This release was issued under a previous government.
Recipients of the True Awards from The Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addiction set the standard for ground-breaking and compassionate care, offer dedicated service to Albertans and bravely share personal journeys to inspire others.
Recipients of the 2013 True Awards are:
True Grit Award – Elizabeth Anderson (Calgary):
A person living with schizophrenia, Elizabeth is an author, poet and actor who has made profound contributions to public education, advocacy and stigma reduction. She exemplifies the art of living well with mental illness.
True Compassion Award - Dr. Gary Hnatko (Edmonton):
Medical Director of CASA Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health, Dr. Hnatko has set the standard for child mental health care, changed young lives for the better and mentored a generation of fellow practitioners.
True Leadership Award – Pathways to Housing (Calgary):
An innovative example of the Housing First approach, the organization clears the path to health and stability for homeless people with major mental illness and promotes approaches that break the cycle of homelessness.
True Service Award – PACT, IC-PACT & R-PACT Teams (Edmonton/Capital Region):
A frontline partnership between health care (AHS) and law enforcement (RCMP, EPS), the Police & Crisis Response Teams respond to those in crisis and serve to bridge clients to the most appropriate mental health services.
True Imagination Award – David Hill and Dr. Gerald McDougall (Edmonton & Calgary):
Pioneers in Alberta’s innovative Diversion Service, Hill and McDougall were among the early leaders in work to find community-based treatment alternatives to the criminal justice system for individuals with mental illness.
Note to editors: The contact below can coordinate interviews with recipients and provide information on media attendance at the awards ceremony in Edmonton on Friday, September 27.
Related information
Expanded recipient information is at www.lgcirclealberta.ca.