(AGENPARL) – mar 27 settembre 2022 [Ontario Logo]
NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Recognizes Mental Health Leaders Working with Vulnerable Communities
Hilary M. Weston Scholarship Award presented to exceptional graduate students
September 27, 2022
TORONTO — Ontario has awarded the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship to two graduate students, Maryam Motia and Cassandra Myers, for their outstanding contributions in mental health research to support vulnerable Ontarians. The scholarship of $7,500 is awarded annually to support the research of two students enrolled in full-time social work programs at publicly-funded universities.
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was joined by Graham McGregor, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism to present the awards at a ceremony at Queen’s Park. The Honourable Hilary M. Weston delivered virtual remarks.
“More than ever, it is crucial that mental health be acknowledged and openly discussed — in organizations, in the media, and throughout communities,” said the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “Today’s remarkable recipients, through their initiative, research, and intersectional approaches, encourage us to recognize the multiplicity of identity and experience in mental health, and modernize how it is understood and treated in our province.”
Maryam Motia is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. She received the award for her innovative approach, using arts-based tactics, to learn how gender, race, culture, class and migration affects women’s mental health and how people can benefit from arts programming.
Cassandra Myers is a Master of Social Work student at York University. She received the award for her determination to better serve the mental health needs of marginalized survivors of sexual violence and her research in the under-documented field of Mad Studies.
The Government of Ontario established the scholarships in honour of Hilary M. Weston, the province’s 26th Lieutenant Governor. It recognizes her legacy and contributions in the area of mental health.
Quick Facts
– The recipients were chosen by an independent selection committee in recognition of their academic excellence and commitment to advancing mental health research.
– The annual application period closes on December 15.
Quotes
“With the harmful impact the pandemic has had on mental health, we are fortunate to have scholars like Maryam and Cassandra, pave the way in addressing health disparities among the most vulnerable people in our society.”
– The Honourable Hilary M. Weston
Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
“Congratulations to both scholarship award winners for their trailblazing work to help improve the lives of vulnerable Ontarians struggling with mental illness. As our province makes historic investments into mental health supports, it’s research like this, taking place at our colleges and universities, that will assist in advancing new discoveries and innovation in the mental health field.”
– Michael Ford
Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
“The evolution of mental health research is critical as we move forward as a society. We face new challenges every day, like the challenges we saw out of the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to congratulate this year’s recipients, Maryam Motia and Cassandra Myers, for their tremendous contributions and wish them great success as they continue to change lives.”
– Graham McGregor
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
“I extend a heartfelt congratulations to Maryam Motia and Cassandra Myers for being this year’s recipients of the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship and I wish them all the best in their efforts to advance mental health services, for underserved communities. Now more than ever, it is critical to provide mental health supports to those who need them most wherever they may need them in the province. As we all know, you can’t have health without mental health.”
– Michael Tibollo
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Additional Resources
Media Contacts
Bucky Badejo
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Mark Pelayo
Minister’s Office