Stories & Impact | Safe and Well Waterloo Region

Addressing Mental Health and Addictions

"Mental health and addictions needs in Waterloo Region are escalating and addressing them requires coordinated system leadership. The Mental Health and Addictions System Transformation Team brings organizations and people with lived experience together to close service gaps, strengthen prevention, and build a more connected and responsive system of care for our community."

— Tracy Elop, CEO, Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health (Co-Chair of Addressing Mental Health and Addictions Action Table)

Addressing Mental Health and Addictions

"From a family and caregiver perspective, it is so important to bring the members of the STT together from across the region to work to identify and fill gaps in mental health and addiction services. These are encountered by families each and every day as we work to navigate and find help for our loved ones. The STT has proven that it can identify these gaps, bring a team together to focus on one of them, and put ‘fixes’ in place that will improve that part of the system for the next family coming into it."

— Steve Keczem, Family member with lived experience (Co-Chair of Addressing Mental Health and Addictions Action Table)

Combatting Hate

"The slogan itself, the campaign’s message — Hate is not OK. Name It. Report It. It means a lot for me. It means it’s not just about good intentions. It’s about taking action against hate."

— Fauzia Mazhar, Executive Director, Centre for Mutual Wellbeing

Addressing Gender-Based Violence

"As a survivor of gender-based violence, I’m grateful to see a plan that brings together such a broad and committed network of agencies and resources. This kind of coordinated action is exactly what we need to address the urgent, systemic issues we’re facing and to create real pathways to safety and healing."

— Robin Heald, Executive Director, Child Witness Centre

"This declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic has already moved from symbolism to action by including Intimate Partner Violence and Gender-Based Violence as a stand-alone pillar in the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan."

— Jennifer Hutton, CEO, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (Co-Chair of Addressing Gender-Based Violence Action Table)

"Intimate partner violence and gender-based violence are issues which strike at the very heart of how we engage as community. Non-violence and respect in our intimate relationships serves as the organizing story for all relationships we perform as partners, parents, friends, and neighbours. This principle is upheld by the inclusion of Intimate Partner Violence and Gender-Based Violence as a pillar of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan."

— Christine Taylor, Manager, Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Care Centre

"At the Waterloo Region District School Board, we believe that safe and inclusive learning environments and community spaces are foundational to a healthy and thriving community. The WRDSB embraces our role as a partner in building and contributing to a Waterloo Region where everyone feels they belong."

— Scott Miller, Director of Education, Waterloo Region District School Board