THE Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art is the site for the third annual Women and Wellness event hosted by the North Shore branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
In its 10th year nationally, the event sprang from the passionate leadership of Helen MacDonnell, of Moncton, N.B. whose brother, Duncan, committed suicide in January 2003 while living alone in Vancouver. It was not until after his death, by reading his journals, that his family discovered he suffered from bipolar disorder.
I think Duncan's death set Helen on a mission to create change in how mental illness is understood in Canada. She started with a kitchen "party with a purpose" and she invited 54 guests. Her goal was to create a safe place for women to talk about mental health.
The idea has since caught the imagination and attention of thousands of women across the country, with events taking place in 16 communities this year and raising more than $800,000 since 2004. Proceeds from the events across the country have been used to create programs to help people talk about how to support their own mental health and to reduce the negativity that is at times attached to mental illness.
I realize this is a difficult topic for many people but it's time to open up the conversation and get past the stigma. Many of us on the North Shore are working really hard to keep it all together. We're dealing with family pressures, work issues and trying to stay physically healthy. We're afraid to acknowledge that many of us are also struggling with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. We need to talk to each other, think creatively and know that we are not alone in our challenges.
Speakers at this year's North Shore Women and Wellness event will include CMHA board president Ann-Margaret Tait. A resident of West Vancouver, Tait is the chief information officer for BC Hydro, and has worked as a senior leader during the past 20 years with many organizations including Bell Canada, Potash, Chartwell Care, FortisBC, and Worksafe BC. Her formal education includes a bachelor of arts in economics and psychology from the University of Victoria, and a master of business administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Tait is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, having experienced firsthand the debilitating effects of depression.
Another featured speaker will be Megan Sheldon who is a brand storyteller and strategist. With 10 years of experience working in journalism, public relations and marketing, Sheldon launched Narrative Communications in 2010 after completing a masters in mythology at the University of Edinburgh and then facilitating story healing circles in Ghana, West Africa. She primarily works with arts and culture organizations, nonprofits and social enterprises, helping to build their brand and develop their voice by integrating the elements of storytelling into strategy.
Nancy Talbot of Mount Seymour United Church will be the event's MC.
The evening will provide an opportunity for women across the North Shore to get to know each other, to share a glass of wine and food and to listen to some inspirational story-telling.
"Women have the power to shape the communities in which they live," says Nina Matthews, manager of resource development at CMHA. "I think opportunities like this, where we gather to talk about things that matter, are important. By working together, we can make a difference to the way mental health issues are dealt with on the North Shore."
Women and Wellness will take place at the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, 2121 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver on May 23, 6: 30-9 p.m.
The evening, which is a fundraiser for programs in support of mental health, is free of charge. Participants will be asked to consider making a donation to the CMHA. To register, visit northwestvancouver.cmha.bc.ca or phone Nina Matthews at 604-987-6959, ext. 231.
Sandra Severs is the executive director of the North and West Vancouver branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Contact her at 604-987-6959 or visit northwestvancouver.cmha.bc.ca.
