Tasked with helping people with mental illness edge out of isolation and return to community – perhaps even coming back from a history of criminal involvement – is topmost for Connections Place.
That means staff working with its membership at the Victoria clubhouse that helps people with mental illness feel connected and move towards wellness.
A recent $500,000 provincial boost is critical to helping members stay on track, reach for goals and navigate the natural ups and downs of life, said executive director Neelam Pahal.
“It’s creating as many opportunities as possible to help people be part of something,” Pahal said.
The non-profit membership-based community helps people with mental illness feel connected and move towards wellness. Offering a safe and welcoming space, it provides opportunities to form collegial relationships through collaboration, meaningful work, and a sense of belonging. People can sit and have a solo coffee or stay all day for a variety of programs – whatever suits their needs.
"What I've found with Connections Place is that it makes everybody feel valued and encourages people to use their strengths. It gives them independence and agency. The point of coming in is to contribute and be part of a community. To be needed. Everyone that comes here has unique skills and abilities,” member Michael said. “I don't see people's mental-health issues here; I see what they're good at. Being able to come in here and contribute, it makes me feel better and happier."
The one-time provincial funding helps keep the doors open, five days a week and stat holidays, facilitating programs as staff and membership deconstruct mental health stigma and systems by building inclusivity, acceptance, and intentionality into the clubhouse operation and through community partnerships between organizations.
Open to anyone who primarily identifies mental health as their main challenge, the clubhouse allows people a different community to be involved with, somewhere to be during the day.
“To help people be exposed to different communities and different groups of people, and to feel they’re part of society, not outcast,” Pahal said.
In 2024-2025, more than 182 active members accessed services at Connections Place, with 8,880 total visits and 6,417 total meals served.
"Connections Place is helping transform how we support mental health in our community. By creating a welcoming, recovery-oriented environment, they empower individuals to rebuild their lives, regain confidence and feel a renewed sense of belonging. This, in turn, helps reduce stigma and build a stronger, healthier community for everyone,” said Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake.
A clubhouse is an internationally recognized, evidence-based program in the form of a community centre for people with mental illness to find peer support and use their talents. More than 370 independent clubhouses span 33 countries worldwide, serving more than 100,000 members.
Learn more about the organization at connectionsplace.org.
“The goal is to deepen our impact on the community and that we make a useful impact on society,” Pahal said. “It really is a lifeline for a lot of people.”
