Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to say goodbye to its landmark Administration Building

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) will say goodbye to its landmark Administration Building at 1001 Queen St. West in a ceremony on October 29, 2009 at 4 p.m. Demolition of the building will begin in January 2010 to make way for the next major phase of CAMH's ambitious redevelopment project, which is transforming care for Ontarians living with addiction and mental health issues.

"This building was once the infamous '999' Queen St West," says CAMH President and CEO, Dr. Paul Garfinkel. "It's the end of an era. While we're sad to see this building close, it is very exciting to see our new vision for care and treatment take shape. We look forward to, literally, opening up our grounds to create an urban village that will integrate CAMH with a revitalized Queen St. West community. "

CAMH clients echo the same sentiment. "I've been a client and now I work at CAMH as a peer support worker," says Linda Chamberlain, who will add her story of recovery to the time capsule at the event. "This redevelopment is extremely exciting and will play a big role in helping reduce the stigma associated with this site, and with mental illness and addictions, that clients and staff confront every day."

The next phase of the redevelopment will feature three new CAMH buildings. The CAMH Intergenerational Wellness Centre will co-locate 12 first-time beds for youth with concurrent mental health and addictions issues, right next to the Geriatric Mental Health Program. The CAMH Gateway building will house outpatient services for CAMH's Addictions and Mood and Anxiety Programs, as well as a gymnasium and administrative services. A third CAMH building will have meeting and assessment space as well as parking. The first non-CAMH building - located right on Queen Street West and including grade level retail and affordable housing above - will be constructed at the same time,

The closing ceremony will take place at 1001 Queen St. West on October 29, 2009 beginning at 4 p.m. and will include:

- remarks by CAMH President and CEO, Dr. Paul Garfinkel, - stories from the past by long-time CAMH employees; - the display of CAMH artifacts (including the original gate key from the provincial asylum) and - additions to the building's original time capsule to be re-buried in the new CAMH Gateway Building.

A groundbreaking for the next phase will take place in January 2010.