The Courage to Come Back Awards

			What is the Courage to Come Back? The Courage to Come Back is an annual public awareness campaign that searches for and celebrates the exceptional courage of individuals, throughout Ontario, who are overcoming the challenges of living with a serious illness, injury or addiction. Nine individuals who serve as models of hope and inspiration to others facing similar circumstances will be recognized. Do you know someone who deserves a Courage to Come Back Award? Nominate the most courageous person you know in one of the following categories: Mental Health -- People overcoming the challenges of living with a mental illness. Addiction -- People with an addiction who have been in recovery for a minimum of two years. Concurrent Disorders -- People overcoming the challenges of living with concurrent addiction and mental health problems. Physical Rehabilitation -- People who have endured a serious trauma or injury which has required extensive rehabilitation. General Medicine -- People overcoming the challenges of living with serious medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease or AIDS. Child and Family -- Children (12 and under) who, with the support of their family, are dealing with a serious injury, illness or addiction. Youth -- Youth (between 13 and 24) overcoming the challenges of living with a serious injury, illness or addiction. Seniors -- Seniors (65 and over) overcoming the challenges of living with a serious injury, illness or addiction. Celebrity -- Celebrities overcoming the challenges of living with a serious injury, illness or addiction.		En Français | Help | Search | Events | CAMH Library | Guide to CAMH | Donate Now       On this page What is the Courage to Come Back? Do you know someone who deserves a Courage to Come Back Award? Courage to Come Back Awards and Dinner 2000 The Co-Chairs for 2000 Profiles of Courage to Come Back Award Recipients Photos from the 1999 Courage to Come Back Awards Corporate Partners 2000 For further information Related Pages Centred on Hope Campaign Foundation Newsletters Spring/Summer 2000 Winter 1999/2000 1999 Courage to Come Back awards given -- from The Journal of Addiction and Mental Health *Don't have Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader? Get it here, for free.

			Courage to Come Back Awards and Dinner 2000 It was an evening of heroes and humanitarians. More than eight hundred guests gathered at The Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre on May 4 to celebrate the personal triumph of nine courageous individuals. The Courage to Come Back Awards, sponsored by the CAMH Foundation and its partners, honours the accomplishments of those who have overcome the challenges of living with a serious physical or mental illness, injury or addiction. (see profile on page 6) The goal of the Courage to Come Back campaign is to increase community awareness, raise funds and pay tribute to individuals who have helped reduce the stigma that surrounds addiction and mental illness. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Ambrose Redmoon "Courage is moving forward in the face of adversity and fear." Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President and CEO, CAMH "Courage is conquering the mountain within you." Rick Mackenzie, Chair, Courage to Come Back Committee "Courage is facing your fears head on, never giving up, and drawing on your inner strength to overcome any obstacle or embrace any challenge in your path." Emily Markle Anthony Aquan-Assee Katie Simard (Right) with Sister Marie-Audrey, who nominated her. (L-R) Carol Mott from CFRB AM 1010, Emily Markle, Gerald C. Throop, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, Equity Markets Group, Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. and Foundation Board Member, and Honorary Co-Chair Brian Stemmle.		Award Recipients Anthony Aquan-Assee Physical Rehabilitation Sponsored by Bank of Montreal Muriel Cadotte Concurrent Disorders Sponsored by CAW Canada Ron Ellis Celebrity Sponsored by The Toronto Sun Emily Markle Youth Sponsored by Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. Carolynne Pratt Mental Health Sponsored by Eli Lilly Canada Roger Roberts General Medicine Sponsored by Royal Investment Services Robert Ross Addiction Sponsored by Ernst & Young Katherine Simard Child and Family Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation Inc. and Power Workers' Union Herbert Simpson Seniors Sponsored by Manulife Financial Media Sponsors CFRB*AM*1010 The Toronto Sun

			Hockey great Ron Ellis (right) and past recipient David Onley, Science and Technology Specialist, City TV. Herbert Simpson Muriel Cadotte (right) and Joyce Conaty, a therapist who worked with Muriel from the Women's Addiction Services of the CAMH. Roger Roberts (L to r) Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President and CEO, CAMH, the Honourable Michael Wilson and Gaetano Crupi, President and CEO of Eli Lilly Canada. (L to r) Robert Ross, Brian Stemmle, Robert's wife Mary, and Martha Tory, Partner, Ernst and Young.		Don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader? Get it here, for free.

			The Co-Chairs for 2000 Brian Stemmle Silken Laumann Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2000 Courage to Come Back Campaign

			Profile: Courage to Come Back Award Recipients On May 4th, Carolynne Pratt received the Courage to Come Back Award for Mental Health. Carolynne Pratt's life story could inspire a novel. Imagine a heroine who survives 20 years of domestic abuse, repeated hospitalization, homelessness and multiple suicide attempts. But the story doesn't end there. In this tale, the heroine emerges to become a mental health professional, who draws on her own experiences to help others in need. Carolynne entered the mental health system in 1970. For the next 20 years, she was in and out of psychiatric institutions for up to six months at a time. She received several different diagnoses, including Bipolar Affective Disorder and Personality Disorder. After enduring a 23-year abusive relationship, a period of homelessness and several suicide attempts, she found the courage to overcome the odds. For Carolynne, recovery began when she realized a need to "give back." She started volunteering as a recreation instructor at Community Living, London and Mission Services, Rotholme. Next came a return to school. Beginning at an elementary-school level, she managed to go from Grade 7 to college graduate in five years. Even more remarkable, she graduated Fanshawe's Recreation and Leisure Services program with an overall average of 98 per cent.

			Centre for Addiction and Mental Health physician Joel Jeffries poses with recipient Nicole Rektor, whom he nominated for the 1999 Youth Category Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston, Volunteer and CAMH employee Violetta Petrov, and Gordon Singer, who received the 1999 Courage to Come Back Award in the Mental Illness category.

			The 1999 Courage to Come Back Award Recipients: Back, l-r Mark Leduc, Celebrity; George Panagapka, Chemical Dependency; Gordon Singer, Mental Illness; Elinor Dumbreck, Physical Injury; Gerald Mitchell, General Medical Illness; Front l-r, Nicole Rektor, Youth; Marjorie Flynn, Seniors George Panagapka, Chemical Dependency Recipient, is clearly delighted by the award and kind words from the Honourable Michael Wilson. Honorary co-chairs Silken Laumann and Mark Tewksbury look on. (L-R) Mark Tewksbury, Honorary Co-Chair, Sandy Naiman, Celebrity Recipient 1998 presenting to the 1999 Celebrity Recipient Mark Leduc, and Silken Laumann, Honorary Co-Chair.

			We Thank our Corporate Partners 2000 RBC Dominion Securities The Toronto Sun Bank of Montreal Ernst and Young Eli Lilly Canada Inc. CAW Manulife Financial Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. Power Workers' Union and Ontario Power Generation

			We Thank Our Corporate Sponsors 2000 AUDIENCE Communications Inc. Canadian Tire CFRB AM 1010     Drug Trading Company Limited

			For further information, please contact: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation 33 Russell Street, Second Floor Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1 (416) 979-6909 Toll-free 1-800-414-0471 Fax: (416) 979-6910 Charitable Registration #BN 106932320RR0001 DISCLAIMER: The Centre is not able to provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their family doctors, or their local mental health or addiction agency for further information.		© Copyright Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 33 Russell Street, Toronto Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1. Telephone: (416) 535-8501 The Centre is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. A Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre For inquiries regarding the content of this page, contact Please direct technical questions or comments about this site to
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			For further information, please contact: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation 33 Russell Street, Second Floor Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1 (416) 979-6909 Toll-free 1-800-414-0471 Fax: (416) 979-6910 Charitable Registration #BN 106932320RR0001 For general information on addiction and mental health: Call the R. Samuel McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre Toll free in Ontario 1-800-463-6273 or local (416) 595-6111 www.camh.net/mclaughlin DISCLAIMER: The Centre is not able to provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their family doctors, or their local mental health or addiction agency for further information.		© Copyright Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 33 Russell Street, Toronto Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1. Telephone: (416) 535-8501 The Centre is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. A Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre For inquiries regarding the content of this page, contact Please direct technical questions or comments about this site to If you are a spammer or spam-harvesting robot, please send mail to imaspammer-on@lists.camh.net.
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This page was last modified on August 20, 2003.