Shalem turns 60
Celebrating six decades of service in the mental health field.
Encouraged. Faithfulness. Gratitude. Hope. These were some of the words our guests shared with us as we ended the 60th-anniversary celebration of Shalem’s Mental Health Network on June 1.
We gathered with 80 of our closest friends. Staff, board members, both past and present, donors, supporters and community partners visited the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse in Hamilton, Ont. to break bread together and reflect on six decades of service to those dealing with mental health challenges.
People shared stories of impact, testimonials and hopes for Shalem’s future. Poet John Terpstra created a special poem that was shared that evening. Each speaker represented Shalem in a different way. As we listened and celebrated, we were mindful of how our past shaped us, how our present moves us now and how Shalem continues to grow.
We express our deepest thanks to all who are a part of Shalem’s story and who believe in the work we do.
What does shalem do?
- Depression, anxiety & relational issues are the top reasons people sought care at Shalem in 2022.
- 12,000 households across Canada have direct access to therapy, supporting 110 communities and organizations every year through the Congregational Assistance Plan.
- 100 congregations from 10 denominations were provided FaithCare services since 2008.
- 209 youth were empowered through RE-create last year.
- Faith and community leaders in Canada, the U.S. and Central America have been trained through Restorative Practice.
Shalem history at a glance
1963: A group of post-WW2 Dutch immigrants want to create a Christian mental health facility. Salem Christian Sanatorium Inc. is founded and approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
1967-1980s: Salem opens up counselling clinics across Ontario to meet the mental health needs of the community.
1990s: Under the new leadership of Al Driese, Salem starts to support other Christian mental Health initiatives, like Homestead Homes (now Indwell).
2004: Mark Vander Vennen becomes the Executive Director. He casts a vision for Salem to be a learning centre for mental health professionals and advocates to offer community programs in addition to counselling.
2008: A number of programs are launched, including the Congregational Assistance Plan (CAP), WrapAround, Restorative Practice and RE-create Outreach Art Studio.
2009: Salem becomes Shalem Mental Health Network. Shalem means restore, peace and completeness in Hebrew.
2020: The covid-19 pandemic begins. Mental health care and delivery are forever changed. Demand increases significantly. Shalem expands its CAP program across Canada.
2021: Mark retires. Jennifer Bowen, former Clinical Director, becomes the new Executive Director with a mandate of sustainability and sharing Shalem’s programs with new communities.
client testimonials
“All my life, I’ve faced some challenges with my mental health. I’m proud to say that Shalem was a key resource and part of my support system in getting out of the darker seasons I’ve been in.”
– Joel P.
“For five years, I accessed therapy through my church’s CAP through Shalem and continue to do so. This plan was a gateway to helping me understand and navigate my mental health challenges as I led a busy life. I understand how important it is to have access to mental health care that is timely, affordable and professional. As Chair of Deacons at my church, I continue to see firsthand how important it is for people to be able to understand the mental health resources available to them. I thank Shalem for being there for our church community, for countless others across Canada and for myself.”
– Andrea M.
