A sign unveiled, stories told and a dream continues

For some reason the sun always shines on CAMH when needed. The official sign reveal on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, for the next phase of the Queen Street redevelopment project was no exception.

CAMH Foundation Board Chair John Hunkin welcomed donors, staff, clients, volunteers, neighbours, friends and special guest George Smitherman, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Deputy Premier of Ontario.

CAMH’s next phase of the Queen Street redevelopment project was given a boost at the sign unveiling ceremony on June 9.

“We wouldn’t be standing here today without the support of our provincial government. Their investment in the transformation here at CAMH and their commitment to the mental health and addiction sector of our province is to be commended,” said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH President and CEO. “While the remainder of the wall that surrounds the property reminds us where we have been, the new buildings to the west of us remind us where we are going. It is an exciting time for CAMH, the Queen West neighbourhood and for city building here in Toronto.”

It certainly is an exciting time for Nicholas Osborne and Sean Winger who shared their stories of triumph over their illnesses. At age 68, Nicholas was admitted to CAMH’s Geriatric Assessment Unit for severe depression. On several medications and without stable housing, Nicholas received both the medical attention and the understanding and respect and eventually the supportive housing he needed.

Nicholas Osborne credited many "truly remarkable, gifted and caring people" at CAMH's Geriatric Assessment Unit and at two community agencies with his recovery and helping him live independently.

“In just three short weeks, Dr. Alsuwaidan and the staff at CAMH had put my life back together. Today, I have reduced my medications by 60 per cent and take only two,” says Nicholas. “This story does have a happy ending. But to get there, I had tremendous help along the way.”

Similarly, Sean had the same sentiments to share on his experience at CAMH. His life prior to getting help saw him on the floor thinking about how much cocaine and oxycontin he needed to inject to kill himself. Friends had dried up as had most of his hopes and dreams until he called CAMH’s opiate addiction program, whose number was on the back of a CAMH brochure. Within two weeks of joining the methadone clinic Sean stopped all illicit drug use.

Since getting help from CAMH, Sean has stopped using illicit drugs. He is pursuing studies in addiction and has every reason to hope for a better day.

Today, with the support of his family and CAMH he is pursuing addiction studies at McMaster University and sits on the Halton Methadone Planning Committee and is a spokesperson for the CAMH-led Methadone Saves Lives awareness project.

“What makes CAMH so unique is the willingness to work with people and accept them for who they are,” says Sean. “They give a lifeline to people of all ages and all walks of life.”

And with that, both Sean and Nicholas joined Dr. Garfinkel, Minister Smitherman and emcee John Hunkin in unveiling the sign of all the great things to come.

 

 

 

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