The Canadian Mental Health Association of Niagara is planning to host its 14th Annual “Wellness for All” fundraiser next month in Thorold.
The event will be held on Thursday, May 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Ovation Room.
“We are excited to introduce some fun changes to our signature event, not the least of which is changing the date from winter to spring to better align with Mental Health Week,” said Tara McKendrick, CMHA Niagara’s Executive Director.
“We’ve also put the fun back in fundraising with a fast-paced ‘Toonie Paddle Party’ with over 50 chances to win fabulous prize package bundles.”
Tickets cost $30. The event will be headlined with a keynote address by Julie Christiansen, who is a well-known author, international speaker, and psychotherapist.
Tickets are on sale now and will remain on sale until May 1, one week before the event. Tickets will include family style food platters.
The Paddle Party element showcases prize bundles valued at more than $100. Attendees can bid a toonie with a chance to win a featured prize. There will be 50 featured prizes, and guests can bid on each of the featured prizes with a toonie by holding up a paddle, which is why the event is called a Paddle Party.
Sponsors of the event include the Doane Grant Thorton Foundation, PenFinancial, Haver & Boecker Canada, Unifor Local 973, and WMKL. The event will be emceed by Ruth Unrau, a local 610 CKTB radio host.
“With 50 featured prizes, the hope is that everyone will get in on the action to win a big prize for only $2 to $4 per round,” said McKendrick. “With a roomful of bidders, the toonies can add up quickly, helping us achieve our fundraising goals.”
“Proceeds are used to help us fill service gaps and provide timely access to urgent, preventative, and crisis mental health and addiction services to people in our community.”
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Niagara Branch has been serving the Niagara community for 58 years. Its current incarnation was formed in 2001 through the amalgamation of CMHA St. Catharines and District Branch and CMHA Niagara South Branch.
In 2024 the agency served 8,772 individuals with an additional 8,035 telephone interactions, according to the CMHA.
Jay Goldberg is the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He previously served as a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
