The BC Schizophrenia Society hosted its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Education Session on Saturday, September 27th at the Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel & Resort in Richmond, BC, and virtually via Zoom.
The hybrid event brought together families, professionals, and advocates from across the province for a day of reflection, recognition, connection, and learning.
Board Meetings
The morning began with two board meetings: one for the BCSS Board of Directors and one for the BCSS Foundation Board of Directors. These meetings helped align priorities and finalize board members for the coming year.
The 2024-2025 BC Schizophrenia Society Board of Directors:
- David Halikowski
- Dr. John Gray
- Joanne Leung
- Jack Middleton
- Paul Bhushan
- Colleen Crossley
- Brenda Sawatzky-Girling
- Jasdeep Dhaliwal
- Gerrit Van De Leer
- Jane Gladman
- Rebecca Joncas
- Peter Andreason
- Kevin Black
- Cynthia Petrie
Learn more about our board members here.
Remarks from BCSS’s CEO and President
The afternoon session opened with remarks from CEO Faydra Aldridge and President Jack Middleton.
Faydra acknowledged the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations, and emphasized BCSS’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation. She celebrated the work of BCSS staff and volunteers, highlighted achievements from the past year including:
- Serving over 5,500 families
- Hosting 261 support group sessions
- Launching new initiatives like the Youth in Mind newsletter and Strengthening Families Together – Indigenous pilot sessions
Jack followed Faydra’s gratitude with a powerful message about advocacy and the uphill battle families face when navigating mental illness, especially in rural and underserved areas. He also recognized the courage of families living with schizophrenia and reaffirmed BCSS’s mission to improve mental health outcomes across BC, while emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy.
His words reminded us why gatherings like this matter — they’re about connection, courage, and collective action to make a difference.
BCSS Champion Award recipient: Donna Motzer
One of the most moving moments of the day was the presentation of the BCSS Champion Award to Donna Motzer. Although she couldn’t be there in person, her video message was full of warmth and wisdom.
Donna is a tireless advocate who has dedicated over a decade to BCSS. Her contributions include:
- 12+ years of service to BCSS
- 10 years as a Family Support Group facilitator
- 8 years as Chair of the Family Advisory Committee at Sechelt Hospital
- Nearly a decade as President of the Sunshine Coast Branch
- Serving on the BCSS Provincial Board since 2016
Her leadership and compassion have left a lasting impact on families and communities across BC and we are thankful for all the meaningful work she has accomplished.
Special recognition: celebrating Dr. John Gray
We also celebrated Dr. John Gray, who received the 2025 Owen Adams Award of Honour from the Canadian Medical Association — the highest recognition they give to a non-physician.
It also happened to be his 85th birthday, so of course we celebrated by singing to him!
Dr. Gray’s legacy in mental health advocacy is profound. His decades of advocacy, scholarship, and leadership—including his work with BCSS and the Family Alliance on Severe Mental Illnesses—have helped shape mental health policy and support systems across Canada, and it was a joy to see him recognized in such a meaningful way.
Education session: Dr. Daniel Vigo
After a short break, we transitioned into the Education Session with keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Vigo, a psychiatrist, public health specialist, and BC’s Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs & Concurrent Disorders.
His presentation focused on improving care for people with severe mental illnesses across BC and it was both data-driven and deeply compassionate. This was followed by a moderated Q&A session led by Dr. Brenda Sawatzky-Girling, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speaker on pressing issues in mental health care.
Closing remarks
The event ended with closing words from Faydra, who thanked Dr. Vigo, Abbvie (our event sponsor), the venue staff, technical team, and the entire BCSS community. Her final message was one of hope and solidarity: You are NOT on this journey alone. BCSS is here to support you.
You can watch a recording of the AGM business portion here:
Read our 2024-25 Annual Report here:
Want to become a BCSS Member?
Join the BCSS community by becoming a member through our membership form. Membership is FREE and comes with several benefits, including:
➡️ Access to exclusive events
➡️ Voting rights at the BCSS Annual General Meeting
➡️ Opportunities to share your experiences on the BCSS website, newsletters, and social media channels