Director, At Home/Chez Soi
Cameron Keller, M.C.
- Cameron joined MHCC in January 2009 during the planning and development phase of At Home/Chez Soi, a $110 million research demonstration project in mental health and homelessness
- Since joining MHCC, Cameron has provided project leadership through the selection of research and service partners through to project implementation and beyond
- Former Director of a 25-bed short-term assessment and treatment center for adults diagnosed with a developmental disability and mental illness under the Mental Health Act in British Columbia. Cameron led the downsizing of this center to a 12-bed facility and returned many individuals to community settings who had become “stuck” in this short-term facility
- Former Director of several provincial programs for children and youth in British Columbia including; autism funding, a broad range of programs for children and youth with special needs, child care programs and services and early years strategic planning
- In addition to his professional background, Cameron has personal experience of mental health and homelessness through a close family member
- Holds a Bachelor of Theology degree and a Masters of Counseling from Trinity Western University
Director of Communications
Stéphanie Lassonde
- Prior to joining the Commission Stéphanie was the Chief of Communications and Public Affairs at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montréal for 8 years.
- There, Stéphanie built from ground up a team of communication experts to raise the profile of the Douglas in Québec and help change the perception of the institution from an asylum to a modern mental health care facility.
- Stéphanie is recognized for having started the first public education program in a Québec mental health institution and for developing innovative communications strategies using the web and social media to engage with the public about mental health issues.
- Prior to the Douglas, Stéphanie worked for three public relations firms in Montréal.
- A graduate of McGill University, Stéphanie has a B.A. in Psychology and holds a Public Relations Certificate from l’Université de Montréal.
Director, Opening Minds
Micheal Pietrus
- Under Micheal’s leadership as Director of Opening Minds, the Commission launched its 10-year anti-stigma / anti-discrimination initiative designed to change the attitudes and behaviours of Canadians towards people living with mental illness.
- Opening Minds is the largest systematic effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness in Canadian history.
- Opening Minds is an important priority for the Commission because many people living with mental health issues say that the stigma associated with mental illness is often worse than the illness itself. It is a significant barrier keeping individuals dealing with mental health issues from seeking help.
- Micheal has also worked with the Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB), and as an award-winning news director, television producer and journalist with the CBC, CTV and CityTV.
Director, Policy and Research
Janice Popp
- Prior to joining the MHCC Janice was Director of the Southern Alberta Child & Youth Health Network, established to optimize the health and well being of children, youth and families.
- Janice has clinical, management, planning, and policy experience in children’s mental health. She held a number of positions with the Alberta Mental Health Board including Provincial Coordinator of Children’s Mental Health; Manager of Family, Adolescent and Child Services; and Mental Health Therapist.
- Involved with the National Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Consortium, which promotes a cohesive, national approach to supporting the mental health of children and their families.
- Interested in the role of inter-organizational networks to create mechanisms and mobilize knowledge to improve service systems, and former Chair of Child and Youth Health Networks of Canada designed to promote the understanding and evaluation of child and youth health networks; and current Co-Chair of Collaborative Networks of North America, a developing network focusing on all networks in the public interest.
- Janice holds a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary and is an approved clinical supervisor under the Alberta College of Social Workers.
Advisor, Stakeholder Relations (part-time)
Phil Upshall
- Phil is the National Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC), a virtual national NGO with a mandate to represent the interests of consumers and families dealing with mood disorders.
- Immediate past National Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).
- Managing Director of Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada.
- Holds national board positions with the Canada Post Foundation on Mental Illness and Mental Health; Advisory Board to the Canada Research Chair - National Core for Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia.
- Adjunct professor, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University.
- Past member of the Institute Advisory Board of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction; Past member of expert panels for Stats Canada, Health Canada, CIHI and others.
- Phil holds a commerce degree from Dalhousie University and a law degree from the University of Toronto. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1969.