The North Shore Schizophrenia Society is here to help you cope - with support, information, counselling, education, advocacy and fellowship.

The NSSS consists of family members and friends of the mentally ill who know what others are going through, and can help by sharing their experience.

At the heart of our operation is the Family Support Centre: suite 205, 1865 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, open between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Please call us at 604-926-0856 to arrange an appointment.  If you’re not free during those hours, we’ll meet with you when you can make it.  Residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor can call the Centre at the above number or contact Sue, our contact person in Squamish, at 604-898-9372.

The Centre provides personal support and information on major mental illnesses - schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders. We also provide a wide range of programs, plus education and information for schools and the general public. To find out more about these programs and our other activities, please explore this website.

Celebrating Canada's Birthday
It was another beautiful Canada Day this year, and NSSS was out in full force at the North Shore Canada Day parade.  Thousands lined the streets on and around Lonsdale, waving and cheering as our volunteers handed out information on serious mental illness.  Thanks again to North Shore Mitsubishi for providing another Eclipse Spyder for us to drive in this parade (see West Vancouver Community Day parade, below).

18th Annual Walk the World
The 18th annual Walk the World for Schizophrenia - NSSS's own awareness event - was on Sunday, June 28.  City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto officially launched the Walk, then joined in, walking from John Lawson Park to Dundarave Pier and back on the West Vancouver Memorial Sea Walk.  Thanks to Marketplace IGA in Dundarave for donating bottled water for participants and Ambleside Safeway for supplying the helium to fill our balloons.
Photo, top: City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto (centre) and NSSS president Herschel Hardin (right) lead the Walk in matching NSSS t-shirts. Bottom: Volunteers enjoy the fine weather while distributing information to the public.

NSSS Elects New Board Members
Several new board members were elected at the NSSS annual general meeting on June 10.  President Marguerite Hardin, vice-president Judy Towill and members-at-large Mason Harris and Rachel Speiran stepped down at the end of their terms, with our sincere thanks for their dedicated service.
The NSSS board of directors as of June 10, 2009:
President: Herschel Hardin
Vice-President: Janice Lilley
Treasurer: Halina Haboosheh
Secretary:  Ida McQuilkin
Members-at-Large: Janet Blue, Byron Giraud and Marti Sevier

West Vancouver Community Day Parade
Our banner was flying once again at the first parade of the summer.  The West Vancouver Community Day parade gives non-profit organizations and local schools a chance to shine and we had a great group of volunteers helping out.  Thanks to North Shore Mitsubishi for lending us a shiny, new Eclipse Spyder.

First Ever Circle of Strength Fundraiser
On Saturday, May 2, 135 people joined us at the Holiday Inn North Vancouver for the first large-scale fundraiser in our 26 year history.  Many of those who attended were learning about NSSS and the Family Support Centre for the first time.  Christopher Heyerdahl, currently starring in the sci-fi television series Sanctuary and filming the sequel to the box office hit Twilight, was Master of Ceremonies at Circle of Strength.  Deepest thanks to presenting sponsor North Shore Credit Union and Parkgate branch manager Andrea Conn, who opened the event.  Special thanks go to R.J. Sauer of Brüdder Productions and his partner Sarah Dickinson, who donated many hours and their expertise to produce the video, Margitta's Flowers for donating the beautiful centrepieces, and Kanata Tech Inc. for loaning us one of their laptop computers at no charge.  And, of course, nothing we do happens without the many volunteers who so generously give their time before, during and after events.  Photo, top: Herschel Hardin (left) speaks about the past, present and future of the Family Support Centre.  Also pictured, Master of Ceremonies Christopher Heyerdahl (right).

West Vancouver Community Foundation Support
On May 5, NSSS, along with other non-profit organizations serving West Vancouver, was presented with a grant by West Vancouver Community Foundation chair Helen Vanee and West Vancouver mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.  The grant provides funding for our Family-to-Family education course, still running full classes twice a year - often with a waiting list - after ten years of offering the program.  A total of $40,250 in grants were awarded by the Foundation to serve the community of West Vancouver.  Thanks WVCF!

Family Support Group
The Family Support Group meets on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If you wish to attend, please call 604-926-0856 to register and confirm the next date .

The Family Support Group provides an opportunity for those whose loved ones have a mental illness to share experiences and insights with each other. For details, see our Support Group page.

Sea to Sky Family Support Group
For those who live in or near Squamish or Whistler, our Sea to Sky Family Support Group meets in Squamish on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.  For more information, please call 604-898-9372.

 If you wish to support the work of this website or the North Shore Schizophrenia Society's programs generally, you can now do so online, using the facilities of Canada Helps, the online donations agency for non-profit groups in Canada. It's the quick and easy way to help us continue to offer counselling, education and other support services. Click here to view our page on Canada Helps.