Panel discussion on The Mental Health Priority: Beyond the Pandemic

May 6, 2021 - Defence Stories

To highlight the 70th edition of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week and to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the launch of the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, the “Centre” is proud to host a panel discussion entitled “The Mental Health Priority: Beyond the Pandemic”.

This session will be hosted by Paul Thompson, the Associate Deputy Minister and Mental Health Champion of the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The event will be moderated by Doreen Flynn, Communications Officer in the Strategic Communications and Marketing Branch at ISED.

Mr. Thompson will be honoured to welcome our guest speaker Janice Charette, the Interim Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, as well as our distinguished panellists, Louise Bradley, the former President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Nancy Chahwan, the Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Marie-Chantal Girard, Acting Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Overview

This panel discussion will bring forward observations and lessons learned since the beginning of the pandemic and it’s impacts on our workforce. We will also talk about how COVID-19 is shaping mental health as an ongoing priority for the federal public service.

Given the Clerk’s “Call to action on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion in the Federal Public Service”, we will also review the link between these topics and their affects on the mental health of employees who have experienced racism, inequity and exclusion in their workplaces.

Targeted Audience:

Federal public servants at all level.

Presented by:

 

Mr. Paul Thompson was appointed as Associate Deputy Minister at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada in November 2017.

He has held executive positions in various departments including the Privy Council Office, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat. Prior to his current role, he held several Assistant Deputy Minister positions at Employment and Social Development Canada and most recently as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Skills and Employment Branch.

Mr. Thompson has 3 teenage children and enjoys staying active in a number of summer and winter sports and outdoor activities.

Mr. Thompson holds a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto.

 

Janice Charette became the Interim Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet on March 9, 2021.

Prior to rejoining the Privy Council, Ms. Charette was the High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and agreed to serve as Interim Clerk while Ian Shugart is on medical leave.

From October 2014 to January 2016, Ms. Charette was Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet. Previously, she was Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet (2013-2014), as well as Associate Secretary to the Cabinet and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2010-2013).

In addition, Ms. Charette has held several senior leadership positions in the public service, including:

• Deputy Minister for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (2006–2010)
• Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (2004–2006)
• Associate Deputy Minister for Health Canada (2003–2004)

Ms. Charette attended Carleton University, where she received a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and she was granted an honorary doctorate from Kingston University, United Kingdom. In March 2021, Ms. Charette received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. The designation represents a commitment to excellence in the boardroom and the highest standards of leadership.

 

Louise Bradley, CM MS, RN, CHE, has dedicated her professional life to improving the mental health of Canadians.

Ms. Bradley's own deeply personal experience with recovery has informed a leadership style that is both compassionate and courageous. Unwavering in her commitment to reimagining a recovery-oriented, person-centered mental health system, Ms. Bradley has influenced improved patient care through large-scale hospital administration and pioneered recovery within a forensics and corrections setting.

An impassioned advocate, Ms. Bradley feels her professional perspective is enriched and authenticated by her lived experience. In her prior role as President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), Ms. Bradley oversaw the development of Canada's first Mental Health Strategy, undertook the signature Opening Minds anti-stigma initiative, and created a globally recognized Knowledge Exchange Centre. A tireless advocate for workplace mental health, Ms. Bradley has overseen the creation of the world's first workplace psychological safety standard, which has gained international acclaim.

Lauded as a transformational leader by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), Ms. Bradley received the 2017 Humanitarian Award for her work to enhance the psychological well-being of Canadians. Ms. Bradley is also the recipient of the Innovation Award for Health Care Leadership, bestowed by the Canadian College of Health Leaders, as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.  In June 2019, Ms. Bradley was invested as a member of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour, for her contributions to advancing mental health care for Canadians.

She holds degrees from Dalhousie University and Northeastern University in Boston, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science from St. Mary’s University and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Alberta. She is frequently called upon to speak and write nationally and internationally on various mental health topics. Ms. Bradley uses her platform to urge increased mental health funding, and highlight the need to work inclusively to address the mental health needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Ms. Bradley has a passion for nurturing emerging mental health leaders, and prioritizes the mentorship of young champions in the hope of inspiring the next generation of transformational leaders.

 

Nancy Chahwan was named the new Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence in March 2021.

Previously, Ms. Chahwan served as the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in August 2018, where she was responsible for people management policies and compensation for approximately a quarter million people. She has held regional and national senior positions in Public Works and Government Services Canada, where she managed large procurement initiatives, led the rehabilitation of Canada’s Parliament buildings, and participated in Canada’s space programs. She also served as Deputy Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency. Her contributions include transforming program policies, implementation excellence, and fostering innovation.

Ms. Chahwan graduated from the École des Hautes études commerciales in Montreal (QC), with a double major in Finance and Management. She has also been active on Boards of Directors of profit and not-for-profit organizations.

She is passionate about authentic leadership, empathetic service and lasting partnerships, and actively champions youth and executives. She is the recipient of the 2017 APEX award for a respectful and healthy workplace.

 

Marie-Chantal Girard was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Pensions and Benefits, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), effective June 4, 2018.

Prior to joining TBS, she held the position of Vice-President, Policy and Communications as well as various senior management positions within Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) and the Quebec Federal Council, where she liaised and coordinated horizontally with the federal community. During the 2000s, she worked on priority policy development issues related to income security and homelessness at Human Resources Development Canada and the National Secretariat for Homelessness.

Over the course of her career, she has developed a regional, national and international perspective, including as Canada's representative and Chair of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Regional Development Policy Committees, as well as during her years of work on labour market development and advocacy in the community and parapublic sectors. She continues to be involved on a voluntary basis.

Ms. Girard holds a Ph.D. in Labor Sociology from the Université du Québec à Montréal, a Master's degree in Sociology and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Université Laval.

When:

Friday, May 7, 2021 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET (Bilingual session)

To register:

Register as an MS TEAMS participant
Registration deadline: May 6, 2021 - 1:00 p.m. ET

* You will receive the login information by email 24 hours prior to the event (based on the email address provided at registration). If you do not receive this information, please check your junk mail folder.
** To reduce the strain on our network, you should access the session on your mobile device or copy the URL and paste it into a browser on a personal device.

A special thanks to our partners who contribute to the offerings of the Centre and who are actively supporting our initiatives:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services, Employment and Social Development Canada, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Finance Canada (Department of), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Library and Archives Canada, National Research Council Canada, Privy Council Office, Public Service Commission, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Shared Services Canada, Statistics Canada, Office of the Ombudsman of Mental Health and Well-being for Small Departments and Agencies, Transport Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Sincerely,

The Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
Email: mhc-csm@canada.ca

Join our network on GCConnex!