News Release

Innovative Management Earns Ste. Anne's Centre Institute of Public Administration of Canada Award

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue - The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, is pleased to announce that the Ste. Anne's Centre (SAC) was one of the recipients of the 2006 Innovative Management Awards awarded by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC). The SAC is located at Ste. Anne's Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, the last remaining Veterans hospital owned and operated by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The Ste. Anne's Centre received the Bronze Award in recognition of its leadership and instrumental role in developing a national response to operational stress injuries (OSIs). The SAC project was honoured among 71 projects submitted from across Canada this year.

"Receiving this award is a great honour for Veterans Affairs Canada and our staff at the Ste. Anne's Centre," said Minister Thompson. "This accomplishment recognizes the Ste. Anne's Centre as a Canadian leader in the field of clinical mental health care. It also demonstrates that Veterans Affairs Canada is meeting the needs of clients living with mental health conditions."

Given the needs and complexity of today's military operations, there has been a significant increase in the number of OSI cases, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety. To meet these new and urgent needs, VAC established a regional OSI clinic at Ste. Anne's Hospital in 2001. The Ste. Anne's OSI clinic model has since been used to establish four additional VAC-sponsored OSI clinics across the country.

In 2005, Veterans Affairs Canada mandated the Ste. Anne's Centre to become the national clinical leader in the field of mental health in Canada, in recognition of its expertise and established credibility. The SAC is now divided into three distinct departments: the regional OSI clinic at Ste. Anne's Hospital, which continues to offer direct mental health care and services to its clients; the National Clinical Centre of Expertise, which promotes innovation in the field of OSI care through research, training and the development of clinical programs; and a Network Development and Coordination Division, which oversees the development and delivery of mental health clinical services through a network of VAC-sponsored OSI clinics.

"Owing to the commitment and proactive nature of our team, the Ste. Anne's Centre is proud to play a pivotal role in advancing the Veterans Affairs Canada mental health strategy," said Rachel Corneille Gravel, Executive Director of Ste. Anne's Hospital. "Our team at Ste. Anne's complements other resources across the Department who are committed to improving the quality of life of Veterans living with mental health conditions."

VAC continues to develop expertise in the treatment and assessment of psychological injuries resulting from military trauma. Working with partners including the Department of National Defence, significant progress has been made in implementing a mental health strategy to improve access to assessment and treatment for Canadian Forces members and Veterans with an OSI, regardless of their geographic location in Canada. This strategy involves a network of mental health assessment and treatment facilities, educational forums, a continuing education program and research efforts.

For more information on the Ste. Anne's Centre, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site.

All Other Enquiries:
information@vac-acc.gc.ca