Re: Awards honour regionB次元官网网址檚 leaders, B次元官网网址, Feb. 29, 2012.

The Victoria Leadership Awards ceremony was a momentous event. I was very honoured to be a finalist in the United Way category for my work in promoting respect and understanding towards people with mental illnesses.

I envision a community where people with mental illnesses are valued and perceived as whole people first, with all of their talents and smarts that they bring to the table.

Not only is the stigma about mental illness destructive to the people affected, it is destructive to our community.

We all have to work hard to eradicate that stigma that robs people of proper health care and treatment and their right to contribute and be involved in our community.

Equally disturbing, it robs our community of their significant gifts. In a stigma-free society, everybody wins.

Doreen Marion Gee

Victoria