Dave Richardson
Board Chair — Board Director
Dave Richardson is the Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society. He is also a director of GreenPower Motor Company and a director of Richardson International Limited. He founded Octaform Systems Inc. and formerly served as its President and CEO.
Dave’s commitment to mental health is deeply personal. His experiences with bullying, depression, and anxiety have shaped his determination to make it easier for others to speak openly and seek support. Rural Minds Matter was his brainchild, inspired by his concern for people in rural communities, particularly men, who may feel pressure to struggle in silence. He continues to champion the initiative and shares his own story through the Society’s documentary series and speaking opportunities to help others feel less alone.
Karen Fonseth
Vice-Chair — Board Director
Karen Fonseth is a seasoned executive with 25 years of CEO experience, most recently leading one of Canada’s largest nonprofit organizations supporting people with intellectual disabilities.
Dr Wei-Yi Song, MD, FRCPC, DFCPA, DLFAPA
Board Director
Dr Song was born and raised in Hunan, China. He obtained his undergraduate medical degree from Xiangya Medical School, SouthCentral University (formerly Hunan Medical University) in China in 1989. He moved to Montreal in that year. He worked as a research associate at clinical psychopharmacology clinic affiliated with Department of Psychiatry, McGill University between 1990-94.
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He completed psychiatry residency at University of Saskatchewan. He obtained his FRCPC (Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) in June,1999. Upon completion of residency, he moved to Victoria, BC. He has been working as a consultant psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry, Island Health, South Island since July 1999. He has been instrumental in establishing interventional psychiatry with Island health. He is currently Head of the Department of Psychiatry, and Executive Medical Director, MHSU, Island Health.
Dr Song has always been involved in medical education and research in psychiatry. He is a clinical professor with Department of Psychiatry, UBC, and distinguished professor of psychiatry with South Central University, Xiang Ya Medical School.
In September 2018, he was inaugurated as the President of Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA). He is the first psychiatrist of Chinese descent to be elected as president in CPA’s history. He wass an executive of CPA Board between 2016-2023. He was an Executive member of British Columbia Psychiatric Association (BCPA) 2010-2023. He is a distinguished Life Fellow of American Psychiatric Association. He is a distinguished fellow of Canadian Psychiatric Association.
Jim Devoe
Board Director
Jim Devoe has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples since 2012. The national Indigenous organization represents and advocates for off-reserve Status and Non-Status Indians, Métis and Southern Inuit Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, remote and isolated communities across Canada.
Nigel Andison
Board Director
As Managing Director of Pathfinder Asset Management, I am honored to contribute to the Board’s mission of improving mental health outcomes. My own journey through depression and addiction taught me the importance of asking for help and the consequences of waiting too long to do so. Today, I am committed to supporting programs that encourage young people to reach out early and access the resources they need. Having grown up on a small Gulf Island, I have seen the effects of isolation on rural communities, making our Rural Minds Matter initiative particularly close to my heart.
Tara Brousseau Snider, MA, MCCP
Board Director
Tara Brousseau Snider is the Executive Director of Aulneau Renewal Centre and provides counselling through Recovery of Hope. Other previous roles have included CEO at Sara Riel Inc., Executive Director of Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, and Administrator for two personal care homes.
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Mrs. Snider has served as Vice-Chair of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, Co-Chair of the Reseau Compassion Network of Manitoba’s Mental Health, Substance Use and Addictions committee, former member of the Manitoba Psychological Steering committee for COVID-19 and member of the Health and Addictions Network, and member of the Social Services Advisory Committee. She currently sits on the Board of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Tara holds a Master of Arts degree from Yorkville University in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University.
DR. GENIEVE BURLEY
Board Director
Dr. Genieve Burley is a chiropractor in Vancouver, BC. She has spent the past 17 years working in the fitness industry and studying movement as it relates to aging and mental health. She is passionate about wellness and has shared her knowledge on television, radio and in numerous publications.
Andrea Paquette
CEO and Co-Founder – Ex-officio Board Director
Andrea Paquette is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society and serves as an advisory, non-voting member of its Board of Directors. She founded the Bipolar Disorder Society of BC in 2010, which later evolved into today’s Stigma-Free Mental Health Society.
Advisory Group
Dr. Shimi Kang
Advisory Member
Dr. Shimi Kang is a physician, neuroscientist, and leading expert in mental health, motivation, and addiction, with over 20 years of experience. She applies neuroscience-based approaches to help individuals build resilience, well-being, and healthy habits.
Dr. Chris Richardson
Advisory Member
Dr. Chris G Richardson is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. His program of research is focused on examining the relationships between aspects of biopsychosocial development in adolescence (e.g., impulsivity, sensation seeking, resilience) and patterns of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other drug use.
Craig Jangula
Advisory Member
Craig Jangula has a talent for understanding and helping to manage complex public policy issues. He brings more than a decade of experience in government and politics to his work at Jangula & Company.
Akshay Gupta
Advisory Member
Akshay is an entrepreneur and product leader with over 15 years of experience building and managing products across fintech, blockchain startups, process improvement, human health, and neuroscience.