More information forthcoming.

Pouya Azar, MD, FRCPC, DABAM, is Co-Medical Manager of the Complex Pain and Addiction Service (CPAS), a consult service at the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). CPAS provides integrated pain, mental health, and substance use care across Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Previously, he served as Addiction Lead at Foundry Vancouver Granville and as a consulting physician in adolescent addiction medicine at BC Children’s Hospital. Driven by a commitment to innovation and research excellence, he co-leads the Addiction Medicine Research and Innovation Program at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and is Director of the VGH & UBC Concurrent Disorders and Pain Fellowship. Notably, Dr. Azar is leading the Innovations in Mental Health, Addictions and Pain Program (IMAPP), a translational research hub dedicated to developing patient-centred treatment protocols that improve care for individuals with substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and pain.

Dr. Tim Ayas is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Calgary Department of Psychiatry. He has a number of educational and administrative roles as well as a busy clinical practice; but his passion is teaching students, residents, psychiatrists, family physicians, and multidisciplinary teams across Canada and internationally. He serves on the executive board for the Department of Psychiatry as the Section Chief responsible for Addictions, Rural Psychiatry, and the Claresholm Centre for Mental Health and Addictions. He recently stepped down as Clerkship Director of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. He primarily works at the Claresholm Centre and Edgewood Health Networks as a psychiatrist with a focus on addictions and concurrent disorders. He has provided expert consultation for a number of organizations including Calgary City Hall, Global Television, CTV, CBC National Radio, and the House of Commons. He has won numerous teaching awards including the 2021 Canadian Organization of Undergraduate Psychiatric Educators COUPE national teaching award recognized at the annual Canadian Psychiatric Association Scientific Conference.

Dr. Kait Baldwin is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Mental Health and Substance Use at Vancouver General Hospital, where she practices in both tertiary and acute psychiatry settings. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Saskatchewan and completed a general hospital pharmacy residency at Vancouver General Hospital. She further specialized by completing a residency focused on mental health and substance use across the Lower Mainland. Dr. Baldwin’s clinical interests include pharmacological management of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, integrating evidence-based medication management to optimize patient outcomes.

More information forthcoming.

Dr. Nathaniel Day is the Chief Scientific Officer for the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence, a crown corporation located in Calgary Alberta. Dr. Day has developed and implemented programs to support people with addiction to receive timely and appropriate care including significant advancements including Alberta's Virtual Opioid Dependency Program, support treatment induction in the ED, access to treatment virtually through community paramedics, including for individuals in police custody and profound improvement for treatment of individuals facing incarceration. Dr. Day co-chaired the Alberta Recovery Expert Advisory Committee, was a member of the Alberta Minister's Opioid Emergency Response Committee, is the Provincial Medical Director of Addiction for Recovery Alberta, and has served in various other leadership capacities.

Bob Fisher, C.Mgr., C.I.M., CM is an experienced governance leader and management professional, currently serving as President and Executive Board Chair of SMART Recovery Canada, a standalone national organization advancing evidence-based recovery supports across Canada. Bob is Past President of CIM | Chartered Managers Canada, where he also held senior roles including Executive Board Chair and Secretary, contributing to the advancement of professional including Executive Board Chair and Secretary, contributing to the advancement of professional management standards and governance excellence nationwide. He holds internationally recognized management designations, including Chartered Manager (C.Mgr.), Certified in Management (C.I.M.), and Certified Manager (CM), as well as a Management Certification and a Human Resource Management designation from the University Management Certification and a Human Resource Management designation from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension. In addition to his governance leadership, Bob is a trained SMART Recovery facilitator, leading both 4-Point and Family & Friends meetings. He is known for his principled leadership, strategic insight, and ability to bridge governance discipline with compassion and lived experience.

Janet Folk is a renowned start up entrepreneur and the esteemed founder of J. Folk & Associates Agencies Ltd. in Alberta Canada. With an impressive tenure of over 30 years as President, she further showcased her astute business acumen by establishing National Home Warranty Programs across Canada. Her entrepreneurial journey reached new heights in 2008 when she successfully sold her companies to AVIVA Canada, paving the way for her to explore philanthropy and embark on fresh business opportunities. Janet is widely recognized for her active involvement in the community. Her dedication to making a positive impact is evident through her contributions while serving on the Boards of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, the Zebra Child Protection Centre, and the Edmonton Humane Society. In addition to these invaluable commitments Janet also founded the non profit Orange Dog Foundation, a cause close to her heart. Through this initiative, she organized the “Freedom Flights”, utilizing her Gulfstream III jet to rescue shelter dogs from California and flying them to the Edmonton Humane Society in Edmonton Alberta. Uncover another heartwarming tale of compassion and rescue featuring Kevin Costner, Janet and his white Labrador, Daisy. In 2010, they joined our mission to save dogs facing euthanization in California shelters due to wildfires. Partnering with The Orange Dog rescue, they transported hundreds of dogs on Jan's private jet to secure forever homes in Canada. Read more about this inspiring journey and watch the video on Celebrity Pets: https://celebritypets.net/pets/kevin-costner-pets/ Janet’s profound dedication extends beyond her entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. She firmly believes in mentoring and nurturing the next generation of business leaders, offering her guidance and wisdom to shape their success and inspire their entrepreneurial spirit. Adding to her remarkable achievements, Janet Folk’s powerful memoir, “Hell In High Heels: How I Conquered my Demons,” has made a profound impact in the field of entrepreneurship, addiction and recovery. Janet is a strong supporter of the SMART Recovery Program and is a certified facilitator, for a weekly Zoom Womens SMART Recovery meeting. Janet is using her life experience by speaking to TEC Canada, Rotary Groups and many others. These presentations aim to explore the theme of Thriving Beyond Limits, whether as an entrepreneur or for anyone facing challenges related to addiction or other constraints in their lives.

Dr. Ghauri is the current Provincial Medical Director for Inpatient Care for Recovery Alberta; he has a background in Emergency Medicine and developed a true passion for helping those suffering with addictions in this setting. Dr. Ghauri moved to Canada from the UK in 2012 and continued working in the addiction field eventually starting work at the Virtual Opioid Dependancy Program where he was able to dedicate his practice to managing patients with addiction. In his spare time he likes to travel and spend time with his family.

Angie is a retired lawyer, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR) and the parent of a child with addiction. She is a member of the Policy Committee of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine and a Board Member of The Ontario Family Caregivers’ Advisory Network. Angie is or has been a member of various advisory panels for Toronto Public Health, The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, Health Canada and the CCSA. She was a member of the National Board of MADD Canada and the Chair of their Public Policy Committee.

Marsha Hanson, BA, Elder Marsha Hanson, White Swan Woman, Tsiik’Tsa’akii (Blackfoot name), is Plains Cree, born in Saskatchewan, with her home reserve being Muskoday First Nation. Marsha was part of the 60’s Scoop but was lucky to have been adopted into a loving family. Marsha received her full Indian Status in 2022. In 2017, she was honoured in a traditional Indigenous ceremony and received the title of Elder. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning and Land Development, and a Diploma in Business Administration and Accounting, from Mount Royal University. She also holds several certificates in Indigenous studies, supportive counselling, and addiction studies. Previous to her work in Community Indigenous Services, Marsha worked in the oil patch and accounting services for 25 Years. Over her career, Elder Marsha supported families in crisis, addiction and those experiencing domestic violence through the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society, Home Front and Closer to Home. Marsha also served as an Elder with Simon House Addiction Services. In 2016, Marsha shifted again to assist with the program development and implementation of EE-DES-SPOOM-OOH-SOOP. Developing, coordinating and facilitating the Intergenerational Trauma Healing program. Lastly at Closer to Home she was the Indigenous Program Coordinator at Closer to Home, where a large part of her role was supporting the work of Pekewe Indigenous Healing House as an Elder. Marsha is proud of what she does and has dreamed of hosting a traditional Pow Wow in Calgary, and her dream came true in May 2023. ‘All My Relations Healing Pow Wow’ united the community and welcomed and honored all Nations together. Partnering with Calgary City Police and Simon House Addition Services. In 2022 Marsha was honored to receive the Closer to Home’s Practitioner of the Year Award and then received the International Award for Practitioner of the Year through the Teaching Family Association in Indianapolis Indiana USA. In 2023 Marsha nominated by Indigenous Services Team of Calgary Police Services and was award the USAY Change Maker Award for her work with Indigenous community in Calgary and area. Most recently Marsha Hanson has joined the Calgary Police Commission as Police Commissioner in November 2024 with the hope of bringing her experience and insight to the governance. In June of 2025 Marsha joined the board of Alberta Centre to End Human Trafficking as Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Committee. Each day, Marsha works towards supporting those walking through their own journey, understanding the impact of intergenerational trauma in their lives. Helping them begin the healing process and move forward positively for themselves and their children.

Dr. Rakesh Jetly is the former Chief of Psychiatry for the Canadian Armed Forces. He occupied various roles such as mental health advisor to the Surgeon General and maintains academic appointments at Dalhousie University (Halifax) and the University of Ottawa. In addition, he has been appointed the inaugural Chair in Military Mental Health at the IMHR (Institute for Mental Health Research). He began his military career as a general duty medical officer and flight surgeon and deployed to the middle east and Rwanda. After his post graduate training at the University of Toronto in psychiatry her deployed twice to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Col(ret’d) Jetly has an interest in operational mental health with a focus on PTSD and has worked within Canada and with allies (NATO) to advance the field. Research and academic interests are varied and include suicide prevention, Nabilone as a treatment for PTSD related nightmares, Neurofeedback, pharmacogenomics and other innovations in Mental Health. Recent international collaborations include a lecture series on Morality and Mental Health as well as chairing Research Task Groups (RTG) Leveraging Technology in Mental Health and Personalized Medicine. Career achievements include being named a fellow of the CIMVHR and the American Psychiatric Association. Advisory Roles 1. Provide expert advice to support CIMVHR’s military and Veteran health research strategy and knowledge translation, including advice and support to CIMVHR leadership. 2. Consult with CIMVHR and other interested parties to advance efforts to promote CIMVHR’s military and Veteran mental health research strategy and also to align mental health research strategies across organizations. 3. Participate in meetings with government, industry and other stakeholders (e.g. academia, data holders, labs, etc.). 4. Provide expert advice to military and Veteran health researchers who require advice in these areas.

Dr. Morris Markentin is a family physician and addiction medicine leader based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Saskatchewan and has spent over two decades providing comprehensive family medicine with a focus on addiction care, HIV, Hepatitis C, and underserved populations. Dr. Markentin is the co-founder and Medical Director of Sanctum Care Group and co-founder and Medical Director of The Carter House - A Family Addiction Treatment Center. Dr Markentin also serves as Medical Manager of Saskatchewan’s Opiate Agonist Therapy Program. He has held numerous provincial and national leadership roles in family and addiction medicine and is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing excellence in clinical care, leadership, and community service.

Dr. Mathew completed an addiction psychiatry fellowship at Yale University and a forensic psychiatry fellowship at the University of British Columbia. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia. He is currently serving as the medical director for complex concurrent disorders at the Provincial Health Services Authority.

Practicing addiction medicine for over 20 years with expertise in women’s health, concurrent psychiatric disorders and pain management. She is a Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine, a diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC. Dr. Mead has worked in many community, inpatient and outpatient treatment settings in Vancouver. These include the Addiction Medicine Consult Service at St Paul’s Hospital and New Dawn Recovery House. She holds the positions of Senior Medical Director, Mental Health and Substance Use, BC Women’s Hospital; Medical Director for BC Correctional Health Services and is the medical lead for the BC Provincial Perinatal Substance Use program.

Dr. Mohammed Mosli, MBBS, MD, FRCPC, CSAM, ISAM, IS-ART is a Canadian physician specializing in Addiction Medicine, Mental Health, and Public Health. He is the Medical Director and co-owner of Care Gateway Medical Clinics in Alberta and serves as a Consultant Physician with the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) program under Recovery Alberta. Dr. Mosli is board certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC) and holds certification in Addiction Medicine through both the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) and the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM). He is also trained and certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for trauma-related disorders. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Mosli is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. His academic interests include addiction treatment models, trauma-informed care, outpatient withdrawal management, public health ethics, and health system design. Dr. Mosli is actively involved in clinical research, quality improvement, and knowledge translation, with multiple ongoing and completed studies examining substance use disorders, trauma-informed interventions, and health equity. He brings a systems-level perspective to substance use care, integrating clinical medicine, public health, ethics, and policy, and is a frequent speaker at national and regional medical and public health conferences.

Dr. Sheila Peters is a Métis woman. Her mother, Shirley Fiddler, was a Treaty woman for Cowessess Nation Treaty 4 and ties to York Factory Treaty 5. Her father, Peter Nychuk, is a Ukrainian settler. She is a niece to eighteen, aunty to sixteen, great aunty to eight, a sister to five, and a mother of three. She was born and raised in the small farming community of Shoal Lake, Manitoba. Dr. Peters is a proud graduate of the ACCESS Program through the University of Manitoba. She graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Medicine in 1993 and completed her Family Medicine Residency with a specialty in Emergency Medicine in 1997. She was awarded CFPC Fellowship Designation (FCFP) in 2024. Dr. Peters finished a 25-year career at the Health Sciences Centre Emergency in April 2022, where she was an Attending Trauma and Academic Emergency Room physician, involved in all levels of teaching. Dr. Peters practiced Family Medicine at Access Centre Downtown, 2016-2024 with a focus on maternal-fetal health and pediatric care. There, she serves her community, many of whom are unhoused, experiencing poverty, mental health issues, and addictions. June 2024, she transitioned her practice to Northern Connections Medical Clinic. She has provided emergency care at the Thompson General Emergency intermittently, for the past 25 years, Concordia Urgent Care, The Pas E.R., Kenora Emergency, and with VECTRs. She has started her own cosmetic practice – Luminology. In June 2022-October 2023, Dr. Peters’ leadership skills flourished at Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin (KIM) as a Primary Care Advisor. Her main areas of focus included working on Jordan’s Principle, reinventing current EMS systems, providing housing and care for Thompson’s unhoused, Cancer Care, HIV, maternal-fetal health, and mentorship. Bimaashi Migizi Mashkiki Gikinoo’ Amaagewinan: Soaring Eagle Medical Teachings (SEMT) is a consultation business Dr. Peters established in 2023 with work in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), wellness, mentorship and Indigenous Health Curriculum (IHC). Dr. Peters assumed the role of Medical Director of Stoney Mountain Institution in October 2024. Dr. Peters is a gifted teacher, involved in many levels of academia throughout her career. In June 2024, she accepted the role of Assistant Director of Admissions at the Max Rady College of Medicine at University of Manitoba. Dr. Peters’ love for both her personal and her work families, as well the many communities she serves, is made evident by her tireless passion, energy, innovative creativity, and her ability to connect.

Christopher Primeau, CEO of Impact Society, is a distinguished leader in program development and organizational leadership, specializing in the charity and education sectors. With extensive domestic and international experience, Christopher excels in creating and implementing evidence-based youth programs. His work, significantly contributing to the field of resilience, mental health, and well-being education, has been published in renowned academic journals. Currently, Christopher is working with Dr David Nordstokke at the Werklund School of Education on a longitudinal study investigating the long-term increase in resilience among youth participating in the Impact Society's Heroes program. This pivotal research is anticipated to be published soon. And the results of the 4th data point are discussed in this presentation. As a renowned public speaker and thought leader, Christopher offers valuable insights drawn from his extensive research and expertise in youth development and long-term mental health. His profound understanding of addiction and long-term recovery outcomes uniquely positions him to address the challenges faced by our medical professionals and addiction support programs.

Todd is a pharmacist who currently resides in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada. Todd worked as a community pharmacist and pharmacy owner for over 13 years. Todd has his Authorization to Administer Drugs by Injection and Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA). Todd is also a Certified Tobacco Educator (CTE) and has extensive experience running a pharmacist-led tobacco cessation clinic. Todd currently works as a consulting pharmacist in relation to tobacco use and nicotine use. Todd is also a Faculty member in the School of Health and Wellness at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). Additionally, Todd served as a Board of Director of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA) from 2012 to 2020 and is an RxA Past President. Todd is also a past recipient of CPhA’s Dean George A. Burbidge Award.

Dr. Rafizadeh is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia and serves as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Psychiatry at both the Red Fish Healing Centre and the BC Psychosis Program. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSc Pharm) from UBC, completed his Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency (ACPR) through the Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services Residency Program, and obtained a PhD in Experimental Medicine from UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, where his dissertation explored the use of clozapine for treating individuals with concurrent disorders. Dr. Rafizadeh is the recipient of 2025 Michael Smith Health Research BC/BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation Health Professional Investigator Award.

Jordan Remple is the Program Director at Impact Society, a national organization delivering early intervention and resilience-based programs for youth. With over 20 years of experience in the field of addiction, trauma, and mental health, Jordan began his career developing recovery and life skills programs for young men struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. His professional work is deeply informed by personal experience. As a youth, Jordan faced addiction, homelessness, and significant mental health challenges. After receiving the support he needed to rebuild his life, he committed himself to helping others find hope and healing. At Impact Society, Jordan leads the Heroes programs, research-backed initiatives focused on character and resilience development in schools and communities across Canada. He works closely with educators and health professionals to equip young people with the tools they need to build strong foundations before crises emerge. Jordan also contributes to ongoing research collaborations with academic institutions, studying the long-term impact of character education on youth resilience. Jordan brings a unique perspective to the field—integrating lived experience with two decades of front-line and program leadership. His work continues to bridge prevention and intervention efforts, helping to shape a more responsive and compassionate system of care for youth facing life’s obstacles.

More information forthcoming.

Dr. Jacky Siu is a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist from Metro Vancouver. He is currently the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator for Mental Health & Substance use services at VGH and UBC Hospital. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has a keen interest in promoting the use of evidence-informed pharmacotherapies in people with psychiatric disorders.

Oona St-Amant, PhD is an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing. Her program of research examines the sociological dimensions of unpaid care work and family caregiving relationships, with particular attention to issues of health equity. Her earlier research explored international volunteer work and family caregiving, and more recently her scholarship has focused on family caregiving in the context of substance use. Her research is primarily qualitative, and she frequently teaches qualitative research methods and critical appraisal at the graduate level. Oona has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and open education textbooks, she continues to supervise graduate students, and holds several research grants. She is committed to advancing knowledge related to family caregiving and substance use.

Dr. Robert Tanguay is a psychiatrist with dual fellowships in Addiction Medicine and Pain Medicine. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. He currently serves as the Senior Medical Director, Addiction Services, for Recovery Alberta, and is the co-founder and co-developer of Alberta’s Community Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics, where he continues to practice clinically. Dr. Tanguay is a member of the Calgary Police Commission, providing leadership on budget, governance, and policy to support effective and accountable policing. Nationally, he serves as Co-Chair of the Western Canadian Addiction Forum and Chair of the Canadian Addiction Council, and is a founding director of the Canadian Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. He has played a significant role in health and addiction policy in Alberta and beyond. Dr. Tanguay helped lead both the Alberta Psychedelic Legislative Committee and the Alberta Safe Supply Legislative Committee, and was a member of the Alberta Recovery Expert Advisory Panel, directly advising the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction. He previously served on the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, the Supervised Consumption Review Committee, and has provided expert testimony to the Oregon State Senate, the Alberta Legislature, and the Parliament of Canada as part of international and national policy advisory efforts. Dr. Tanguay’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including the Royal College Early Career Leadership Award, induction into the University of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society, the University of Calgary Department of Psychiatry Keith Pierce Award for Innovation, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. An active academic and educator, Dr. Tanguay has delivered more than 170 invited, plenary, and keynote presentations across three continents on addiction, pain, mental health, and public policy. He has secured nearly $10 million in operational and research funding. His research focuses on trauma, addiction, chronic pain, opioids, cannabis, and psychedelics. He is a member of both the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education at the University of Calgary.

For over three decades, Big Daddy Tazz has been inspiring and entertaining audiences across North America with a powerful mix of humor, honesty, and hope. Known as The Bi-Polar Buddha, Tazz brings a unique perspective to every stage — blending world-class stand up with a meaningful message about mental health, resilience, and workplace well-being. A veteran performer seen on Just For Laughs, CBC’s The Debaters, and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Tazz is as comfortable in a comedy club as he is in a corporate boardroom. His presentations use laughter as a bridge to discuss real issues like stress, burnout, and stigma — helping teams connect, recharge, and perform better together. After years of struggling with (and finally embracing) bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and dyslexia, Tazz turned his challenges into his greatest strengths. For the past 25 years, he’s been raising awareness and sparking honest conversations about mental health — proving that empathy and humor can transform any environment. In 2023, Tazz received the John Candy Award for his contributions to comedy and mental health advocacy. Whether keynoting a leadership retreat, energizing a conference, or hosting a fundraiser, Big Daddy Tazz leaves every audience laughing, learning, and feeling better equipped to take care of themselves and each other.

Rand Teed, B.A., B.Ed., is a prominent Canadian addictions counsellor and prevention specialist who has spent over 40 years helping individuals navigate the complexities of substance use. Based in Saskatchewan, Teed is widely recognized for his empathetic, straightforward, and non-judgmental approach to recovery. His work is deeply rooted in his personal journey; having maintained continuous sobriety since March 26, 1972, he leverages his long-term recovery to inspire others, particularly youth, to regain control of their lives. Professional Expertise and Education Teed holds an International Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS) designation and is a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC). His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education, and he has been honoured by the University of Regina with the Inspiring Teaching Award. Throughout his career, he has served in various clinical and advisory roles, including work at the Regina Detox Centre and on the boards of the Saskatchewan Addiction Foundation and the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation. "Drug Class" and Media Impact His most significant public contribution is the development of Drug Class, an award-winning television series that premiered in 2008. The series, which won a Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Youth Series, showcases Teed’s workshops in Regina high schools. It provides a candid look at the real-life impacts of substance use through a harm-reduction lens. Teed’s ability to communicate complex psychological and physiological effects of drugs—such as the impact of marijuana on adolescent brain development—has made him a sought-after speaker for organizations like SADD Saskatchewan and SGI’s Driving Without Impairment Program. Authorship and Advocacy Teed is a prolific author who translates clinical insights into accessible guidance for families. His notable publications include: ● Which Way to Turn: Understanding Adolescent Substance Use: A guide for parents and educators on navigating teen addiction. ● Collateral Damage (2025): An exploration of how substance use affects family and friends, focusing on the paths to collective healing. Recognition and Recent Work His dedication to public health has earned him numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for contributions to healthcare and the IC&RC International Prevention Specialist of the Year (2016). Most recently, Teed has been involved in high-level policy discussions, serving as a consultant for the Saskatchewan government’s transition toward a recovery-oriented system of care. He remains a vocal advocate for the idea that recovery is not just about quitting a substance, but about "changing your relationship with your thinking." Rand is currently the Saskatchewan Addictions Consultant for Recovery Solutions Group.

More information forthcoming.