For the seventh year the Champions of Mental Health banquet has honoured the work and contributions of those making a positive impact to improve the lives of those struggling with mental illness.
The event is sponsored by the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan with all profits going to the North Battleford branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
This year there were four awards presented to outstanding local Champions of Mental Health:
Theresa Knutson received a Mental Health Employee Award.
Lucy Bendall presented the award to Knutson on behalf of her son Richard Bendall, who passed away last December. Knutson was his community mental health nurse for five years as he suffered from schizophrenia, and she was credited with improving his quality of life.
Knutson has been a nurse for over 34 years, including at Saskatchewan Hospital and the Battlefords Mental Health Center, and spoke of how rewarding her career was.
"For me it is all about human interaction and that human connection that I am so lucky to experience every day," she said in accepting her award.
Also receiving a Mental Health Employee Award is Dr. Magdelena (Nina) Marcelo. Dr. Marcelo is approaching retirement and has spent 51 years practising psychiatry, more than 40 of which were in Saskatchewan.
Amanda Rowley presented the award to Dr. Marcelo. In describing her, Rowley said "she still genuinely loves her work, burnout isn't a word for her."
There were two Community Champion awards and one of them went to Diane Grondin. She is a pharmacist at Fisher's Drug Store where she has worked and been a business partner since 1996.
Cathy Watson presented her with the award, which recognized her work in accommodating the needs of her clients, including mental health clients. She was credited for her thorough knowledge of medications and in treating her customers with respect and privacy.
The other Community Champion award went to Innovation Credit Union. Kayla Metlewsky of Innovation Credit Union accepted the award on behalf of the company from Marion Palidwor, who credited them for their community support and sponsorship of their event for the last seven years.
Palidwor was in for a surprise, as a special award was presented to her by Executive Director Bob Allen of the Registered Psychiatric Nursing Association. Palidwor was credited for her tireless volunteer efforts on council, and in the community with the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association including on council and as President, and was instrumental in starting the Champions of Mental Health event seven years ago.
