Brightshores Health System named recipient of 2026 Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement
The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that Brightshores Health System has been named recipient of the Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement for its transformative work at the Wellness and Recovery Centre.
Serving one of Ontario’s largest rural catchment areas, the Centre has redefined how mental health and addictions care is delivered by integrating hospital, residential, and community services into a single, recovery‑oriented hub. Through evidence‑informed quality improvement methods, including standardized clinical pathways, trauma‑informed programming, Lean‑based redesign, and co‑design with people with lived experience, Brightshores has created a coordinated 45‑bed continuum that offers low‑barrier access to primary care, psychiatry, addictions medicine, withdrawal management, counselling, and social supports.
This integrated model has produced measurable and sustained improvements: substance‑use related emergency department visits have dropped significantly, 30‑day readmissions following withdrawal management have decreased by 93%, and clients report strong satisfaction, improved housing stability, and better engagement in treatment.
Beyond its local impact, the Wellness and Recovery Centre has contributed meaningfully to system‑level improvement across Ontario and beyond. Its protocols and pathways have informed the province’s HART Hub model, supported the MetaPHI Withdrawal Management Toolkit, and been shared with more than 50 organizations seeking to strengthen their own mental health and addictions services. The Centre’s commitment to equity - through culturally responsive programming, partnerships with Indigenous communities, flexible access for rural residents, and routine stratification of outcomes - ensures that improvements benefit those most affected by service gaps.
With its strong governance, embedded measurement practices, and authentic involvement of patients and families, Brightshores has developed a scalable and sustainable model that exemplifies the spirit of this award: evidence‑based innovation, measurable outcomes, and lasting system transformation in mental health and addictions care.
The Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement honours a hospital, health authority, community based mental health and addictions program/service, or a leader in the field that demonstrates evidence-informed and sustained quality improvements (QI) in the area of mental health and addictions.
The award is sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is an organisation that leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. Through its unique mandate from the Government of Canada, the MHCC supports federal, provincial, and territorial governments as well as organizations in the implementation of sound public policy.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is a non-governmental organization that provides national leadership on substance use and advances solutions to address alcohol- and other drug-related harms. CCSA provides guidance to decision makers through harnessing the power of research, collecting and organizing knowledge, and bringing together diverse perspectives.
This award is part of our CCHL National Awards Program and will be presented at the Honouring Health Leadership event on June 14, 2026.
For further information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Christian Coulombe
Vice-President, Marketing & Membership
Canadian College of Health Leaders
613-235-7219, ext. 213
[email protected]