New NSSS Video on YouTube
Our special presentation November 7, 2011 featuring Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator for Canada, is now up on our channel on YouTube. See below for a recap of the presentation.

NSSS Celebrates with Friends and Family
Every December, NSSS brings together friends and family at our annual Christmas Party. We had a wonderful evening December 3 that included a performance by the always-festive West Vancouver Adult Pops Band, a delicious roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, humour provided by our Masters of Ceremonies Herschel Hardin and Cheryl Zipper, and an unforgettable performance by soprano Amber Gauthier. Most of all, though, the party is about getting together, catching up with old friends and making new ones. If you'd like make sure you get your invitation of next year's party, please email us. Thanks to the many volunteers who make this event possible!

Spring Sessions of Family-to-Family Registration Open
The Family-to-Family education course is a powerful twelve-session program for family members and close friends of people with any serious mental illness.  The course runs on Tuesday evenings starting January 24 in West Vancouver and February 15 in Squamish. Space is limited and pre-registration is required, so contact us today at the Family Support Centre at 604-926-0856 to secure your seat!  See the full course curriculum here.

The Mentally Ill in Canadian Prisons
NSSS hosted a special presentation by the Correctional Investigator of Canada, Howard Sapers, at the West Vancouver Memorial Library on Monday, November 7.  Mr. Sapers is Canada's independent ombudsman for federal offenders, responsible for investigating and bringing resolution to individual offender complaints, as well as making recommendations on policies and procedures in the correctional system that if implemented would make correctional practice more humane and effective. The presentation covered the creation of the Office of the Correctional Investigator, how people with mental illness enter the justice system, and how they fare in the prison system. See the PowerPoint slides from the presentation and the news release for more information. The full video of the presentation will be available soon.

A Gala to Remember!
The 11th Annual Treasure Chest of Hope, hosted by Soroptimist International of North and West Vancouver, was an evening of fun and excitement, benefiting the North Shore Schizophrenia Society and North Shore Youth Safe House.  Master of Ceremonies Kathryn Gretsinger and auctioneer Fred Lee made the evening lively and fun. Thanks to the many volunteers who worked for months to make this event the highlight of the fall season, to the donors and sponsors who helped make it possible, and especially to the women of Soroptimist International of North and West Vancouver.

NSSS Responds to Inadequate Draft National Strategy
The Mental Health Commission of Canada's draft strategy ignores the realities of serious mental illness, leaving the most ill out in the cold while focusing on recovery for people with mild to moderate "mental health problems."  Read our letter to the Commission expressing our concerns.

New Video
This year's Circle of Strength fundraiser luncheon featured a new video on the the Family-to-Family education course.  The video is now available here.  See below for more from the event!

Circle of Strength 2012
Our fourth annual Circle of Strength fundraiser luncheon will be on May 12, 2012.  If you would like to get involved as a volunteer or attend the event as a guest, please contact us by phone or email right away! Planning is already underway.  Many people who attend Circle of Strength learn about the Family Support Centre for the first time, so the event has an important outreach component as well as raising funds to help us continue our work with families coping with serious mental illnesses.  Watch the 2011 video here.

VCH Review of Marek Kwapiszewski's Suicide Misses the Point
Vancouver Coastal's review of the death of Marek Kwapiszewski's death in June 2008 did not address the core problem of healthcare professionals requiring dangerousness before considering involuntary treatment. Under the Mental Health Act, a person may be treated without consent in order "to prevent the person's substantial mental or physical deterioration," which was clearly the situation in this case. See the Media Centre for the news release, background information, and media coverage.

NSSS Calls for Case Review
One year after the death of her brother, Halina Haboosheh is speaking out about the case in the hope that it will help save lives. NSSS submitted a letter to Vancouver Coastal Health Interim President and CEO Dr. David Ostrow with a detailed description of how the system failed Marek - a man who was obviously very ill and in need of treatment - and how the many attempts by his sister to get him help were brushed off. Read the full text of the letter, NSSS news release, and related news stories in the Media Centre.

Family Support Group
The NSSS Family Support Group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Family Support Centre in West Vancouver. For information and to confirm the next date call 604-926-0856. The Family Support Group provides an opportunity for those whose loved ones have a mental illness to share experiences and insights with each other. For details, see our Support group page.


If you wish to support the work of this website or the North Shore Schizophrenia Society's programs generally, you can now do so online, using the facilities of Canada Helps, the online donations agency for non-profit groups in Canada. It's the quick and easy way to help us continue to offer counselling, education and other support services. Click here to view our page on Canada Helps.  If you would like to make a donation or membership payment by credit card, you may also contact the office directly at
604-926-0856 (please do not email credit card information).

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