For 25 years, Susann Collins has helped shape the Canadian Mental Health Association South Cariboo Branch.
First as the homeless outreach worker and later as executive director of the organization, Collins has done her best to support the mental health of the community throughout her time at CMHA. On Monday, June 30, that time came to an end as she passed on the torch and retired, with around 20 former colleagues, executive directors and friends coming out to wish her well.
"I can't think there's anybody bigger who has made a mark on Canadian Mental Health, South Cariboo than Susann," Marty Norgren, a director with CMHA, said during the party. "She's been an influence on this organization for 25 of its 32 years, so it's quite a legacy. She's doubled the budget, doubled the services and led with integrity. You've left CMHA as the go-to organization for mental health in the South Cariboo."
One of the attending guests was District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney, who said a few words to thank Collins and the other members of CMHA. She noted she has known Collins for a long time and it has been outstanding what CMHA has done across Canada and locally.
"No community is without the need and the compassion that goes into these jobs is overwhelming. I'm sure there are a lot of tough days you go through and to hang in there for 25 years, that's just amazing," Pinkney said. "Thank you so much for your service."
In addition to a cake and well wishes, Norgren and the other members of CMHA also revealed they have renamed the CMHA Clubhouse to the Susann Collins Clubhouse. Collins was visibly moved by this gesture and thanked everyone for the honour, noting it was humbling and lovely.
During the celebration, Norgren noted that South Cariboo branch of the CMHA was incorporated in 1993. When Collins joined in 2000, it was as a casual worker before later becoming the first homeless outreach worker in 2008. Collins noted she was one of seven chosen to pilot the program in 2006, which later became a permanent program in 2008.
"When I was a frontline worker in the various positions I worked there, it was the honour of serving the people who needed us most with whatever goals and struggles they were working through (I enjoyed the most). Walking by their side to help them reach their goals," Collins recalled.
In 2013, Collins ascended to the role of executive director, a position she held for 12 years. Under her leadership, in 2016, the CMHA absorbed the 100 Mile Women's Centre, which had been struggling to find volunteers, and took on their programming themselves. That same year, she also helped get the CMHA's community garden out front going, which is still tended to by clubhouse staff to this day.
Following the 2017 wildfires, Norgren said CMHA created programs to help people cope with the lingering stress and trauma of the wildfire season and took over the acquired brain injury program. Likewise, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said Collins led staff in providing programming, all while their budget increased and new programs were added.
"In 2022, 2023, our outreach services were 498 that year, provided to 2,151 people. There were 1,748 bed stays at the shelter, 41 women and one child helped through the safehouse," Norgren said, noting that in 2023/2024 CMHA made a concerted effort to become more involved in the community. Currently, he noted CMHA does all this with a staff of just 16.
"I gave you a lot of numbers, but for me, for Susann and staff at the branch, these stats are not numbers, they're people, clients and 100 Mile residents in need of some kind of assistance," Norgren noted.
As executive director, Collins said her role was to support her staff and frontline workers while destigmatizing discussions about mental illness and mental health. Another large part of her job was securing funding for the various programs CMHA is responsible for, noting that they are a national charity, not a part of the federal government.
"There are service gaps that exist and when we find them, my job as the executive director is to try and find funding to create a program that could fill that gap so we can better serve the people in our region," Collins explained.
Looking back on her time with CMHA, Collins said she is proud of what she and her team were able to do together. She noted that at 65, now is the perfect time to retire and spend more time with her family and is confident that her successor, Marnie Jensen, will be able to carry on her legacy.
"I have no concerns about the future of the organization because it's in her hands and the staff that we have there are so awesome. They do an incredibly great job supporting the people in our community and region," Collins said. "I'm really happy."
