Allison is a is a psychiatrist, clinician scientist, Associate Chief of Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, and co-chair of ECHO Ontario and ECHO Ontario Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Associate Professor in the  Departments of Psychiatry, English, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She is also the editor-in-chief of Ars Medica, a literary journal that explores the interface between the arts and healing, and the co-curator of The Body Electric, an annual digital art exhibition that showcases visual art in a variety of media to explore, disrupt, deepen and reimagine medicine and healthcare. Allison has a PhD in English; her dissertation explored narratives of physicians who worked in the Canadian Arctic over the last century. She is motivated by the power of storytelling to create understanding, cohesion, and change. 

Chantalle is a qualitative health researcher and a visual artist with a passion for participatory arts-based approaches and digital storytelling. She is a Registered Nurse with a Doctorate in Education, and a specialization in non-fiction media and documentary filmmaking. Her research interests include community-based intergenerational storytelling, storytelling for mental health, documentary film methods for knowledge mobilization, and arts-engaged research for civic engagement and social activism. Chantalle is currently a Project Scientist for the Canadian Suicide Prevention Service, and Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.  

David Mastey is mainly responsible for lab operations. Trained as a literary critic (PhD English, 2015) and a former university professor, David initially specialized in trans-Atlantic world literatures. He has written extensively on child soldier memoirs and fiction. His research now encompasses a range of narrative genres. He is currently managing editor of Ars Medica, as well as manager of the Northern Psychiatric Outreach Program at the Centre for Addition and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.

Katie holds a BFA in Sculpture/Installation from OCAD U, as well as a diploma in Fashion Techniques & Design. She has an extensive history of involvement with Toronto-based arts organizations and initiatives, most notably as a member of the video installation art collective Analog Preservation Network. Katie is currently the Media Editor of Ars Medica.

Sara is a visual content creator, photographer and graphic designer with a BDES from York University / Sheridan College. She joins the team as an experienced digital storyteller, website designer, and workshop facilitator. 

The Patient Empowerment Council at the CAMH

The Empowerment Council (EC) is a voice for clients of mental health and addiction services, primarily of CAMH. The EC is a non-profit corporation, responsible to its own members and board. Its membership, board and staff are all current or ex-clients of mental health or addiction services. The EC advocates on a systemic level on behalf of CAMH clients and provides information and education to clients, mental health and addictions service providers, students, members of the public, and others. The EC seeks to enhance client involvement in decision-making and accountability structures. Collaborations with the EC include the development of patient-centered and community-oriented research projects. 

The Adoption Council of Canada

The Adoption Council of Canada (ACC) is a national non-profit organization for adoption in Canada. The scope of the ACC addresses the needs of children in care, those waiting to be adopted, older adoptees, birth families, and adoptive families. They are not an adoption agency and do not provide adoption services directly to children, youth, and families, however they do facilitate programs that promote the placement of children and youth in homes with emphasis on safety and cultural competence. Their central goals include the provision of public education and advocacy for policies that reflect the need for permanency for youth in care. Community-driven, participatory research programs in partnership with the ACC include: Aging Out without a Safety Net (2017 – present) and Youth Speak Out Storytellers (2017 – present).

The Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous communities, and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues. Members of the Arctic Council are Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States, in addition to the six Permanent Participants representing Arctic Indigenous peoples including the Aleut International Association, the Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich’in Council International, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North and the Saami Council. Project CREATeS is a research project conducted in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) of the Arctic Council.