Virtual May 2021 Dinner Meeting

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A Conversation About Mental Health

We are pleased to host BC's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Sheila Malcolmson, during the May Dinner Meeting to discuss the support and efforts being provided to British Columbians to combat the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following the keynote presentation, we are hosting a panel of mental health experts, Executive Director of BC Housing, Dominic Flanagan, and Project Coordinator of We All Play a R.O.L.E, Daniel Snyder, to answer your questions. 

About Our Keynote
Sheila Malcolmson was elected as MLA for Nanaimo in 2019, re-elected in 2020, and is now the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. She is the Vice-Chair of the Cabinet Working Group on Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Social Initiatives.

Prior to her election as an MLA, Sheila was elected four times to the Islands Trust Council, serving six of those years as Chair of the Islands Trust Council, where she championed fair ferry service, marine safety and oil spill prevention. She signed a government-to-government protocol between the Snuneymuxw First Nation and the Islands Trust ? establishing a relationship of respect and cooperation in planning, land use management and heritage conservation.

In 2015, Sheila was elected as federal MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith and was a leading advocate for women?s equality and oceans protection.

Prior to entering public life, Sheila worked as a sea kayak guide in B.C.?s wilderness and ran a tourism management business for twelve years. She also worked for Energy Probe Research Foundation and the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, and was a board member for the Conservation Council of Ontario and the BC Sustainable Energy Association. Sheila holds a B.A. in Environmental and Resource Studies from Trent University.

Sheila lives on Gabriola Island with her partner Howard, a fisheries biologist and climate change researcher.
  
About Our Panelists
Dominic Flanagan - Since 2005, Dominic Flanagan has been directing programs for BC Housing, currently serving as Executive Director of Supportive Housing Program. His role includes providing strategy and leadership in the development and implementation of community-based supportive housing programs for vulnerable and marginalized populations, integrating diverse perspectives, and building collaborative relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. 

Daniel Snyder - Daniel Snyder is a passionate recovery & harm reduction advocate. He likes to play poker & chess, spend time in nature & travel. Daniel focuses on sharing his story, advocating for drug policy change, and reducing stigma surrounding substance use & the current ongoing overdose crisis.  

He spent over fifteen years addicted to heroin and survived overdose. Daniel's path to recovery featured many ups and downs including numerous trips to detox and treatment. 

Today Daniel's message is to offer hope to those who are still struggling with substance use disorders and their loved ones.  Daniel recognizes addiction as essentially learned unhealthy bonding behavior, and that people struggling with an addiction are disconnected from themselves and society. He feels our primary goal should be to help them form healthy connections.  

Daniel is currently the chair of the Langley Overdose response community action table, and coordinates the We All Play a ROLE overdose education & naloxone training program.

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