b'FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRAEME AITKENNotwithstanding the positives to come fromIt is difficult for me to express the importanceIn addition to bringing us together as a more thechangeinmeetingvenues,Ibelieveofmentalhealthinourcommunityand,inclusive community, I am pleased that the COVID-19 also had a role in contributingmoregenerally,inoursociety.Whilethepandemichasalsobroughtthematterof to struggles many of us had with our mentalattention brought to mental health duringmental health to the forefront, that we talk healthduringthemostrestrictivetimesthe pandemic has helped to lessen the stigma,about it more openly and that (hopefully) the ofthepandemic.OurECAOExecutiveithasnotevenapproachedremovingthatstigma surrounding mental health struggles Committee and Board of Directors, as wellstigma. I am absolutely certain that I washas lessened somewhat. Just like our collective as our local electrical contractor associationsnot alone in struggling with myself at variouscommitment to continue to keep our foot on (ECAs), recognized this as a critical conditionpoints during lockdownsthat I am not thethe gas when it comes to reducing the spread resultingfromlockdownsandothersuchonly one that kept it to myself at times, norof the virus and protecting one another, it is restrictions, and they wanted to help raisethat it wasnt a shared experience or that Iessential to the health, vitality and success of awareness and help deal with this emergingshould have sought out coping methods andour community that we remove the stigma mental health issue. At the time of writingassistance before I did so. Isnt it fascinatingofmentalhealth.So,inadditiontoour thismessage,ECAOandourlocalECAsthatwecanreachouttoothers,friends,continueddiligenceagainstthespreadof havedonatedover$330,000tomentalfamilyandco-workers,toensuretheyareCOVID-19 and its variants, I strongly urge health and food security enhancements acrossokay, yet also deny our own struggles? Weyou to put the mental health of your friends, the province! More than this, thoughandmust continue to watch out for one anotherfamilies, employees and coworkers at the top likelymoreimportantaretheeffortsof we are a communityand for ourselves!of your agenda. Mental health issues are not ourmemberswithintheirowncompaniesIt is quite common, very normal and notasignofweakness;however,dealingwith and organizations to now ensure that mentalunexpectedthatwewillstrugglewithourthem, helping one another and removing the health is an integral part of health and safety. mental health at some point during our lives. stigma will make us all stronger!Ontario Electrical Contractor7'