Nominations are open for the
2025 Courage To Come Back Awards

A group photo at the "Courage to Come Back Awards 2024" featuring five individuals standing on stage. From left to right: a woman in a purple gown with long straight hair and glasses, a man in a white shirt and tie standing confidently, a man seated in a wheelchair wearing a black suit jacket and beige pants, a woman in a sparkly blue gown with long blonde curls, and a woman in a motorized wheelchair wearing a teal-colored gown. The event backdrop shows the title "Courage to Come Back Awards 2024" with a sponsor logo "Wheaton Precious Metals."
(L to R) Samantha Sewell, Kevin Parker, Leo Sammarelli, Baylie McKnight, Monica Gartner | Photo Credit: Avi Dhillon

The Courage To Come Back Awards

www.couragetocomeback.ca

Rising above adversity in life often means overcoming the challenge of maintaining mental health despite unfathomably difficult circumstances. The Courage To Come Back Awards, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, recognize the lives of five remarkable individuals whose stories inspire acts of courage and compassion, and ensure that Coast Mental Health can continue to provide compassionate, meaningful support for anyone with the courage to come back from mental illness.

Seeking hidden everyday heroes! 

Nominations are open for the 2025 Courage To Come Back Awards, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals.

The purpose of the Courage To Come Back Awards is to pay tribute to those who have overcome overwhelming challenges and now selflessly give back to their community. They are the hidden everyday heroes that deserve to be recognized and be celebrated for their contributions to our communities.

This recognition goes a long way to encouraging these individuals to continue their efforts to inspire those around them. It also gives them a platform to further promote the causes or issues that are important to them. They are our role models.

Bernadine Fox received a Courage To Come Back Award in 2022. Receiving the award has been lifechanging for her: 

“I was feeling quite down about my work. It felt I had been working so hard for so long and the gains being achieved seemed so insignificant. The Courage To Come Back Award changed that. I felt seen and heard. The issue I fight to change was recognized. And it was that internal change that happened that was the most significant for me.  Because of that I have fought harder, spoken louder, and have made many inroads into that change. Behind all of that is remembering that Coast Mental Health Foundation believed in what I do and said so.”

Recipients will be recognized in person in front of over 1,400 people at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 7 2025. They will receive media coverage and their stories will be shared on social media.

The Courage To Come Back Awards will be awarded in four categories:

  •       Addiction
  •       Medical
  •       Mental Health
  •       Youth

“As chair of the Courage To Come Back Awards, reading through the hundreds of nominations we receive every year is a moment I look forward to with great anticipation. All of them are true journeys of bravery, resilience and strength in the face of adversity. I am grateful to those that have the courage to share their stories with us.” Lorne R. Segal, O.B.C., D.Litt. (Hon.), LLD. (Hon.), Chair of the Courage to Come Back Awards, and President of Kingswood Properties Ltd.

 

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan 17th, 2025. To nominate and find out more about the process visit: www.couragetocomeback.ca/Nominations 

 

Media Contact: Sophie Kelk, Senior Manager, Marketing and  Communications: Sophie.Kelk@coastmentalhealth.com

 

Coast Mental Health is one of the largest providers of community-based services for people living with mental illness in British Columbia. We are an established leader in our field, known for high quality, innovative programs and research. As a critical link between hospital services and our communities, Coast Mental Health provides housing, support, and employment programs and services for individuals affected by mental illness, making lasting recovery possible. Each year, we provide essential services to 5,000 clients living with mental illness so they can find their meaningful place in our communities – a place to live, a place to connect, and a place to work. Coast Mental Health Foundation raises funds exclusively for Coast Mental Health. To find out more about the life-changing programs and services offered by Coast Mental Health, visit coastmentalhealth.com.