The person behind the performance: How pressure shapes us

The person behind the performance: How pressure shapes us

Poppy DesClouds has been performing for as long as she can remember. She started ballet at two-and-a-half and began playing violin at three. Performance was a core part of her childhood.

But like many people who grow up performing, she eventually noticed a gap.

People could be deeply committed to what they loved and still hit a wall. Sometimes there’s a shift where something that once felt joyful suddenly feels heavy, frightening or out of reach.

Our Quest Cohort 5 Projects Are Coming to Life

Our Quest cohort 5 projects are coming to life

We’re thrilled to welcome 7 new teams from across the province into ourQuest cohort 5—each one ready to level up their organizational processes and spark meaningful change. Over the next year, these teams will work closely with the Knowledge Institute’s QI coaches, learning from one another, building their QI expertise, and strengthening a culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI) within their organizations.

Our QI coaches are also kicking things off...

Leading with purpose in the child and youth mental health and addictions sector

Leading with purpose in thechild and youth mental health and addictions sector

By: Nicholas Watters

I joined the Knowledge Institute as Executive Director just over a year agoafter nearly 13 and a half years at the Mental Health Commission of Canada.At the time,my youngest son was only six months old. The timing wasn't ideal, but then again, when is it? Sometimes the most meaningful decisions happen when the stakes feel personal. 
I have three boys — now eight, five and a year and a half. And as they've grown,...

On the ground, across the country: What a month of learning taught us

On the ground, across the country: What a month of learning taught us about building better systems of care

At the Knowledge Institute, we learn by building lasting connections throughout the sector. Over the past month, our team joined sector leaders, researchers, and advocates at three major gatherings: the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Congress, the CCSA’s Issue of Substance (IOS) conference, and the Ontario Intensive Treatment Pathway (OITP) symposium.

Though each event focused on...

Reclaiming joy, play and healing for Indigenous families

Reclaiming joy, play and healing for Indigenous families

Last year, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services noticed something powerful happening in their parenting program for Indigenous families. 

One father, who grew up in care had experienced significant trauma, was hesitant to engage in the program at first — he even missed the first session. But when he joined the next session, he embraced the program, joined a cultural early years program, and became one of the first families to...