Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, Vol 66(3), Aug 2025, 139-141; doi:10.1037/cap0000445
The current article consists of excerpts taken from the 2024 Canadian Psychological Association Convention address delivered by Honorary Canadian Psychological Association President Jean Augustine. The author’s unique personal story is traced, including being a young teacher who emigrated to Canada in 1960 and becoming passionately dedicated to making a difference. References are made to some of the many significant accomplishments that reflect becoming engaged in meaningful action. Several key themes are reflected in the comments summarized in this article. Key themes and messages include (1) the will to take action and the importance of proactively engaging in action to address problems and build toward solutions, (2) the need to become involved in order to protect and advance human rights, and (3) the chasm that exists in terms of supply versus demand for mental health services and ways to begin to address this chasm. Other key themes include acknowledging the need for diversification in training to increase the number of Black psychologists in Canada and the overarching theme of the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion and the related need to address systemic racism and remove systemic barriers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)