20 March 2025
13:00 – 16:00 (ET)
Virtual – Microsoft Teams
Health and Well-being Advisory Group members
- Sergeant (Retired) Michael Blais, Canadian Veterans Advocacy (co-chair)
- Dave Gallson, Mood Disorders Society of Canada
- Sergeant (Retired) Alannah Gilmore
- Captain (Retired) Tarik Kadri (co-chair)
- Corporal (Retired) Dennis MacKenzie, Brave and Broken
- Dr. Gail Wideman, Canadian Military and Veterans Families Leadership Circle
- Corporal (Retired) Victoria Jonas
- Dr. Stewart Madon, Canadian Psychological Association
- Colonel Anna Grodecki, Canadian Armed Forces
- Warrant Officer (Retired) Brian McKenna
- Sergeant (Retired) Chuck Isaacs, Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta
Regrets
- Constable (Retired) Trevor Jenvenne, Royal Canadian Legion
- Captain (Retired) Robert Thibeau, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones
- Captain (Navy) Wade Brockway, Canadian Armed Forces, Director of Mental Health
- Dr. Brent Wolfrom, Queens University
- Dr. Don Richardson, Canadian Psychiatric Association
Veterans Affairs Canada officials
- Dr. Lisa Garland Baird, Senior Researcher, Research Directorate (VAC co-chair)
- Elissa Morgan, Senior Analyst, Community Engagement
- Kirstin Sweet, Project Officer, Community Engagement
- Noah Ellis, Project Operations Assistant, Community Engagement
- Jonathan MacDonald, Communications Officer, Communications Division
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
- Rachel Ohnona, Ontario Desk
- Michael Unsworth, Director of Operations
- Abigail Garwood, Policy Advisor
- Jared Valdes, Director of Parliamentary Affairs
Observer
- Sonia Poirier, Office of the Veterans Ombud
Land acknowledgement and welcome remarks
The VAC co-chair opened the meeting by welcoming Advisory Group members and encouraging everyone to speak in their language of choice. The group’s newest member was introduced. The VAC co-chair proceeded with a land acknowledgement in which members were encouraged to reflect on the Indigenous peoples from the land on which they reside. The group paused for a moment to consider how they can contribute to the efforts of reconciliation.
Meeting schedule and structure
The VAC co-chair reviewed changes to the meeting schedule due to logistical updates. The group was invited to consider how to best structure these meetings to be most effective.
Review priority area of focus
The VAC co-chair presented the group’s objectives for the meeting, as determined in previous meetings. The group reviewed each health and well-being priority that had been identified by members and discussed what potential recommendations would look like, as well as their preference for which 2-3 priorities that they would proceed to work on. Members of the group engaged in a discussion and shared their views and personal experiences and how they related to each priority.
Closing remarks and next steps
Following the review of the health and well-being priorities, the VAC co-chair shared that members would have the opportunity to vote on their preferences, through a poll that would be shared in the coming weeks. The meeting was adjourned early by the VAC co-chair.