Message from Lynda Mackay, Chair CAMH Foundation Board of Directors, 2003/2004

When I first became involved with the Board of Directors of the CAMH Foundation in 1999, we were in the midst of consolidating a new organization from the successful merger of our founding partners. The visionary idea -- of creating a new kind of hospital for mental illness and addiction by bringing the organizations together at the Queen Street site -- was simply a dream.

Over the years, carefully laid plans have taken shape. The CAMH Foundation's role has been very rewarding, and I am proud of our achievements in communicating our vision to the community. We are engaging community leaders to embrace our issue and our organization, and as a result, we are witnessing slow but steady progress in breaking down the stigma attached to these illnesses.

Today we are ready to turn a once-distant dream into a reality: we are poised to redevelop the Queen Street site to bring about improvements in research and patient care, to provide programs and facilities that will transform the lives of those who experience addiction and mental health issues, serving the urgent needs of our community and building on our local, national and international role as a leader in the mental health and addictions field.

Many have helped us get to this stage: our donors, volunteer members of the Board and committees, CAMH staff and the Foundation management and staff -- those currently involved, incoming and retiring, as well as those who came before us. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity demands volunteer leadership that can guide us wisely and inspire others to participate generously. I have the utmost confidence in passing the leadership of the Foundation on to my successor as Chair, Tim Price, and our current Board members. I look forward, as Past Chair, to continuing to support the programs and clients of CAMH.

We need many ambassadors to bring our vision to reality. I would like to thank our donors, volunteers and staff for their generous support, and encourage you to continue to support CAMH clients and programs. The lives of people who face addiction and mental issues are enriched by your contributions.

In the life of CAMH, our time as donors, volunteers and staff may be brief, but what we accomplish will transform lives indefinitely.

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