region in 2003 to recognize coalitions, networks, committees or councils who have no formal status, but share a desire to meet a unique need or achieve a common goal in our community. This year, the winner was the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition. The Education Award is for leadership in an educational setting. It was created in 2017 to recognize exemplary leadership in promoting mental health, dispelling stigma and bringing awareness of suicide issues in an educational setting. The award is given to an individual, group or school that creates a positive awareness of mental health. This year, the winner was DREAMS – Prairie Rose School Division. Lastly, the President’s Award, which is for exemplary leadership in CMHA Alberta Southeast Region. The award was created in 2009 to recognize exemplary contributions or leadership in Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Southeast Region, in the form of service, financial gift, or in-kind support. The award is given at the discretion of the president for staff, volunteers or community members who endorse the mission and values of CMHA to promote mental health and support those affected by mental illness, and provide extraordinary efforts in doing so. This award was given to Chris Deering. To join in on the conversation, and be a part of an event that celebrates wonderful people in our region, attend next year’s AGM! To support CMHA Alberta Southeast Region, check out the website at cmha-aser.ca or buy a year’s membership for $5 – call the office at 403-504-1811 for more information. Mila Joubert is the Mental Health Educator of Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region and can be reached at 403-504-1811. To find out more about CMHA-ASER and their programs check out http://www.cmha-aser.ca. If you are in an immediate crisis, please contact 911 or phone the crisis line @ 1-800-784-2433 or 1-877-303-2642 15-14
