See a timeline of major milestones conducted by the Office of Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs & Concurrent Disorders.
September 26, 2025 |
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Expansion of voluntary & involuntary beds for Prince George |
The opening of involuntary care facilities at Prince George and Surrey is announced.
Premier David Eby announces new involuntary care beds in Surrey and Prince George, in addition to more on the way at pre-existing facilities elsewhere. Read the media release by PrinceGeorge.ca |
June 3, 2025 |
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Opening of Alouette Homes |
The opening of Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge is announced.
Alouette Homes is a designated mental-health facility with 18 new involuntary care beds designed to support people who meet the criteria under the Mental Health Act. These are people who have severe and persistent mental-health disorders, often combined with other challenges, such as addictions and brain injuries, which may impact their behaviour and ability to interact safely with others. Read the full announcement by BC Gov News. |
April 24, 2025 |
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New involuntary care beds open at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre |
10 new involuntary care beds are now open at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, providing people in custody who are in crisis and have overlapping mental-health and addiction challenges, as well as brain injuries due to toxic-drug overdoses, with specialized involuntary care.
Read the media release by BC Gov News. |
March 12, 2025 |
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Mental Health Act Memo for Adults released |
Dr. Daniel Vigo issued a guidance document to the clinical community, including doctors and psychiatrists across all health authorities, to provide clarification on how the Mental Health Act can be used to provide involuntary care for adults when they are unable to seek it themselves.
Read the full announcement by BC Gov News and the full memo on gov.bc.ca. |
September 15, 2024 |
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BC to expand care for people with concurrent brain injury, mental health and substance use challenges |
Dr. Daniel Vigo joined Premier David Eby and others in announcing his recommendations to improve outcomes for people with severe mental illness, substance use disorder, and acquired brain injury, including expanding secure facilities for individuals under the Mental Health Act and to enhance mental health treatment within BC corrections for those with mental health and addiction challenges.
Read the announcement by BC Gov News. |
June 5, 2024 |
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Dr. Daniel Vigo’s Appointment as British Columbia’s Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs & Concurrent Disorders |
Announced by BC Premiere David Eby, Dr. Vigo will focus on improving care for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders, with (or at risk of) acquired brain injury due to exposure to toxic drugs.
In this role, Dr. Vigo will collaborate with several health authorities, Indigenous partners and individuals with lived experiences. He will access all relevant data sources, conduct centralized data analysis and interpretation, and provide ongoing evidence-based recommendations to enhance the health system’s response. Read the announcement by BC Gov News or watch the livestream recording. |