Welcome to this issue of the Communications Bulletin. This edition includes:

1. Faculty of Medicine Award Recipients 2. CIHR New Investigator Award - Dr. Jehannine Austin 3. Upcoming Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Festival - May 8 to 11th 4. NARSAD 2009 Distinguished Investigator Award 5. 2009 Killam Pize (Canada Council) - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 6. Dr. Jackie Weiss has tendered her resignation 7. Registration Deadline The Brain Lipids Conference 2008 8. The 2008 World Psychiatric Association Epidemiology & Public Health Section Conference May 11-14, 2008 9. CONTINUED access to May 1st today's colloquium on Native Mental Health 10. Web Site Calendar ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* 1. Faculty of Medicine Award Recipients It is with great pleasure that I announce the recipients of our 2007/08 Faculty of Medicine Awards. Each year the Faculty recognizes faculty and staff members for excellence in teaching, research, administration, innovation, and public service. A reception celebrating the achievements of each recipient will be held tonight at the University Golf Club. The event will also recognize the wide range of awards received by more than 232 faculty and staff members during 2007 from both internal and external organizations. A copy of the Annual Awards Report is available on the Web at: www.med.ubc.ca/faculty_staff/awards.htm. Please join me in congratulating the 2007/08 Faculty of Medicine Award Recipients: 2008 Faculty of Medicine Applegarth Staff Service Award: This award recognizes two staff members annually for excellence in personal achievements and outstanding contributions to the Faculty of Medicine. Each recipient receives a plaque and a $500 prize.

• Maureen Berard, Department of Surgery • George Spurr, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences

2007 UBC Killam Teaching Prize: Recipients are selected from each UBC Faculty based on nominations from students, colleagues, and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching. Each recipient receives a $5,000 prize.

• Carolyn Brown, Department of Medical Genetics • Jason Ford, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

• Barry Kassen, Department of Medicine • Melinda Suto, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

2008 Faculty of Medicine Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: This award recognizes three clinical faculty members who have had made innovative or extraordinary contributions at UBC in the areas of teaching. Each recipient receives a $1,000 prize, a membership in the Canadian Association for Medical Education and a one-year subscription to Medical Teacher.

• Adam Cheng, Department of Pediatrics • Min Sen Phang, Department of Pediatrics • Judy Richardson, Department of Physical Therapy

2008 Faculty of Medicine Career Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching: This award recognizes long-time clinical faculty members, who over their careers have a sustained record and reputation for excellence in clinical teaching. This year, there are three co-recipients of the award. Each recipient receives a $2,500 prize.

• Morris Pudek, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine • Linda Vickars, Department of Medicine • Andrew Seal, Department of Surgery

2008 Faculty of Medicine Significant Impact of Teaching in the Local Community: This award recognizes a clinical faculty member who has made a sustained educational impact in a local community and demonstrates excellence in teaching, across the spectrum of education. The recipient receives a $2,000 prize.

• Scott Bloom, Department of Surgery (Richmond) 2007 UBC Killam Research Prize: This UBC award is presented annually to top campus researchers. Up to 10 prizes in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded to full-time faculty members in recognition of outstanding researchers and scholarly contributions.

• Philip Hieter, Department of Medical Genetics • Peter Lansdorp, Department of Medicine

2007 Faculty of Medicine Innovation in CME/CPD Award: This award recognizes outstanding innovation and/or creativity with original work in the area of Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development programming.

• Akber Mithani, Department of Psychiatry • Taj Bhaloo, Department of Health Care & Epidemiology

2008 Faculty of Medicine Bill and Marilyn Webber Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes an extraordinary member of the Faculty of Medicine who has sustained a distinguished career at UBC in the areas of research, teaching and/or service.

• Robert Molday, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Dr. Molday, who also teaches within the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has been part of the UBC community for more than 30 years. He has consistently made innovative and pioneering discoveries into the fundamental molecular mechanisms of vision and the genetic basis of human diseases that lead to blindness. His commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of vision research and mentoring students has truly made a positive contribution. Once again, congratulations to all recipients. Your continued dedication and commitment to providing innovative teaching and research programs that positively influence the health of the population locally and globally is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Gavin C.E. Stuart, MD, FRCSC *************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

2. CIHR New Investigator Award - Dr. Jehannine Austin

Congratulations to Dr. Jehannine Austin, one of the members of the BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute on receiving a CIHR New Investigator Award. Jehannine also received a special award from CIHR earlier in the year (the Maud Menten Award) which is specifically for a new clinical investigator in the area of genetics, and she holds a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation. Well done! ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* 3. Upcoming Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Festival - May 8 to 11th

Also see attached flyer "fom eflyer screen.pdf"

/cinematheque.bc.ca/framesofmind/ for more details and to purchase tickets online.

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4. NARSAD 2009 Distinguished Investigator Award (see attched pdf document)

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5. 2009 Killam Pize (Canada Council) - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Canada Council for the Arts is currently seeking nominations for the 2009 Killam Prizes. These prizes are awarded each year to distinguished Canadian scholars doing research in the following fields: health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Normally, one prize out of each of the 5 categories is awarded each year. Killam Prize recipients receive $100,000.00 each. Deadlines for the 2009 Killam Prize is June 16, 2008. All nominations MUST go through the Vice President Research Office and contain a letter of support written on behalf of Dr. John Hepburn, VP Research. If you would like to nominate a candidate for this prestigious

prize, please be sure to have the support letter and a description of the nomination into the VP Research Office no later than Monday June 9th To download a nomination form or for more information on the prize, please visit: http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/killam/nf127281699611562500.htm If you have questions regarding the nomination process or coordinating a nomination with the VP Research Office, please contact Heidi Taylor at 604-822-6010 The VP Research Office encourages nominations of all deserving candidates.

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6. Dr. Jackie Weiss has tendered her resignation

April 22, 2008 To: Psychiatric Staff, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dept of Psychiatry, UBC From: Jana Davidson, Acting Head, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dept of Psychiatry, UBC Re: Child & Adolescent Undergraduate Education Director

Dr. Jackie Weiss has tendered her resignation as Director of the Child and Adolescent Undergraduate Education program. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to thank Jackie for her many years of service to the Division in this position. I have appreciated Jackie’s assistance in developing a job description that reflects the current responsibilities of the CA UGE Director position in the context of the medical school expansion and the distributed curriculum to multiple sites throughout the province. Please take the opportunity to thank Jackie in person for her many years of service to our Division.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** 7. Registration Deadline The Brain Lipids Conference 2008

Sir/ Madam,

One month ago, we, the organizers of The Brain Lipids Conference 2008, sent an e-mail to the highest ranking universities in the world. We asked you kindly to forward this invitation within your institution. If you did it, please do it again. If you did not, please do it as soon as possible to those who might attend the meeting. The registration deadline is 15th May. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INVITATION

Sir/Madam, Welcome to The Brain Lipids Conference 2008 in Oslo, Norway, 8th-11th September!

• Register at www.bl2008.org now. Registration deadline 15 th May. After this date we cannot guarantee you participation because of hotel accommodation limits.

• Abstracts of oral presentations may be found at www.neurobiologyoflipids.org from April week 17. We have invited more than 30 speakers from 12 countries and from basic neuroscience, nutritional sciences, pharmacology, radiology, clinical psychiatry and neurology.

• The main focus of the conference is lipids and oxidative stress in the brain. Prevention or treatment of mental disorders with omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants is a principal topic.

• All participants are encouraged to present posters.

Kind regards, Håvard Bentsen, MD PhD on behalf of the BL2008 organizers

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** 8. The 2008 World Psychiatric Association Epidemiology & Public Health Section Conference May 11-14, 2008 Good afternoon, I am emailing you on behalf of Dr. Raymond Tempier, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. Could you please forward the following information to your faculty and students? We would like them to have the following information about our upcoming multidisciplinary, international mental health conference. Your help is greatly appreciated. The 2008 World Psychiatric Association Epidemiology & Public Health Section Conference is a multidisciplinary, international conference. Theme: From Epidemiology to Mental Health Planning Dates: May 11-14, 2008 Place: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Canada) For the program at a glance please visit http://www.medicine.usask.ca/psychiatry/wpa2008/conference-details/program-schedule/WPAProgramSchedule.pdf Canadian Research Chair in Aboriginal Health, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Glen McCallum Psychologist, Build A Nation, Saskatoon To register, please click here: https://www.medicine.usask.ca/psychiatry/wpa2008/registration I have included our WPA conference website link below for further information: http://www.medicine.usask.ca/psychiatry/wpa2008/

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9. CONTINUED access to today's colloquium on Native Mental Health

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONEWHO MISSED TODAY'S IMH TALK, (May 1) ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE/HEAR IT AGAIN, OR WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE SLIDES THERE WASN'T TIME TO SHOW:

John Joseph Peregoy has agreed to have his talk archived online, so it is available for you to see / hear at your leisure:

** USE: http://142.103.164.35/launcher.cgi?room=UBC_Institute_for_Mental_Health **

adele diamond

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10. Web Site Calendar

Departmental events have been moved into a new calendar, which has a link from the psychiatry home page. http://www.psychiatry.ubc.ca/Welcome.htm Colin Bryant Computer System Coordinator

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A

Faculty of Medicine 317 – 2194 Health Sciences Mall Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z3

Tel: (604) 822-2421 Fax: (604) 822-6061 Dean’s Office

TO: All Faculty of Medicine Members FROM: Dr. Gavin Stuart, Dean RE: Faculty of Medicine Award Recipients DATE: April 29, 2008 It is with great pleasure that I announce the recipients of our 2007/08 Faculty of Medicine Awards. Each year the Faculty recognizes faculty and staff members for excellence in teaching, research, administration, innovation, and public service. A reception celebrating the achievements of each recipient will be held tonight at the University Golf Club. The event will also recognize the wide range of awards received by more than 232 faculty and staff members during 2007 from both internal and external organizations. A copy of the Annual Awards Report is available on the Web at: www.med.ubc.ca/faculty_staff/awards.htm. Please join me in congratulating the 2007/08 Faculty of Medicine Award Recipients: 2008 Faculty of Medicine Applegarth Staff Service Award: This award recognizes two staff members annually for excellence in personal achievements and outstanding contributions to the Faculty of Medicine. Each recipient receives a plaque and a $500 prize.

• Maureen Berard, Department of Surgery • George Spurr, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences

2007 UBC Killam Teaching Prize: Recipients are selected from each UBC Faculty based on nominations from students, colleagues, and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching. Each recipient receives a $5,000 prize.

• Carolyn Brown, Department of Medical Genetics • Jason Ford, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine • Barry Kassen, Department of Medicine • Melinda Suto, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

- 1 -

2008 Faculty of Medicine Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: This award recognizes three clinical faculty members who have had made innovative or extraordinary contributions at UBC in the areas of teaching. Each recipient receives a $1,000 prize, a membership in the Canadian Association for Medical Education and a one-year subscription to Medical Teacher.

• Adam Cheng, Department of Pediatrics • Min Sen Phang, Department of Pediatrics • Judy Richardson, Department of Physical Therapy

2008 Faculty of Medicine Career Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching: This award recognizes long-time clinical faculty members, who over their careers have a sustained record and reputation for excellence in clinical teaching. This year, there are three co-recipients of the award. Each recipient receives a $2,500 prize.

• Morris Pudek, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine • Linda Vickars, Department of Medicine • Andrew Seal, Department of Surgery

2008 Faculty of Medicine Significant Impact of Teaching in the Local Community: This award recognizes a clinical faculty member who has made a sustained educational impact in a local community and demonstrates excellence in teaching, across the spectrum of education. The recipient receives a $2,000 prize.

• Scott Bloom, Department of Surgery (Richmond) 2007 UBC Killam Research Prize: This UBC award is presented annually to top campus researchers. Up to 10 prizes in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded to full-time faculty members in recognition of outstanding researchers and scholarly contributions.

• Philip Hieter, Department of Medical Genetics • Peter Lansdorp, Department of Medicine

2007 Faculty of Medicine Innovation in CME/CPD Award: This award recognizes outstanding innovation and/or creativity with original work in the area of Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development programming.

• Akber Mithani, Department of Psychiatry • Taj Bhaloo, Department of Health Care & Epidemiology

2008 Faculty of Medicine Bill and Marilyn Webber Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes an extraordinary member of the Faculty of Medicine who has sustained a distinguished career at UBC in the areas of research, teaching and/or service.

• Robert Molday, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

- 2 -

Dr. Molday, who also teaches within the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has been part of the UBC community for more than 30 years. He has consistently made innovative and pioneering discoveries into the fundamental molecular mechanisms of vision and the genetic basis of human diseases that lead to blindness. His commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of vision research and mentoring students has truly made a positive contribution. Once again, congratulations to all recipients. Your continued dedication and commitment to providing innovative teaching and research programs that positively influence the health of the population locally and globally is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,

Gavin C.E. Stuart, MD, FRCSC GS/al

- 3 -

Thursday, May 8Th, 7:30pm

VancouVer PreMiere! direcTor in aTTendance!

a suMMer in The caGeUSA, 2007. Director: Ben Selkow

The growth and, ultimate-ly, the explosive demise of the friendship between a documentary filmmaker and his embattled sub-ject is the framework for A Summer in the Cage. The film began with a chance meeting between filmmaker Ben Selkow

and subject Sam Murchison in the summer of 2000. What began as a collaborative effort to document life around Manhattan’s West 4th Street basketball courts — affectionately known as “the Cage” — evolved into a portrait of Sam’s battle with mental illness. The film begins before Sam, in his early thirties, is diagnosed with Bipolar Dis-order; it then follows him through a seven-year battle with delusional manic episodes, paralyzing depressions, and the legacy of a father, also with Bipolar Disorder, who committed suicide when Sam was eight. As this dramatic story unfolds and comes to an explosive head, it also becomes a unique tale about friendship and the ethical re-sponsibilities of a documentary filmmaker. As Sam’s life deteriorates on screen, it raises the question: are the wider benefits of making the film worthwhile if the very process of making the documentary may be damaging the subject? “Probably the world’s first guy movie about manic depression, A Summer in the Cage is also an exceptional and deeply humanizing look at Bipolar Disorder. A haunting film about the power and the limits of a friendship to save a good man from his inner demons” (Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone) Colour, DigiBeta video. 82 mins.

PosT-screeninG discussion wiTh Ben selkow, dr. erin Michalak, and dr. roland aTkinson

Ben Selkow is the writer, director, producer, and cinematographer of A Summer in the Cage, which was recently nominated for a 2008 PRISM Award, given for accurate depictions of addiction and mental illness in film and television. A native of Montreal who now lives in New York City, he first became interested in film after his mother, a psychologist, was featured in the National Film Board of Canada doc-umentary L’Interdit (1976), about an alternative commune for treat-ing patients with schizophrenia. He is currently producing Onward Christian Soldier, a feature-length documentary about U.S. domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph.

Dr. Erin Michalak is an Assistant Professor in the Mood Disorder Centre in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC. She specializes in the study of Bipolar Disorder and quality of life, and leads the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research-funded Collaborative RE-Search Team for the Study of Psychosocial Issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD) group.

Dr. Roland Atkinson is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Oregon Health & Science University (see the “Crash Landing” workshop de-scription for a more detailed bio).

Co-sponsored by the Mood Disorders Association of B.C.

Friday, May 9Th, 7:30pm

VancouVer PreMiere!

To loVe soMeone (den Man Älskar)Sweden, 2007. Director: Åke SandgrenCast: Jonas Karlsson, Rolf Lassgård, Sofia Ledarp, Camilla Larsson, Gustav Hammarsten

This searing drama fol-lows a couple whose seemingly happy exis-tence is shattered when the woman’s abusive ex-husband is released from prison. Terrible beatings from Hannes (Jonas Karlsson) landed Lena (the outstanding

Sofia Ledarp) in hospital and Hannes in jail. Years later, Lena has moved on with life, and lives contentedly with older, somewhat dull Alf (Rolf Lassgård), a fishmonger in whose shop she also works. While in prison, Hannes undergoes extensive therapy, and upon release be-lieves himself to be rehabilitated. Although a restraining order pro-hibits him from contacting Lena, he writes her a letter to apologize for all he has done to her. Lena begins meeting her guilt-ridden ex in secret — initially to avenge herself, but the situation soon grows more complicated. Lena’s feelings for Hannes are rekindled, friends and family are dismayed, and Alf is powerless to stop the love of his life slipping through his fingers. With a deliberate pace and sombre tone evocative of Ingmar Bergman, the film picks up speed as the story careens toward its catastrophic conclusion. Featuring stand-out per-formances from all three leads, especially the luminous Ledarp in the complicated role of Lena, To Love Someone is a complex, decidedly unsentimental look at obsessive love and the psychological ramifica-tions of abusive relationships. Colour, DigiBeta video, in Swedish with English subtitles. 92 mins.

PosT-screeninG discussion wiTh dr. harry sTeFanakis and ninu kanG.

Dr. Harry Stefanakis is a registered psychologist with more than 15 years experience working with men who have assaulted their partners. He is currently the chairperson of the Ending Relationship Abuse Society of BC and sits on the Provincial Community Coordina-tion for Women’s Safety Committee.

Ninu Kang is Director of Family Programs at MOSAIC, a non-profit organization that provides integration services to immigrants and refu-gees in the Lower Mainland. Her training in Counselling Psychology, interest in cultural adaptation of mainstream counselling models, and work as an activist in the field of violence against women have moti-vated her to take a lead in providing support services to women who experience violence and facilitating treatment programs for abusive men from a culturally specific perspective.

Co-sponsored by the Ending Relationship Abuse Society of B.C. and MOSAIC.

All screenings at Pacific Cinematheque – 1131 Howe Street, Downtown VancouverTickets: Adults: $9.50; Seniors/Students: $8.00 Tickets available at the door or online at www.cinematheque.bc.ca Advance tickets available online only.For more info contact (604) 688-8202 or go to www.cinematheque.bc.ca/framesofmind

MEDIA SPONSOR

MIND

PRESENTED BY INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, UBC DEPT OF PSYCHIATRY AND

PACIFIC CINÉMATHÈQUE

discussion + screeninGsaTurday, May 10Th, 2:00 – 4:00pm

crash landinGTrauMa, hoMecoMinG and Their aFTerMaTh FollowinG MiliTary serVice aBroad

Studies have shown that 15 percent or more of combat veterans suf-fer from lingering, clinically significant emotional and behavioural problems sufficient to warrant the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after military service. All too typical problems include distressing memories and dreams, anxiety, insomnia, social alienation and isolation, marital discord, and, occasionally, violent acts. Com-mon complications can include divorce, unemployment, substance abuse, depression, and suicide. The impact of these problems on the post-service lives of former combatants, and on the well-being of their families, can be enormous. In his 2005 documentary film Crash Landing, Montreal director Luc Côté explores the psychosocial conse-quences of war trauma, focusing on five Canadians whose lives have been seriously compromised by their encounters with peril during international “peacekeeping” missions. Using the film as a launch-ing point for professional presentations and audience discussion, the workshop will consider, principally from Canadian and American perspectives, the problems of post-war adjustment faced by military personnel. Canada 2005. Director: Luc Côté. 52 mins.

workshoP ParTiciPanTs: dr. roland aTkinson and dr. diane McinTosh.

Dr. Roland Atkinson is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Oregon Health & Science University. He writes a monthly column on film for Clinical Psychiatry News, and maintains two film review websites. For 20 years, Dr. Atkinson served at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, where he was involved in the treatment of com-bat veterans of WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars. His son, a soldier, is currently deployed in the Sunni Triangle area of Iraq, west of Baghdad.

Dr. Diane McIntosh is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Univer-sity of British Columbia. She has a busy private practice and clinical research program and is consultant psychiatrist for the Vancouver Association of Survivors of Torture. Prior to moving to B.C. in 2004, Dr. McIntosh was staff psychiatrist at the Nova Scotia Hospital and later the Clinical Director of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic for the Department of National Defence at Canadian Forces Base Sta-dacona.

Co-sponsored by Amnesty International Canada - Pacific Regional Office.

saTurday, May 10Th, 7:30pm

Mad deTecTiVe (sun Taam)Hong Kong, 2007. Directors: Wai Ka-fai, Johnnie ToCast: Lau Ching Wan, Andy On, Lam Ka Tung, Gordon Lam, Kelly Lin

Honk Kong action icon Johnnie To (Election) and frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai (Running on Karma) co-direct this complex, edge-of-your-seat tale of crime and madness. Hotshot Regional Crime Unit Inspector Ho (Andy On)

has been investigating, with little success, a series of heists and murders apparently connected to a missing police pistol and its vanished owner. Ho figures his last chance at cracking the case is to enlist the help of his mentor and former boss Bun (Lau Ching-wan), who was recognized as a preternaturally gifted criminal profiler — until he went mad several years ago. (Bun, at a superior’s farewell party, sliced off his own ear and offered it as a present.) Bun has the gift to see into a person’s “inner personalities,” or hidden demons. For Bun, this is the key to unlocking a killer’s identity, for it is these demons that expose a criminal’s real intentions, allowing Bun to solve mysteries that no-one else can. Five years into his forced retirement,

Bun is convinced to return by Ho, who is desperate to solve the case and move forward in his career. But Ho’s belief in Bun’s abilities is soon tested by the retired detective’s increasingly bizarre and irrational behaviour. Is Bun really crazy, or just crazy like a fox? Colour, DVD, in Cantonese with English subtitles. 89 mins.

PosT-screeninG discussion wiTh dr. hiraM Mok

Dr Mok is a Clinical Associate Professor with the UBC Department of Psychiatry. He serves as a Consultant Psychiatrist at the UBC Mood Disorder Centre and the VGH Cross Cultural Outpatient Clinic, where he provides care to Cantonese-speaking patients. He is actively in-volved in clinical patient care, teaching, and research.

Co-sponsored by the Chinese Mental Health Program, Canadian Men-tal Health Association, Vancouver-Burnaby Branch; the UBC Dept of Psychiatry Cross-Cultural Psychiatry Program; and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

sunday, May 11Th, 7:30pm

direcTor in aTTendance!

deVil Plays hardBallCanada, 2008. Director: Nijole Kuzmickas

Devil Plays Hardball documents a unique and controversial social exper-iment aimed at making positive changes among Vancouver’s homeless population — one step, and one person, at a time. Four mentors, all accom-plished and compassion-

ate individuals, were given the challenge of helping four homeless in-dividuals realize their dreams and get off the streets. Ads were placed on Craigslist and on shelter and hostel notice boards to solicit partici-pants; the filmmakers were surprised by the overwhelming number of responses, from potential mentors and the homeless, they received. Michael, a longtime heroin addict who sleeps rough in tony Yaletown, “auditions” and chooses as his mentor Brent, an idealistic young lawyer with a large Vancouver firm. Amanda, 17, and her boyfriend Adrian, 24, two high-school drop-outs lost in the big city, are matched up with Susan, a professional fundraiser and mother of four grown children. Danse, a struggling Aboriginal artist and friendly fixture on Commercial Drive, is paired with Mike, an IT consultant and commu-nity activist. Erika, a former bank teller who lives in a downtown bus shelter and only communicates through writing, is mentored by Nijole Kuzmickas, director of this documentary. The provocative film follows each pairing over a ten-month period; the pitfalls are considerable, as the mentors learn that people end up living on the streets for a com-plex variety of reasons, and being homeless means more than just not having a place to live. Colour, DigiBeta video. 63 mins.

PosT-screeninG discussion wiTh nijole kuzMickas and dr. sTan deVlaMinG

Nijole Kuzmickas, director of Devil Plays Hardball, is an award-win-ning documentary filmmaker whose honours include a Leo Award for Best Direction of an Information Program and a Golden Sheaf Award for Best Social Documentary. She began her career more than 20 years ago with the CBC, and in recent years she has devoted herself to documentaries on social justice issues, with particular emphasis on housing, poverty, and drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Her Golden Sheaf-winning documentary From Grief to Action (2002) fo-cuses on four families struggling to keep their drug-addicted children alive while at the same time lobbying for public policy change.

Dr. Stan deVlaming has been a physician working in the downtown eastside for over 15 years. He is currently the Medical Director for Inner City Primary Health Care for Vancouver Coastal and a Clinical Assistant Professor with the UBC Faculty of Medicine. He has also been an Addictions Consultant at St. Paul’s hospital for more than 15 years, and former head of the hospital’s addictions services.