As we close a landmark year for the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our members, volunteers, partners and supporters across the country who have helped CASP mark four decades of hope, advocacy and action.
Our 40th anniversary has been a year of meaningful change: one marked by renewed leadership, amplified programming and a strengthened national presence. This spirit of momentum was perhaps best reflected at our 35th Annual National Suicide Prevention Conference held in Richmond Hill, Ontario this past May.
Under the theme “Lean In and Listen,” more than 300 participants from across Canada gathered to share knowledge, deepen relationships and reaffirm our collective commitment to suicide prevention and life promotion work. We were especially honoured to welcome keynote speakers like Michael Landsberg –whose longstanding mental health advocacy continues to inspire – and Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, an award-winning leader in global suicide prevention.
This fall, I was humbled to be appointed CASP’s permanent Executive Director, a mandate I embrace with gratitude, responsibility and optimism. Guided by CASP’s renewed vision and the four strategic pillars outlined by our Board – federal advocacy, public communications, strategic partnerships and diversified fundraising – we are entering a new phase of ambitious growth as a national charity.
These priorities reflect our commitment to elevating suicide prevention and life promotion as essential public policy issues, strengthening partnerships across sectors and building a more sustainable, resilient organization for decades to come. I’m buoyed by the confidence expressed by CASP’s Board and I look forward to continuing the work of listening deeply, building trust and centring the voices of those with lived and living experience of suicide or suicide loss.
This year also saw CASP lead two deeply impactful World Suicide Prevention Day initiatives that embodied the themes of remembrance, resilience and community connection. On September 10, our fourth annual Forest of Hope officially opened in Stony Plain, Alberta: an extraordinary partnership with Roots of Hope, the Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program and the Town of Stony Plain. More than 80 community members gathered in this dedicated green space to honour loved ones, reflect and find healing in nature’s presence.
Our World Suicide Prevention Day webinar and toolkit also achieved record engagement with our webinar attracting over 1,000 registrations and more than 460 attendees. We were deeply honoured to host Board member Elder John, a third-degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society and Métis scholar Lindsay DuPre. Elder John shared rich Traditional Knowledge and Teachings that speak to the heart of relational wellbeing, while Lindsay illuminated how Indigenous Knowledge systems and the rigour of Indigenous Science can reshape our understanding of community, belonging and life promotion. Their insights reminded us that new pathways emerge when we expand whose wisdom we value and elevate.
As CASP enters its 41st year, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose and a steadfast belief that a Canada without Suicide is possible. The work ahead is complex, but it is also filled with hope; hope grounded in evidence, compassion, partnership and the unwavering commitment of people like you. Today, on behalf of our organization, I extend my best wishes to you and your families for a safe and healthy holiday season and to a hopeful year ahead. Together, we will continue to build a future where every life is valued, supported and protected.
With hope and gratitude,
Andrew Perez (he/him)
Executive Director, CASP
As we close a landmark year for the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our members, volunteers, partners and supporters across the country who have helped CASP mark four decades of hope, advocacy and action.
Our 40th anniversary has been a year of meaningful change: one marked by renewed leadership, amplified programming and a strengthened national presence. This spirit of momentum was perhaps best reflected at our 35th Annual National Suicide Prevention Conference held in Richmond Hill, Ontario this past May.
Under the theme “Lean In and Listen,” more than 300 participants from across Canada gathered to share knowledge, deepen relationships and reaffirm our collective commitment to suicide prevention and life promotion work. We were especially honoured to welcome keynote speakers like Michael Landsberg –whose longstanding mental health advocacy continues to inspire – and Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, an award-winning leader in global suicide prevention.
This fall, I was humbled to be appointed CASP’s permanent Executive Director, a mandate I embrace with gratitude, responsibility and optimism. Guided by CASP’s renewed vision and the four strategic pillars outlined by our Board – federal advocacy, public communications, strategic partnerships and diversified fundraising – we are entering a new phase of ambitious growth as a national charity.
These priorities reflect our commitment to elevating suicide prevention and life promotion as essential public policy issues, strengthening partnerships across sectors and building a more sustainable, resilient organization for decades to come. I’m buoyed by the confidence expressed by CASP’s Board and I look forward to continuing the work of listening deeply, building trust and centring the voices of those with lived and living experience of suicide or suicide loss.
This year also saw CASP lead two deeply impactful World Suicide Prevention Day initiatives that embodied the themes of remembrance, resilience and community connection. On September 10, our fourth annual Forest of Hope officially opened in Stony Plain, Alberta: an extraordinary partnership with Roots of Hope, the Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program and the Town of Stony Plain. More than 80 community members gathered in this dedicated green space to honour loved ones, reflect and find healing in nature’s presence.
Our World Suicide Prevention Day webinar and toolkit also achieved record engagement with our webinar attracting over 1,000 registrations and more than 460 attendees. We were deeply honoured to host Board member Elder John, a third-degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society and Métis scholar Lindsay DuPre. Elder John shared rich Traditional Knowledge and Teachings that speak to the heart of relational wellbeing, while Lindsay illuminated how Indigenous Knowledge systems and the rigour of Indigenous Science can reshape our understanding of community, belonging and life promotion. Their insights reminded us that new pathways emerge when we expand whose wisdom we value and elevate.
As CASP enters its 41st year, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose and a steadfast belief that a Canada without Suicide is possible. The work ahead is complex, but it is also filled with hope; hope grounded in evidence, compassion, partnership and the unwavering commitment of people like you. Today, on behalf of our organization, I extend my best wishes to you and your families for a safe and healthy holiday season and to a hopeful year ahead. Together, we will continue to build a future where every life is valued, supported and protected.
With hope and gratitude,
Andrew Perez (he/him)
Executive Director, CASP