About us

Brain Injury Canada (formerly The Brain Injury Association of Canada) was formed in 2002 after a groundswell of advocacy and national activity by local brain injury associations, survivors and caregivers across the country. Everyone agreed that Canadians living with the effects of acquired brain injury, their families and caregivers, required national representation to connect and advocate for needs and services.

Mission, Vision & Values

Mission

Advance awareness, education, opportunities, and support by:

Advocating at a national level on issues important to the brain injury community
Establishing meaningful connections and collaborations with stakeholders
Educating and empowering people living with acquired brain injury, families/caregivers, healthcare workers, researchers, and the general public

Vision

A better quality of life for all people affected by acquired brain injury in Canada.

Values

At Brain Injury Canada, we firmly stand behind our values.

Accountability
Compassion
Connection/collaboration
Diversity
Integrity
Stewardship

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2021-2024

Board of Directors

Brain Injury Canada's Board of Directors are committed to the mission and values of our organization and are accountable for competent, conscientious and effective management of the organization, as well as responsible for governing the affairs of the organization within relevant legislation and regulations.

Our current Board of Directors includes:

Suzanne McKenna - Chair
David Visser - Treasurer
Heather Watkins - Secretary
Kristen Bailey
James Cohen
Tamiko (Tami) Hynes
Pia Lindemann Kristensen
Mario Longo
John McGowan
Graham Todd

Learn more about the members of the Board of Directors

Staff

executive-director-brain-injury-canada Michelle McDonald
Executive Director

Michelle is an accomplished non-profit professional with two decades of experience working in the sector in both Toronto and Ottawa. She brings a wealth of knowledge to any role she undertakes and has a proven record of growth in both revenue and reach for small organizations. As Executive Director of Brain Injury Canada, she has led the organization in a new strategic direction, securing a federal grant to enable BIC to better meet the needs of individuals, families and health care/service providers across the country looking for information and education related to acquired brain injury. In addition to managing day-to-day operations, she also manages the development of all Brain Injury Canada’s education and awareness programs, as well as advocacy initiatives. Her demonstrated focus on collaboration and partnerships gives her the ability to look at the big picture, but also all the moving parts and how they fit together effectively and efficiently. She currently sits on the Disability Tax Credit Alliance, Every Canadian Counts Working Group, BC Concussion Advisory Network and is Chair of the Governing Council for Neurological Health Charities Canada. Past roles include Executive Director at the Brain Injury Society of Toronto and in Health Promotion at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Past committee involvement includes Toronto ABI Network Planning Advisory Committee, Toronto ABI Network Concussion Task Force and Ontario Advisory Council (OAC) for the Ontario Acquired Brain Injury Community Associations.

Karissa Fletcher
Program Manager

Karissa Fletcher, CAPM, is a Project Manager based in Ottawa with her husband and two children. Delighted to be part of the Brain Injury Canada team and working towards build a resource for all Canadians living with brain injury. She is always looking for new ways to improve existing workflows and building a great team culture.

Rachel Newcombe
Associate Project Manager & Content Coordinator

Rachel is our content coordinator in charge of website content, and has been a part of the Brain Injury Canada staff since September 2019. In her role as associate project manager, she helps implement strategic planning and execution of ongoing projects. She also manages our social media and marketing. She has several years of writing experience in journalism, marketing, and for non-profit organizations. She graduated with honours from Bishop’s University with a degree in culture/media studies and journalism. Multiple members of her family have experienced a brain injury, and she is excited to be actively contributing to furthering education and advocacy for our organization.

Annual reports

Brain Injury Canada puts out an annual report each year.

Annual report 2020

Honourary Patron

Profile picture of Dan Andreae Dan Andreae is an award winning professor, executive director, community leader and advocate, volunteer and citizen. He has been recognized in Canada and Marquis Whos Who has named him as Whos Who in the World.

Dan has a compelling interest in the brain and as the first Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society and later Chair of it’s Patrons Council he has played a key role in building up the society’s profile and by instituting innovative programs. For his many contributions he was awarded the Trailblazer Award by the Alzheimer Society and recognized with a special award by the International Alzheimer Society presented by Chair Princess Yasmin Khan.

He has had the honour of having a neuroscience laboratory named in his honour at the Weizmann Institute of Science, one of the world’s top research and educational institutions. Dr. Andreae represents Canada on the Weizmann International Board and in 2018 was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by Weizmann Canada. He is proud to be Honourary Patron of Brain Injury Canada and one 2016 was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Brain Injury Canada.

For Dan life long learning is a passion and he had taught forty five subjects at university and college. He has been the recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Waterloo, made a Fellow of Renison University College at the university and has been Faculty of the Year twice at the University of Guelph Humber as well as being chosen for the Faculty Mentoring Award. In 2018 he was selected as Professor of the Decade by the International Association of Top Professionals and in 2020 was named Intellectual of the Year by the Top 100 Registry in New York City. Dan was awarded with an Honourary Doctorate of Laws for contributions to health care in 2008 from Assumption University in Windsor and in 2020 from Laurentian University in Sudbury.

Dr. Andreae has received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the Ontario Medal of Citizenship by the Lieutenant Governor. His other community involvements include serving on the Board of Governors of the Michener Institute, University Health Network, Health Advisor to the Psychology Foundation of Canada and Advisor to the Weizmann Institute as well as the National Eating Disorder Information Centre at Toronto General Hospital where he is Past Chair of their Advisory Committee as well as Past Chairs of the Canadian Abilities Foundation and Neuchâtel Junior College Advisory Committee, a Canadian school in Switzerland.

Partnerships

Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC)

Brain Injury Canada is a proud member of NHCC. Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC) is a coalition of organizations that represent people with brain diseases, disorders and injuries in Canada. We work collaboratively to increase awareness, education and research and improve diagnosis, treatment and supports to benefit people affected by brain conditions. Michelle McDonald, ED of Brain Injury Canada is the new Chair of the Governing Council.

Website: mybrainmatters.ca

Every Canadian Counts (ECC)

Brain Injury Canada is a partner with Every Canadian Counts, a coalition committed to improving services for the over 1.9 million Canadians living with long-term, chronic disabilities. ECC recognizes the urgent need to provide for these Canadians, and their families, as many do not have access to even the most basic supports and services.

Website: everycanadiancounts.com

Disability Tax Fairness Alliance

The purpose of this alliance is to obtain change by raising awareness among elected officials and policy-makers of the urgent need to ensure that the administration of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and other disability/infirmity measures reflects the intent of Parliament, the interpretation of the Income Tax Act by the Tax Court of Canada and the values of our society.

Brain Injury Canada National Conference

The Brain Injury Canada National Conference is on June 2-4, 2021. This affordable virtual conference features dynamic presentations by experts from across Canada and exclusive networking opportunities within the health care/service provider sector.

Visit braininjurycanadaconference.ca to register

Thank you to our conference sponsors for their continued support

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Exhibitors

Thank you to our sponsors

Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsor

VoxNeuro's Cognitive Health Assessments™ measure brain biomarkers to show healthcare professionals how the brain is performing in core cognitive functions: attention, concentration, information processing and memory. Armed with this precise data, healthcare providers can rapidly identify issues with cognitive function, remove the need for expensive and time-consuming trial-and-error approaches to cognitive rehabilitation, and track patient progress.

Thank You to our Gold Sponsor

Thank You to Our Silver Sponsors

Thank You to our Bronze Sponsor

Learn more about corporate sponsorship

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