About Us

BCSS Victoria provides services for people with mental illness, regardless of their diagnosis,  and the people who care about them.  Approximately two-thirds of the people that we serve have schizophrenia or psychosis or a loved one with schizophrenia or psychosis, one third a mood disorder (bipolar disorder or major depression) or a loved one that does.  We also provide service to people with anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and other disorders.  Sometimes people do not have a diagnosis but are behaving in a way that leads others to believe that they have a mental illness.   We can assist in this situation with support, information and strategies to connect with resources.  We provide service to people who have a mental illness with or without a substance use issue (concurrent disorder or dual diagnosis).

Organizational Structure

BCSS Victoria is a part of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC).  The SSC is a national organization that has been in operation since 1979.  Using a federation model, the SSC works with 10 provincial societies and the over 100 chapters and branches, to help individuals with schizophrenia and their families have a better quality of life while a cure is sought.  The federation model enables the Schizophrenia Societies across the country to work together while also recognizing and acknowledging that all provincial societies and the national society are independently incorporated entities according to the laws of their respective jurisdictions.  Each society remains independent in its own internal affairs.

The British Columbia Schizophrenia Society is the provincial organization and was founded in 1982.  Across the province, there are 30 branches and over 1600 members.

BCSS Victoria was founded in 1984 by a group of people who wanted to improve the local services and support for people with schizophrenia and their families.  Many of our founding members are still active in the society today.  Currently, BCSS Victoria is the largest branch of the BC Schizophrenia Society.

BCSS Victoria Board of Directors

BCSS Victoria is governed by a Board of Directors made up of elected volunteer members (see below).  If you are interested in joining the Board, please contact us.

Executive

President: Don Monsour

Secretary: Wendy Brooks

Board of Directors

Samantha Fex

Morna Stephensson

Cory Maruca

Pictures to follow:

Anne-Marie DeSouza

John Fear

Hissein Idriss

Denelle Lambert

Jason Potter

Shanney Thaver

David Butler

Wendy Young

BCSS Victoria Staff Members

Hazel Meredith, Executive Director

Administrative Coordinator, Ben Carson

Mathew Biehn, Family Counselor

Kevin Pryer, Accountant

Don Palmer, Peer Support Coordinator

Wendy Mishkin, Consultant

Michaela Iacob, Respite/Outreach Worker

Paula Roumeliotis, Peer Support Worker

Chris Caleb, Peer Support Worker

John Burke, Peer Support Worker

John Lamont, Peer Support Worker

Andrea Bennington, Peer Support Worker

Rebecca Olson, Peer Support Worker

Jon Van Ziffle, Peer Support Worker

Annual Report

Please click to view our BCSS Victoria Annual Report 2016 as a PDF (will open in a new tab). Right-click and “Save Target As” to save the Annual Report to your computer.