Here is a Recap of Flora's Walk for Perinatal Mental Health 2024
A Record-Breaking Year for Flora’s Walk
The 3rd annual Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health is the largest perinatal mental health fundraiser in Canada with all funds remaining in Canada!
We’ve had a tremendous record-breaking month commemorating Maternal Mental Health and honouring Flora with 52 walks across Canada doubling our goal, raising over $200,000 for 65 organizations working hard to deliver timely access to perinatal mental health services.
THANK YOU TO OUR 100 SPONSORS, 2189 DONORS, AND ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS AND WALK LEADERS!
Before you go any further, watch this heart warming video sent to us by Flora’s sister, Mimi along with Flora’s baby Amber, now adopted by Mimi. Thank you for keeping us updated on Amber and for your incredible support of the CPMHC. It’s thanks to you, Mimi, that we are able to share Flora’s story and make a difference in the lives of moms, dads, birthing persons and families across Canada. We will forever honour Flora and work hard to ensure timely access to perinatal mental health services is achieved in every province and territory across Canada.
Multi-Partisan Support for Flora’s Walk
on Parliament Hill
For the 3rd consecutive year, the CPMHC brought Flora’s Walk right to the decision makers in Ottawa. On May 1st, World Maternal Mental Health Day, the opening ceremony in the Valour Building included speeches and heartfelt pledges of support from the Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and Green parties including: NDP Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson, Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London MP Karen Vecchio, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Liberal MP Hamilton-Mountain and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth MP Lisa Hefner, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and Liberal Oakville-North Burlington MP Pam Damoff.
The Public Health Agency of Canada released a statement from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks which you can read HERE.
Following the opening ceremony, participants walked from the Valour Building to the Centennial Flame where tulips were placed and a moment of silence was held to honour Flora and all those struggling and to those who have lost their lives to perinatal mental illness.
Watch a Highlight Video of Flora’s Walk Ottawa HERE
Best of luck!
We know you will continue to make valuable contributions to the lives of Canadians wherever you go.
Watch Interview on Flora’s Walk on CTV Morning Live in Ottawa
We had great media coverage for this year’s Flora’s Walk including CTV Morning Live in Ottawa and CBC Radio in Saskatchewan. To check out a news item, head over to floras walk.ca and scroll down to Media Coverage.
Elected Officials Speak at Flora’s Walks Across Canada
Congratulations to the Flora’s Walk Barrie Team that raised the most funds at a phenomenal $21,818 total! Pictured on the left is Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall and Barrie Flora’s Walk Leader, Candice Thomas on May 1st when the Barrie Flora’s Walk was held. Mayor Nuttall is holding the City of Barrie Proclamation for World Maternal Mental Health Day.
At Flora’s Walk in Hamilton, Mayor Andrea Horwath and Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor spoke as well as Dr. Benicio Frey, Medical Director of the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare.
New mom, Burlington MP Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons shared a video on social media in advance of the Flora’s Walk event in Oakville.
“As a mother of my second, my daughter is just 4 months old now, I understand first hadn’t the critical important of pmh, support mothers in pregnancy and after childbirth is not just about physical health, but also about ensuring their emotional well-being. By prioritizing perinatal mental health services, we can empower mothers to navigate motherhood challenges with resilience and strength ultimately benefitting families and communities as a whole. Flora’s story is a tragic one, but in remembering her and what happened to her, we can prevent that for somebody else. Together we can make a change.” – MP Karina Gould
At Flora’s Walk in Halifax, Mayor Mike Savage attended and spoke.
At Flora’s Walk Haldimand, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley spoke as well as MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.
At Flora’s Walk Maple, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca presented Flora’s Walk leader and CPMHC Board Member, Nancy Di Nuzzo with a certificate of congratulations and a cheque for $2500 from the City of Vaughan.
Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons presented Flora’s Walk Leader Gail O’Brien with a City Proclamation for World Maternal Mental Health Day!
At Flora’s Walk in Toronto, Parkdale High Park MPP Bhutila Karpoche spoke about her Maternal Mental Health Bill now before committee to proclaim May 1st, World Maternal Mental Health Day.
At Flora’s Walk Niagara, St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens (pictured below) attended and spoke at the event and Bones, the Niagara Ice Dogs mascot also made a special appearance!
At Flora’s London, London-Fanshawe MP Lindsay Mathyssen and London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos both spoke and sent out messages of support over social media.
A special honourable mention and thank you to former CPMHC Board Member, Natasha MacDonald, pictured below at this year’s Flora’s Walk in Ottawa who has raised $8736 on her own over the last three years for Flora’s Walk! Thank you Natasha!
A HUGE thank you to Olivia Scobie of Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings for partnering with us again to deliver FREE perinatal mental health training to our Flora’s Walk leaders. Thanks to Olivia’s generosity, there are over 100 Flora’s Walk leaders with specialist perinatal mental health training in communities across Canada!
