Meet Andrea Paquette | President & Co-Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Paquette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, how does your business help the community?
The Stigma-Free Society is a registered Canadian Charity that is committed to creating a world free from stigma. The Society understands that different forms of stigma often intersect, and we are working to break down barriers in order to cultivate understanding and acceptance. The Mission of the charity is to foster programs that cultivate, encourage and educate diverse communities to be inclusive and compassionate. The Society is achieving this by sharing stories of lived experience, working collaboratively with diverse communities, and educating people of all ages about stigma with a focus on mental health.

The Society’s goal is to create AWARENESS of the various stigmas that exist in the world, develop an UNDERSTANDING of the challenges that numerous people face, and encourage all people to foster ACCEPTANCE of themselves and others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Andrea Paquette and I am President and Founder of the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia (BDSBC) created in 2010. This journey led to renaming and co-founding the Stigma-Free Society in 2016 with Dave Richardson – Co-Founder and Board Chairman.

I initially created a bright pink t-shirt with the words “Bipolar Babe” on the front, which led to a personal movement to stomp out stigma in hopes of eliminating negative attitudes and perceptions toward mental illness. The t-shirt became a spark to create a not-for-profit charitable organization in Canada dedicated to eliminating stigma of all kinds with a focus on mental health.

I struggled deeply with bipolar disorder for many years before the creation of the Charity, and there were countless times where I barely made it through. However, I pushed forward and persevered in my journey. I know that I will always have to deal with my mental illness, but it has not stopped me from achieving my personal and professional goals. I now get to carry the message that we need to remember there is always help and there is always hope.

In 2010, I began volunteering my time for several years to build the Charity and worked in social development policy for the provincial government. The process felt extremely slow to make the move to Charity President as full-time, but I eventually exited my government job after 6+ years. I embraced a significant risk only having 3 full-time days guaranteed at the Society in 2013. I left behind a full-time position with a cushy pension and never looked back. Although I am grateful for the time I spent with the government, I realized that I am not a Policy Analyst, but a Charity leader with big ambitions of making a difference in the world. Subsequent to my government exit, I partnered with a mental health research network and soon secured a $159,000 Foundation grant, which bumped me up to full-time hours, which remains the case today.

Nothing is guaranteed in life, but dreams do come true.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I lived in Vancouver, Canada, for 4+ years, and I now have been living on Vancouver Island for 2 years. Working remote always me to live a quieter life, but Vancouver will always have a piece of my heart.

When I ponder my life in Vancouver, I often recall its striking city lights that still ignite butterflies in my stomach. The City felt full of possibility when I moved there, and I had finally found the city of opportunity! It is the city where Stigma-Free scaled up significantly, not only financially, but in its impact and reach.

Initially, I would bring a visiting friend to an astounding spot to see Vancouver’s city lights in hopes they experience the awe that I feel.

The bustling night life of Davie street and Gastown set the stage for lighthearted entertainment, but we cannot forget Kitsilano Beach that boasts an oceanfront that will make any person’s jaw drop in amazement.

English Bay is not far from Stanley Park, and a waterfront trail joins the two. The beach is strewn with large tree trunks, which make a perfect back rest for any sunbather.

There are many places to stop and enjoy in Metro Vancouver, but my favorite place will always be in New Westminster at the Westminster Pier Park, where I walked miles with my dog on my own, and soon with my new husband from England.

The remarkable memories of Vancouver will always have a special place in this girl’s heart.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are some things in life that are not possible without the help of others. I initially founded the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia in 2010, and the Charity renamed as the Stigma-Free Society in 2016.

It had been my dream to grow the organization before the change in direction of the Society, which now includes the conversation around all stigmas with a focus on mental health. I am grateful for all the Charity’s board of directors, but particularly the support and guidance from my Co-Founder and Board Chair Dave Richardson. Our organization’s goal for the Society is to reach even more people with our hopeful message and scale up the size and impact of the non-profit. Our charity would not have come this far without the enthusiasm, support and guidance from Dave.

I am forever grateful for his valuable contributions to the Society, and to myself, personally and professionally.

Website: www.stigmafreesociety.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stigmafreesocietysfs

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13991543

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SFsociety_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stigmafreesocietySFS

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT5CBWa2SGStvBGXH4GgUng

Other: Andrea’s Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-paquette-45474a1a/