Brightshores Centre Honored with National Award for Innovative Mental Health and Addiction Care

The Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre in Owen Sound has been awarded the 2026 National Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement by the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). This prestigious award, presented in Montreal on June 14, celebrates the centre’s pioneering model that seamlessly integrates stable housing with comprehensive care for individuals grappling with complex mental health and addiction issues.

This groundbreaking approach, described as a “first-in-Ontario” model, is designed for scalability and sustainability, demonstrating measurable positive outcomes. The CCHL highlighted Brightshores’ significant impact on transforming the mental health and addictions care system. The centre provides a holistic suite of services, including short- and long-term programming, immediate crisis support, specialized addiction treatment, and daily drop-in clinics, all conveniently located under one roof.

Beth Morris, vice-president of clinical programs and quality and chief nursing executive at Brightshores, emphasized that this national recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the centre’s dedicated staff, physicians, peer workers, donors, community partners, clients, and their families. “We are incredibly grateful to the Canadian College of Health Leaders for honouring what we’ve built together — a coordinated, recovery-focused model that cares for the whole person, supporting mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being,” Morris stated in a recent news release.

Since its opening in 2024, the Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre has reported substantial improvements in client outcomes. These include a notable reduction in emergency room visits post-discharge, enhanced housing stability for individuals, and increased engagement in treatment programs. The CCHL specifically acknowledged Brightshores for developing a model that exemplifies evidence-based innovation, delivers measurable results, and drives lasting system transformation.

The innovative protocols and care pathways developed at Brightshores have already influenced system-level improvements across Ontario, with information shared with over 50 organizations. Amy Bowins, manager of mental health and addictions for Brightshores, shared the team’s vision: “We believed mental health and addictions care could be more connected, equitable, and recovery-focused. We have seen people move from crisis to stability, from isolation to community and toward hope and recovery.”