A Legacy Built on Action, Advocacy, and Change
In 1986, BrainTrust Canada was founded in response to a simple but urgent reality, people living with brain injury were being left behind.
There were no clear pathways, limited supports, and very little understanding of what people actually needed to rebuild their lives.
So a small group came together, survivors, families, care providers, and a personal injury lawyer, and decided to build something different.
They began by creating support groups, working to find appropriate housing, and building connection where none existed.
That was the beginning.
How It Grew
What started as a grassroots effort quickly became something more.
Through the late 1980s and 1990s, the organization evolved under earlier names, including the North & South Okanagan Head Injury Society and the Central Okanagan Brain Injury Society. During this time, the focus was simple but critical, building community-based supports and advocating for recognition of brain injury.
By the early 2000s, BrainTrust Canada took shape as it is known today, grounded in three core areas, education, prevention, and support.
From there, the work expanded.
Partnerships strengthened across healthcare, legal, and community systems. Programs became more structured. Reach extended across the region.
What never changed was the focus on people.
Moments That Defined the Work
Over the years, there have been moments that didn’t just support individuals, they shifted awareness, challenged systems, and brought communities together.
Protect Your Head (2009–2011)
A province-wide prevention campaign that brought brain injury into public conversation in a way that was hard to ignore.
- Delivered through television, radio, print, and grassroots outreach
- Awarded the BC Broadcasters Humanitarian Award
- Led to a full year of free advertising across the province
- Recognized internationally
It changed how prevention was talked about and seen
A Run to Remember (2011)
BrainTrust supported David McGuire in running a marathon a day across Canada, from St. John’s to Victoria.
Along the way, he spoke to students, met with communities, and showed what recovery can look like in real life. His story was picked up nationally, including in Maclean’s.
It was not about fundraising. It was about possibility.
Brain Bright Day (2019)
A regional prevention initiative delivered across local school districts, bringing real conversations about brain injury directly to youth.
Featuring voices like Kelsey Serwa and Shanda Hill, the campaign focused on education, awareness, and prevention grounded in lived experience.
Pihl Law “Paddle for Prevention”
A one-of-a-kind community fundraiser that brought energy, visibility, and connection to brain injury awareness.
- Stand up paddleboard team relay event on Okanagan Lake
- Typically 125 to 150 participants each year
- One of the largest fundraisers in BrainTrust’s history
- Emphasis on fun, costumes, and healthy competition
The day brought people together in a way that felt different.
Teams raced across the water, starting with a group yoga warmup and ending with a community BBQ. Chocolate medals were awarded in a closing ceremony that celebrated not just winners, but participation and community spirit.
It was more than a fundraiser. It was a reflection of what BrainTrust is all about, people coming together, supporting one another, and showing up in ways that are both meaningful and human.
A Conference That Became a Platform for Change
What began as a small gathering has grown into the West Coast Brain Injury Conference, now a recognized and respected provincial event.
For decades, the conference has brought together professionals, researchers, survivors, caregivers, and system leaders from across British Columbia and beyond. It has become more than a learning event, it is a space where conversations happen that don’t happen anywhere else.
With long-standing support from Pushor Mitchell LLP, the conference has evolved into a platform that:
- Bridges gaps between sectors, including health, justice, legal, and community services
- Elevates lived experience alongside clinical and professional expertise
- Challenges systems that are not designed for individuals living with brain injury
- Sparks collaboration that extends far beyond the event itself
Over the years, the conference has welcomed leading voices in brain injury, mental health, and trauma, including Gabor Maté, Kim Gorgens, Harry Miller, William Panenka, Bill MacEwan, and Angela Colantonio, alongside many others who are shaping the conversation at both a clinical and systems level.
Each year, the conference reflects what BrainTrust has always stood for, pushing boundaries, asking better questions, and creating space for solutions.
Kelowna Integrated Court (2021)
BrainTrust Canada played a role in supporting the development of Kelowna’s integrated court, bringing a brain injury-informed perspective into the justice system.
- Collaborative, team-based court approach involving justice, health, and community partners
- Focuses on the full context of an individual’s situation, not just the charges
- Recognizes the impact of brain injury on behaviour, memory, and decision-making
BrainTrust supports individuals involved in the court by helping them navigate systems, access appropriate services, and better understand expectations placed on them.
This work helps reduce repeated involvement in the justice system and creates pathways toward stability, support, and long-term change.
What It Looks Like Today
Today, BrainTrust Canada supports individuals and families across the Central and North Okanagan, from Enderby to Peachland.
Our work includes:
- Life skills and rehabilitation supports
- Clinical counselling
- Group programs
- Caregiver supports
- Prevention and education initiatives
But it goes beyond programs.
Our work reaches across health, justice, and social systems, meeting people where they are and helping them move forward in ways that are practical, meaningful, and lasting.
Why This Work Matters
Brain injury changes everything.
How a person thinks. How they connect. How they move through the world.
And too often, the systems around them are not built to respond.
That is where BrainTrust steps in.
Not just as a service provider, but as a connector, an advocate, and a voice pushing for change.
Because brain injury is not just a health issue. It is a social issue. A systems issue. A human rights issue.
Make a Donation
Brain injury can change a life in an instant. What comes after, the support, the guidance, the ability to rebuild, is what makes the difference.
Your donation helps ensure that individuals and families are not left to navigate that journey alone.
It supports real people in our communities to regain independence, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with their lives. It allows us to continue showing up where systems fall short, providing support that is practical, consistent, and life-changing.
This work does not happen without community.
Whether it is $40, $400, or more, your contribution directly fuels the programs, services, and advocacy that people rely on every day.
Because behind every donation is someone who gets the support they need to move forward.
Become a 40th Anniversary Sponsor
We are partnering with organizations and community leaders who want to be part of lasting, meaningful change.
As a sponsor, you are investing in:
- Stronger, more inclusive communities
- Better outcomes for individuals living with brain injury
- A future where brain injury is recognized and supported across systems
40 Years of Impact. The Work Ahead
What started as a small group coming together to fill a gap has grown into something much bigger than anyone could have imagined.
But the work isn’t done.
There are still barriers people face every day. Systems that don’t quite fit. Individuals and families trying to navigate something that was never designed with them in mind.
That’s why we’re still here, showing up, doing the work, and continuing to push forward.
If you want to be part of that, we invite you to support what comes next.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of country music, luxury, and exclusive VIP perks! BrainTrust Canada is thrilled to announce our Glitz, Grits, and Gray Matter Fundraiser, an exclusive e-auction, giving you the chance to attend the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) in Kelowna, BC, on September 13th, 2025—all while supporting a great cause.