It is with profound sadness that we share the news with the CREST.BD community of the death of Dr. Elliot Goldner, MD, FRSPC (Psychiatry), MHSc, Professor, Associate Dean (Research), Director of the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC.

Elliot was a founding member of our CREST.BD network. For nearly a decade, he was involved in helping us grow from a small provincial team into a Canadian network dedicated to empowering people with bipolar disorder. During this time, he guided us on our strategic directions, was an active collaborator on our most significant research projects, and spearheaded an authentic partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada that continues to this day.

Beyond his support for our research, Elliot was the epitome of a true role model. His grace, humility, compassion and passion — for mental health research, and life more broadly — was something most of us could only aspire to. His untimely death leaves many of us feeling bereft and shaken. But we are holding on tight to the incredible legacy he leaves in his wake and our joint commitment to continue to honour and enact it.

Our hearts go out to Elliot’s wife, Roslyn, to their children Sarah and Adam, and to the many people Elliot touched in his life who are feeling his loss so profoundly.

Erin Michalak, CREST.BD Lead.

Details of the memorial service to honour Elliot’s life and work are as follows:

Location: Arbutus Club
2001 Nanton Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 4A1
Date: Thursday December 15th
Time: 11am