To mark The Courage To Come Back Awards, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals on May 23rd, Vancouver will light up in blue.

The Courage To Come Back Awards are now in their 26th year, and will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre. To date, the event has raised over $25 million in support of Coast’s community-based mental health services in the Greater Vancouver area.

“Thanks to the generosity of donors, Coast Mental Health provides outreach services, housing support, food security, mental health support for youth and adults, peer support services, training and employment and many other programs. These are are vital to the long-term recovery of vulnerable people living with mental illness.” comments Isabela Zabava, Executive Director, Coast Mental Health Foundation

The evening will be hosted by Chris Gailus – co-anchor for Global News Hour at 6 – and Jillian Harris, founder of Jillian Harris Design, star of Love it or List it.  The awards celebrate the inspiring journeys of five British Columbians across the following categories: Addiction, Mental Health, Physical Rehabilitation, Medical and Youth. Each has overcome extraordinary adversity to come back and give back to their community.

“As co-chair of Coast Mental Health’s Courage To Come Back Awards for 19 years, my own life has been changed through my involvement in these awards. Mental Health is now a topic many Canadians are having conversations about, and many are affected by it personally. It is an honour and a privilege to chair an event of this magnitude and celebrate how five ordinary persons facing extraordinary adversity found the ‘Courage To Come Back’.” Lorne R. Segal, O.B.C., D.Litt.(Hon.) LLD. (Hon.) Co-Chair, Coast Mental Health’s Courage To Come Back Awards.

“That individuals can find the strength to rise above their obstacles, whether physical, mental, or social, and find a meaningful place, with purpose, and joy, is a testament to the human spirit and all that it is capable of. They are beacons of hope.” – Eric Carlson, Co-Chair, Coast Mental Health’s Courage To Come Back Awards

The following landmarks will be lighting up in blue to mark the Courage To Come Back Awards:

• Science World – 23rd May
• Vancouver Convention Centre – 23rd May
• BC Place – 23rd May
• City Hall – 25th May
• Burrard Bridge – 25th May