Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council Appointed
On November 4, 2019, the provincial government appointed a Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council consisting of 23 members who will inform a new mental health and addiction strategy. The strategy will outline recommended actions to increase quality and access to a recovery-oriented mental health and addiction system, with a particular focus on treatment, recovery and justice programs. The advisory council will also address home care and primary care. The government will invest $140 million over four years to improve mental health and addiction services in Alberta with a plan to release a final report in summer 2020.
Council Members
Addiction:
Co-chair: Pat Nixon, founder, Mustard Seed
Stacey Petersen, executive director, Fresh Start Recovery Centre
Jacen Abrey, Blood Tribe Fire and EMS director, and councillor for Town of Coaldale
Andy Crooks, lawyer/lived experience
Nick Mitchell, senior medical director, AHS
Insp. Rob Davidson, Calgary Police Service
Benny Xu, traditional Chinese medicine doctor
Bruce Edgelow, founder and managing partner, Edgemark Capital/lived experience
Brad Cardinal, executive director, Poundmakers Lodge
Ray Baker, addiction medicine expert
Mental health:
Co-chair: Laureen MacNeil, executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region
Police Chief Dale McFee, Edmonton Police Service
Xin-Min Li, professor and chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta
Allison Bichel, senior provincial director, AHS
Curtis Stange, president and CEO, ATB Financial
Karen Gosbee, mental health advocate
Sally Zhao, CEO, the Immigrant Education Society
Whitney Issik, MLA, Calgary-Glenmore
Ex-Officio:
Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health
John Cabral, ADM, mental health and addiction
Sherri Wilson, ADM, public health and compliance/opioid crisis
Bill Sweeney, ADM, public safety
Peter MacKinnon, ADM, population, public and Indigenous health
For more information about the council and its members, please click here.