{"id":74431,"date":"2021-03-06T02:26:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-06T07:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=74431"},"modified":"2025-10-10T13:37:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T17:37:38","slug":"mental-health-leadership-awards","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/mental-health-leadership-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Student Charlotte Smith Recognized for Leadership in Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-9e.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Student Charlotte Smith Recognized for Leadership in Mental Health\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 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<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>Carleton University President Benoit-Antoine Bacon joined a list of acclaimed Canadians on March 4, 2021 when he was presented with the Transformational Leader for Mental Health Award from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theroyal.ca\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Royal Ottawa Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Past winners of the award include retired general Romeo Dallaire, author and advocate Margaret Trudeau, former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Olympic figure skater Elizabeth Manley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-74459\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3.jpg\" alt=\"President Benoit-Antoine Bacon accepts the Transformational Leader for Mental Health Award\" class=\"wp-image-74459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-400x227.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-700x397.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-3-200x113.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Benoit-Antoine Bacon accepts the Transformational Leader for Mental Health Award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacon has been sharing his own story of depression and substance use to engage and empower the Carleton University community in open and honest conversations about mental health in order to better address these critical issues on campus and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cBenoit has become a beacon of strength and leadership for the 30,000 students at Carleton University,\u201d the foundation said in a written tribute.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cHis reputation for having a steady hand at the helm and continued communication around caring for one\u2019s mental health . . . have given him the reputation of a very inspirational and well-respected leader.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Carleton U. President Recognized for Leadership in Mental Health\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c2eyWP3H-fY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs president of Carleton, I feel a responsibility to be truthful about my own mental health journey so students, faculty and staff who are suffering know they are not alone,\u201d Bacon said in a question and answer session during the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cTo everyone who comes from a traumatic past, or who are struggling currently, I want to say you are stronger than you know, you deserve help, and even with seven arrows through the heart, healing is always possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Today, Carleton faculty, students and staff talk more openly about mental wellness and an extensive array of resources, services and learning opportunities have been developed to support them.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-74474 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7.jpg\" alt=\"President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Student Charlotte Smith Recognized for Leadership in Mental Health\" class=\"wp-image-74474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7-400x227.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7-700x397.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-7-200x113.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"personal-leader-for-mental-health-award\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal Leader for Mental Health Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Charlotte Smith, a master\u2019s student and peer researcher at Carleton\u2019s School of Social Work, was also honoured at the virtual 2021 Inspiration Awards, receiving the Personal Leader for Mental Health Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith was once a homeless youth addicted to drugs. After conquering her addiction and returning to school, she is decided to become a social worker so she could help the friends she had left behind. She works with homeless youth at organizations in downtown Ottawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Carleton Student Charlotte Smith on Mental Health\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pNRuWzx7iM0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Carleton\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/president\/strategic-integrated-plan-sip\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Strategic Integrated Plan<\/a>, released in September 2020, calls for \u201ca focus on mental health, purpose, activity, resilience and togetherness so that we and our communities may thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacon set the tone for a new focus on wellness when he was installed as president at a Convocation ceremony in November 2018 when he told the audience about his life\u2019s journey. He has been talking openly about it ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had a strange life,\u201d Bacon told the awards ceremony.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy parents, and my father especially, were fighting their own demons so I grew up in a dysfunctional, confusing, abusive home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou think in your mind: \u2018As soon as I\u2019m old enough, I\u2019m going to get out of here and live a beautiful life.\u2019 But that\u2019s not what happens because you\u2019ve been conditioned to think about yourself in the wrong way. You\u2019ve been conditioned to think that you are a shameful person, or an ineffective person, and you\u2019ve been conditioned to think that the world is dangerous. And if you are ashamed and afraid, you\u2019re not prepared to create beauty in the world. In fact, you are suffering and need help. It\u2019s a journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-59605\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4.jpg\" alt=\"Carleton University President Benoit-Antoine Bacon meeting one of the new therapy dogs on campus\" class=\"wp-image-59605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4-400x227.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4-700x397.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/carleton-adds-six-therapy-dogs-1200w-4-200x113.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carleton University President Benoit-Antoine Bacon meeting one of the therapy dogs on campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacon said seeking help turned his life around, as did focusing on new activities like running, singing and pursuing leadership opportunities in academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He credits Carleton\u2019s openness to the story of his life\u2019s journey for where he is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was honest in my interview. I thought, they are looking for a president; they deserve to know who this president is. So, I told my story in that interview and they called me back\u2014to my great surprise\u2014and they offered me the job.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cTo me, that&#8217;s incredible and it tells you everything you need to know about Carleton University.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>To view a video featuring President Bacon called &#8216;Leading with Truth and Beauty&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-peO8P0VNPI\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-74462 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4.jpg\" alt=\"Charlotte Smith accepts the Personal Leader for Mental Health Award from the Royal Ottawa Foundation\" class=\"wp-image-74462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4-400x227.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4-700x397.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/leadership-mental-health-1200w-4-200x113.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>&#8212;<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/our-stories\/\">More Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carleton University President Benoit-Antoine Bacon joined a list of acclaimed Canadians on March 4, 2021 when he was presented with the Transformational Leader for Mental Health Award from the Royal Ottawa Foundation. Past winners of the award include retired general Romeo Dallaire, author and advocate Margaret Trudeau, former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Olympic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":74459,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[28,25],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-74431","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-community-partnerships","cu_story_type-student-experience"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/74431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/74431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97956,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/74431\/revisions\/97956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=74431"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=74431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}