Award-Winning Speaker, Author, Mental-Health Advocate to Give Keynote Address at 34th AGM
Neil Dunsmore is an award-winning speaker and a former Corrections Officer and Hostage/Crisis Negotiator with the Ministry of Correctional Services. He is currently a Township of Centre Wellington councillor who will provide the keynote address at Compass Community Services’ 34th Annual General Meeting. The virtual event is Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Since his days in corrections, Neil has been a mental-health advocate and is the author of the soon to be released book Reflections in the Ripple, which chronicles his journey of 531 kilometres. For Neil, it was a journey to start a conversation around mental health and suicide and to erase the stigma that prevents so many people from reaching out and accessing the help they so desperately need.
“Neil has a unique background that brings a fresh perspective to the topic of mental health,” said executive director Joanne Young Evans. “He also has the ability to use humour to soften the difficult topics of mental-health stigma and suicide in a way that resonates with a range of audiences. His book will be an inspiration and a talisman to anyone whose life has been touched by these epidemics.”
The Annual General Meeting is a recognition of the dedication and determination of the staff, volunteers, and board’s dedication to building the resiliency and improving the lives of residents in Guelph and Wellington County. As reflected in the president and executive director’s message in the annual report, it is also an acknowledgement of the many lessons learned from the pandemic and the hope for lasting change.
Young Evans believes, “From accessibility, to equitability, to new and innovative ways of offering programs and services, to offering programs and services that had only been dreamed of, a better world is within our reach.”
To register for the virtual meeting, visit: https://compass-agm.eventbrite.ca. Login details are available on the confirmation ticket.
