As of June 19, 2023, Momentum's new address is #132 6325 Gateway Blvd Edmonton, AB T6H 5H6

Momentum Award Winners

Momentum Mental Health Awards

View our past award winners

Momentum Counselling hosted the MMHAs in 2018 and 2019, Edmonton’s largest celebration in the mental health sector. The MMHAs celebrate the mental health community by recognizing both individuals and organizations who have championed mental health initiatives, advocacy efforts and are making a difference in our community. This year, we planned to host the MMHAs at the Fantasyland Hotel on October 6, 2022. Unfortunately, there was not enough interest to make it viable. Thanks to our sponsor, Alberta Blue Cross, as well as the generous support of Stanhope Eatery and Bar, we were able to honour each nominee with a framed certificate, a $75 gift card to Stanhope and a Alberta Blue Cross coffee mug.  Congratulations to all the nominees, and thank you for your leadership championing mental health and wellbeing in our community!

Congratulations to our 2022 Momentum Mental Health Award Recipients!

While the struggle with mental health issues can often be lonely, the path to improving mental health services and removing the stigma is a team effort.

Zita Dube Lockhart

Workplace Mental Health

For outstanding leadership in workplace mental health, through the creation of Canada’s first Trauma-Informed Fitness training certification.

Robert Manolson

Workplace Mental Health

For outstanding leadership in workplace mental health, through the creation of the Powerful Play company, promoting mental wellness and healthy working environments.

Carrie Chase

Workplace Mental Health

For outstanding leadership in workplace mental health, going above and beyond to ensure the mental wellbeing of her clients.

Vanessa Foley

Researcher Clinician

For outstanding clinical skills and training, trauma informed care and advocacy for the wellbeing of clients and community members.

Simone Moniz

Researcher Clinician

For outstanding contributions to stigma reduction, anti-racism and accessible, evidence-based clinical practice.

Timiro Mohamed (The Green Room)

IDEA

For outstanding innovation supporting mental health and wellness for Muslim youth.

Morgan Black

Media

For outstanding advocacy and reporting on mental health and well-being topics.

Krista Malden

Media

For outstanding media promotion of community based mental health and wellness.

Jenan Nasserdeen

Media

For outstanding advocacy and raising awareness of mental health and well-being.

Noreen Sibanda

Leader

For outstanding leadership contributions to the mental health community, founding the Alberta Black Therapists Network.

Mary Logan

Leader

For outstanding leadership in the delivery of mental health peer support.

Ethan Nicolas

Leader

For outstanding leadership in the promotion of health, fitness and mental wellbeing.

YEG Mental Health

Community Organization

For outstanding awareness raising and fundraising in support of mental health initiatives.

Peris Wasonga

Community Organization

For outstanding contributions guiding the Suicide Bereavement Program at CMHA Edmonton.

Alberta Blue Cross

Community Organization

For outstanding contributions supporting rural, remote and secondary communities through the COVID Community Roots Program.

Jaimie Kreklewetz

Momentum Team Member Recognition

For outstanding contributions to MOmentum’s clients and team members in her role as Office Manager.

Matt Jeneroux

Elected Official

For outstanding leadership and advocacy for men’s mental health.

Congratulations to our 2019 Momentum Mental Health Award Winners!

While the struggle with mental health issues can often be lonely, the path to improving mental health services and removing the stigma is a team effort.

Amy Willans

Leader Award

Rafella Mancuso

Young Leader Award

Su-Ling Goh

Traditional Media Award

MLA David Shepherd

Elected Official Award

Dr Vincent Agyapong

Researcher/Clinician Award

Dr. Stephanie Liu (accepted by Erin Manchuk)

New Media Award

John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation

Community Organization Award

Park Memorial Funeral Homes

Workplace Mental Health Award

Imperial Oil

Workplace Mental Health (Energy Sector)

Dr. David St. Arnault

Employee Mental Health Award

Amy Willans

Leader Award

Rafella Mancuso

Young Leader Award

Su-Ling Goh

Traditional Media Award

MLA David Shepherd

Elected Official Award

Dr Vincent Agyapong

Researcher/Clinician Award

Dr. Stephanie Liu (accepted by Erin Manchuk)

New Media Award

John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation

Community Organization Award

Park Memorial Funeral Homes

Workplace Mental Health Award

Imperial Oil

Workplace Mental Health (Energy Sector)

Dr. David St. Arnault

Employee Mental Health Award

Congratulations to our 2018 Momentum Mental Health Award Winners!

While the struggle with mental health issues can often be lonely, the path to improving mental health services and removing the stigma is a team effort.

Elizabeth Turnbull

Leader Award

Bailey Dunbar

Young Leader Award

Quinn Ohler

Traditional Media Award

Councillor Scott McKeen

Elected Official Award

Ibrahim Long

Researcher/Clinician Award

Blake Loates

New Media Award

Mental Rescue Society

Community Organization Award

Jigsaw for Hair

Workplace Mental Health Award

Syncrude

Workplace Mental Health (Energy Sector)

Joanne Brander

Employee Mental Health Award

Elizabeth Turnbull

Leader Award

Bailey Dunbar

Young Leader Award

Quinn Ohler

Traditional Media Award

Councillor Scott McKeen

Elected Official Award

Ibrahim Long

Researcher/Clinician Award

Blake Loates

New Media Award

Mental Rescue Society

Community Organization Award

Jigsaw for Hair

Workplace Mental Health Award

Syncrude

Workplace Mental Health (Energy Sector)

Joanne Brander

Employee Mental Health Award

Recipient: Amy Willans

Nominees: Julie Dick, Jennifer Hope, Blake Loates, Danielle Murray, Darlene Singleton

This award goes to a person who has exemplified leadership in their efforts to raise awareness for and/or reduce the stigma around mental health in the community.

Recipient: Rafella Mancuso

Nominees: David Ilkiw, Jenna Sullivan

This award goes to someone between the age of 13-23 who has exemplified leadership in their efforts to raise awareness for and/or reduce the stigma around mental health in their community.

Recipient: Su-Ling Goh

Nominees: Keith Gerein, Carmen Leibel

The Traditional Media Award goes to a media personality who has utilized their platform to elevate the conversation surrounding mental health and contributed to increasing public awareness of resources available to the mental health community.

Recipient: MLA David Shepherd

Nominees: Irfan Sabir, Ricardo Miranda

The Elected Official Award goes to an elected official who has utilized their platform to ensure the conversation surrounding mental health stays pertinent in their community, through their work and position in the office.

Recipient: Dr Vincent Agyapong

Nominees: Ganz Farence

Researcher/Clinician Award goes to a science-minded individual who has utilized their platform to ensure the conversation surrounding mental health stays pertinent in their community, through their work and research.

Recipient: Dr. Stephanie Liu (accepted by Erin Manchuk)

Nominees: Outrun the Stigma, yegmenshealth.ca

The New Media Award goes to an influencer who has contributed to increasing public awareness of resources available to the mental health community and how others can support and become involved, while also raising awareness of initiatives and causes requiring further community support.

Recipient: John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation

Nominees: AHS Wellness Network, Mental Health Foundation, Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program, November Edmonton, Prosper Place, YEG Talks

The Community Organization Award goes to a representative of a group that has advocated for furthering the conversation on the stigma of mental health in their community through initiatives and projects that have brought the conversation to a broader audience.

Recipient: Park Memorial Funeral Homes

Nominees: City of Edmonton, Corporate Wellness, Workshop Eatery

The Workplace Mental Health Award goes to an employer who has contributed to creating and sustaining a mentally healthy workplace for staff, while also being an advocate for furthering the conversation surrounding the stigma of mental health in the workplace.

Recipient: Imperial Oil

Nominees: Suncor, Shell, ATCO

The Workplace Mental Health: Energy Sector goes to an employer, within the energy sector, who has contributed to creating and sustaining a mentally healthy workplace for staff. This employer makes the mental health of their teams a priority, and is a standard for what support looks like for each individual under any circumstance.

Staff members at Momentum tirelessly give personally and professionally to address the mental health needs of Edmontonians. They hone their skills and fine-tune their craft in order to give the best service possible to everyone they encounter.

Elizabeth is an established Edmonton based opera performer and current educator who lost her husband in 2015 due to complications related to mental illness. With the support of artists from across the country, she put together a nation-wide, live-streamed concert to raise awareness of suicide while paying tribute to her deceased husband.

Bailey is a young 17 year old girl who lost her twin sister to suicide. Fueled by her commitment to end bullying, she has partnered with Edmonton Mental Health Awareness Committee on a number of initiatives including The Bridge of Life, YEG Semicolon, and Community Breakfast Events. She is also piloting a youth stakeholder group to identify what types of topics and events would inspire youth to connect with future anti-bullying initiatives.

Quinn Ohler anchors Global News Hour at 6 and Global News at 11 weekends on Global Edmonton. She is also a board member for the Mental Rescue Organization, a not-for-profit focused on raising funds and awareness for mental health, and for the last two years, has helped coordinate the Great Stair Climb event for Momentum Walk-In Counselling. Quinn has also made a stand against cyberbullying by publicly responding to hate mail with confidence and grace

Scott is the City Councillor for Ward 6, and has always been actively involved in the community, even before his election win, as Director of the Downtown Edmonton Community League, the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, the Downtown Vibrancy Task Force, the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health and the Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addiction. Since his election in 2013, Scott has advocated for our most vulnerable population with his Mental Health and Urban Isolation initiative and through affordable housing and harm reduction strategies.

Ibrahim is the only Muslim Hospital Chaplain in Canada who is a certified member of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). He actively starts conversations about mental health in many mosques, community centres, and other gathering places. Beyond making himself available to community members in need, he has developed multiple training and mentorship programs to provide access to, education on, and understanding of mental health.

Blake is a talented local photographer who uses her platform to advocate for mental health. Living with Bipolar Disorder herself, Blake has made it her mission to open a positive yet honest dialogue about ending the mental health stigma. She regularly works with multiple mental health organizations to reduce stigma and raise awareness of support and services for mental health in the community, while sharing her own mental health journey regularly through social media and creating mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiatives including the We All Believe In You project, and the Messages of Hope project.

Mental Rescue Society is a non-profit advocacy organization that raises awareness for PTSD in first responders and fire personnel. Through public campaigns, their team increases awareness while supporting programs and services for all individuals and their families. Co-founded by first responders who banded together to put a spotlight on PTSD and mental health issues. The Mental Rescue Society hosts events to raise money for mental health resources in Edmonton.

Tawsha Klein-Sparks, Owner of Jigsaw for Hair, has invested in weekly stylist training that includes health and wellness topics, as clients often unload their heavy-weighing issues on their stylists. She has also brought in a Registered Psychologist to talk to her staff about coping with their own issues and how to address client difficulties and has invited many other mental health experts into the salon to educate her staff while creating a positive workplace culture that promotes support, relationship building, self-care, and communication.

Syncrude has a health care team dedicated to employee health and wellness, and undertakes a number of ongoing initiatives to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health. These include communication, wellness fairs, an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), supports over and above EFAP, and sponsoring lectures that are open to employees and the community.

Joanne Brander is a Canadian Certified Counsellor, Momentum Team Lead and Volunteer Coordinator. When Momentum was founded, Joanne signed up as Secretary of the Board. She volunteered as one of Momentum?s first therapists, and she is always the first person to jump in and help when there is a flood or an office relocation. She is not only a stellar therapist, but a thoughtful, caring mentor and team member.

MOMENTUM WALK-IN COUNSELLING COVID-19 RESPONSE

NEW! IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS AS WELL AS ONLINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE!

With the health, safety and comfort of our clients and team members being our first priority, we are transitioning to in-person counselling on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only, beginning April 1st. We will continue to offer all of our services virtually as well. When booking your preferred method, please watch for ‘in person’ or ‘virtual’ offerings in the schedule.

Should you have any questions please email info@walkinedmonton.org or call us at 780 757-0900.

If you require immediate assistance please contact the Distress Line at 780-482-4357, Access 24/7 at 780-424-2424 or 911.