Some of the most important conversations about mental illness don’t happen in clinical settings.
They happen when real people, those living with illness, those loving someone through it, and those walking alongside them professionally, sit down together and speak honestly.
That is exactly what our panel discussion at Voices of Hope: From Expression to Understanding on May 23rd, 2026, is designed to be.
On May 23, in honour of Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day, BCSS is bringing together a group of remarkable individuals whose lives and work have been shaped by mental illness and by the power of creativity to help navigate it.
The panel will be moderated by Dr. Renato Zane, BCSS Foundation Chair, leadership consultant, and former newsroom director whose 32-year career in broadcasting has made him a skilled and thoughtful voice in meaningful public conversations.
Meet the Panelists
Jill Daum is a Vancouver-based actress and playwright best known for co-creating the internationally acclaimed Mom’s the Word series and for her deeply personal play Forget About Tomorrow, drawn from her own experience as a caregiver supporting her husband through early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Jill has been an outspoken advocate for caregivers navigating complex and often invisible challenges, and she brings both storytelling depth and lived understanding to everything she does.
Jill joined us at last year’s event, where she shared a powerful original monologue that gave voice to the layered realities of caregiving, psychosis, and love, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in the room.
Wendy Clark is a Registered Art Therapist, caregiver, and mental health professional with over eight years of experience supporting people impacted by mental health challenges, substance use, and psychosis.
Drawing from both her professional training and lived experience, Wendy integrates art therapy, nature-based practices, and mindfulness to support caregiver wellbeing and help people reconnect with themselves through creative expression.
Wendy will also be presenting earlier in the afternoon — read more about her work and approach here.
Jonathon Goldie is a British Columbia-based indie rock musician and mental health advocate who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 24.
Through music and mentorship, Jonathon is passionate about challenging stigma and highlighting the connection between creativity and mental health. He has released two albums and several singles, and is currently working on SISU, an upcoming acoustic EP exploring creative experimentation and personal expression.
Listen to his music here.
Leif Gregersen is a freelance author, poet, and public speaker named by CBC Canada Writes as one of the top 11 Writers to Watch.
Living with bipolar disorder, Leif has channeled his experiences into a body of work spanning memoir, fiction, and poetry that speaks directly to people navigating mental illness and to the families trying to understand them. His memoir Through The Withering Storm has been praised for its vulnerability, courage, and capacity to build empathy across lived experience.
Why This Panel Matters
Stigma doesn’t just affect the person living with mental illness.
It affects the families who love them, the caregivers who support them, and the communities that too often look away. Bringing these voices together, including lived experience, creative expression, caregiving, and advocacy, creates conversations that challenge stigma not through argument, but through humanity.
We hope you’ll be part of it.