The History of Cottage Farm

The idea of creating a residential therapeutic community in the Lower Mainland began with Alison Nixon, whose teenage son was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  Alison noticed a significant improvement in her son during their 10-day stay at an ashram.  While understanding that environment alone would not have made him well, she feels his subsequent recovery would have been greatly enhanced in a similar serene and compassionate environment, where he was seen as a contributing member of the community and not as a patient.

Alison contacted several successful therapeutic communities in North America.  They were generous in sharing information that has helped shape the concept of Cottage Farm.  A review of the medical literature was done which reported benefits from this approach to care for people with severe mental disorders.

Over the past few years, Alison has brought together individuals with a broad range of expertise who share her passion and commitment to make Cottage Farm a reality.  A registered non-profit society, Cottage Farm Centre for Mental Health Recovery Society, has been formed, with a Board of Directors. A charter and business plan have been developed and fund-raising activities are underway.

The North Shore Unitarian Church has provided assistance to the Board in a number of ways and the Board wishes to express its gratitude.

The Cottage Farm Board

The Board of Directors is made up of the following concerned and dedicated volunteers:

Dr. Tom Ehmann is a clinical psychologist who has worked directly with people with serious mental disorders for the past 20 years.  As a researcher, he has published on the assessment of psychopathology, stress and coping in chronic illness, psychopharmacological treatment and program development.  He has been involved in policy and program development for treating psychoses.

Barrie Forbes is a businessman and co-owner of Allied Blower & Sheet Metal Limited.  He has been involved with a number of charitable organizations over the past 20 years. Barrie serves as the Cottage Farm Board Chair.

Michelle Isaak is a lawyer with Davis LLP in Vancouver.  Michelle practices mainly in the area of Wills, Estates and Trusts, including legal issues concerning mental capacity.  As part of her practice, she advises families of individuals with serious mental disorders.  She has observed the effect of serious mental illness on close friends and family members and the difficulties that arise when treatment and housing options fail to meet their needs.  Michelle is excited to be working on developing Cottage Farm, as an alternative model for recovery.

Alison Nixon is a professional musician, who trained as a violinist in Britain and Switzerland.  She witnessed the positive impact of community on vulnerable individuals in a Camphill community in Scotland, where she performed as a student.  While raising her young family, Alison discovered the joy of conducting and creating community through music.  She has conducted and founded a number of choirs over the past decade and a half.  When her son developed schizophrenia, she became a tireless advocate for changes to the mental health care system and played an instrumental role in promoting the concept of Cottage Farm as an innovative option for recovery. Alison serves as the Cottage Farm Board Vice-Chair.

Linda Pratt has worked as bookkeeper and secretary for more than two decades.  She has served on the North Shore Unitarian Church Board for 3 years and has been involved in a number of fund-raising activities. Linda serves as the Cottage Farm Board Secretary.

Ian Ross has a Master’s degree in Management, Counseling and Gerontology.  He is the Executive Director (ED) of the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC and the former ED of Distinctive Counseling Services of Alberta.  Ian is also the former ED of the Vancouver Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, where he played an instrumental role in the creation of the Czorny Alzheimer’s Centre, a 36-bed residence. He is the Treasurer of the Board of the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention and Chair of their Crisis Intervention Committee.  Ian serves as the Cottage Farm Board Treasurer.

Cottage Farm Associates

Cottage Farm is grateful for our associates who are past Board members and continue to support the vision:

Dr. Victoria Smye is an educator and researcher at the UBC School of Nursing.  Her research focuses on the inequities in access to mental health and addiction services. She worked for many years as a clinician in mental health, including as Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Director of the St Paul’s Hospital Eating Disorders Program in Vancouver.  She is a Board member of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and the Sal’i’shan Institute.

Dr. Lois Yelland is a retired public health physician and has a step-grandson with schizophrenia.  As a former Medical Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, she oversaw psychiatric services to all public schools in Vancouver and dealt with all requests for medical exclusions from the Vancouver School Board.  Lois was a member of a number of committees involved in the planning and delivery of the mental health services for children and youth in Vancouver.  She assisted an education colleague in introducing Roots of Empathy, an anti-bullying program, which has been implemented in all elementary schools in BC.  Lois helped spearhead Windows of Opportunity for Vancouver’s Children and Youth, a community development program to coordinate services and supports into neighbourhood hubs, to help ensure all children are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

Dyanne Zitko is a graphic designer and worked for nearly a decade in graphic design before becoming Special Events Coordinator at The North Shore Salvation Army Community & Family Ministries two years ago.  Dyanne’s interest in Cottage Farm originates from having a son with dual diagnosis, who was on the street.  She also has other family members and close friends with serious mental illness and has seen how easily individuals can become debilitated by their illness, when they lack the necessary support.  Dyanne uses her creative talents and skill to design all of Cottage Farm’s promotional materials.