The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse respectfully appreciates and acknowledges the commitment and service of our Board members during their lifetimes. We thank and honour the following people for their contributions to CCSA and the field of substance abuse.
Honouring Edgar F. Kaiser Jr.
We were very saddened to learn of the passing of Edgar F. Kaiser Jr., Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kaiser Foundation, and a member of CCSA’s Board of Directors (and, more recently, our Board Alumni).
Edgar was deeply committed to promoting a better understanding of addiction and mental health in Canada. He was born into an iconic family with tremendous wealth and business interests; while he accomplished a great deal in the corporate world, he also chose to create the Kaiser Foundation in 1986 to advance solutions to the issues faced by the mental health and substance abuse field. That beginning spawned many activities that have fundamentally shaped CCSA’s work today. In more recent years, together with his wife, Sue, Edgar formed the National Awards for Excellence, which celebrate the work of outstanding individuals in the field of mental health and substance abuse.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Edgar for dedicating so much of his life to our field. His actions, commitment and altruism embody the great spirit of public service for which the Kaiser name is known. While we have lost a great friend and champion, we can—and must—build on the tremendous legacy he created for us.
On behalf of CCSA, I would like to express our deepest sympathy to Sue Kaiser, the Kaiser family, and the friends and staff of the Kaiser Foundation.
Michel Perron
CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse