Friends of the CAMH Archives Newsletter

The registered charity, Museum of Mental Health Services (Toronto) Inc, formerly known as Friends of the CAMH Archives (FoCA), have expanded their scope by formally joining forces with Madness Canada/ Folie Canada to become the Museum of Mental Health (MOMH). This connection allows both organizations to extend their shared mandates of preservation, education, and research in the field of Canadian mental health history and its legacies.

Following a 2023 review, FoCA sought a like-minded group with which to collaborate and found that Madness Canada aligned well with its aims and objectives. Combined, we are the Museum of Mental Health, an alliance that delivers mental health educational programming and dynamic, relevant research exhibits and resources. This expanded organizational structure challenges our re-visioned organization to engage in the critical strategic thinking needed to create a nationally recognized source of reliable information, experiential educational modules, and insights from a history that is both troubling and inspirational. We are moving forward with a re-visioned mandate and a committed board of directors.

From 1988, FoCA has been a successful charity supporting archival and historical activities at the former Queen Street Mental Health Centre, now CAMH. Its biannual newsletter (click on NEWSLETTER link at top right of page) showcase the work of emerging and established scholars in the field of mental health history in Toronto and further afield. MOMH will continue to offer the annual research scholarships started by FoCA, providing pivotal funding for emerging scholars undertaking projects in the history of mental health.

Madness Canada began in 2004 – a unique bilingual educational, research and exhibit project with a reputation for scholarly funding and community engagement. Working with FoCA significantly broadens Madness Canada’s reach by extending services into community heritage conservation, too often ignored in mental health. Madness Canada offers strong technical and communication capacities.