Shelagh Rogers
Broadcast Journalist
Shelagh Rogers began her radio career while hosting a classical music program at the Queen’s University radio station—she was offered a job as the program director for a local country and western station. She joined CBC in 1980, and it was at this station that she interviewed Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter Peter Gzowski, and accepted his invitation to read listener mail on his program, Morningside. She would go on to become Deputy Host of the program. Rogers also hosted local current affairs programs and visual and performing arts programs; she was part of the humorous CBC show, Basic Black; and worked with the likes of Canadian radio greats such as Max Ferguson. In 2000, Rogers began hosting CBC Radio’s flagship daily current affairs program This Morning, which paved the way for her own morning show, Sounds Like Canada. In 2008, Rogers became the host of The Next Chapter, a weekly program devoted to Canadian writing. A passionate mental health speaker, Rogers has received awards from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as well as awards for her devotion to literacy and broadcasting. In 2008, CMHA National honoured her with with their Media Award for her outstanding contributions to to the coverage of mental health issues in Canada.
Margaret Trudeau
Celebrated Canadian and Mental Health Advocate
Margaret Trudeau became the youngest Prime Minister’s wife in Canadian history when she married Pierre Elliot Trudeau at the age of 22. For all her adult life, she has suffered from the debilitating effects of her bipolar condition. Now, after seeking medical treatment that has given her balance and happiness, she advocates strongly on mental health issues, helping people overcome the stigma of mental illness that often prevents sufferers from getting help. She is working with The Royal Ottawa Hospital to raise funds for their new hospital and raise public awareness of mental health issues. As a speaker at CMHA BC Division’s 2007 Bottom Line Conference on mental illness in the workplace, she courageously shared her story of recovery from mental illness and ’emerging into light,’ garnering national and provincial media coverage on mental health issues.
Dulcie McCallum
Former BC Ombudsperson
Dulcie McCallum has lived in Victoria since beginning law school at UVIC in 1978. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Dulcie was a RN working as a Public Health Nurse for the Haida Nation in the Queen Charlotte Islands, in the BC Penn with maximum security inmates and as Vancouver City Police Nurse. Since attaining her LLB she has been in private practice here in Victoria with the firm of Vickers and Palmer. During this period Dulcie volunteered extensively in Victoria as the President of Hospice and as a director on the Transition House Board that gained her the honour of being named a Woman of Distinction from the YWCA in the community service category. Prior to being appointed the first woman Ombudsman for the Province of BC she worked as a legal affairs strategist for the Canadian Association for Community Living, a national association advocating for legal and systemic change for people who have a disability. Dulcie has been named Distinguished Alumni at UVIC and is a recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s 125th Commemorative Medal.