Brendan is a CFA Charterholder with an extensive background in real estate investment, mainly with Revera Inc. where he oversaw the development and operations of high-end assisted living and memory-care facilities in Canada, the USA and UK. Brendan is currently Director of Real Estate Asset Management at Forum Asset Management.
Brendan enjoys staying active playing hockey and golf. He lives in Leaside with his wife and son.
Joining the team with a helpful skill set
Brendan is joining the Eli’s Place organization at an interesting time. His experience in real estate will be invaluable as we find a land parcel for purchase or lease which will meet our objectives. Brendan has an extensive background in institutional investment management and real estate which will help us stickhandle the next stage of our growth.
Managing funds responsibly through good governance is also an area where Brendan’s experience will stand us in good stead. Accepting donations comes with a clear mandate; as Brendan says: “there are rules to follow in putting that money to use” and he takes the responsibility very seriously. His expertise in this area will be invaluable.
What drew Brendan to Eli’s Place?
Like all of us at Eli’s Place, Brendan understands the need for greater support for people that deal with severe mental health challenges. Like many of us, a personal connection to the issue has made his desire to affect change more urgent.
Brendan witnessed the long struggle of a friend he knew for many years — through elementary school, high school and hockey teams — eventually diagnosed with Bipolar II. This friend continued to struggle to find the right help. Several years ago, he died. Brendan lives with uncertainty around the cause of his friend’s death but one thing is certain: there simply isn’t the infrastructure in place to help people with complex needs.
Brendan knows “there has to be a better way.” He is encouraged by the impact studies completed by Gould Farm and believes this model should be available in Canada. Becoming part of the team at Eli’s Place is a very concrete way to honour his friend and to help those who continue to need the treatment that Eli’s Place will offer.
Sustainable mental health
The founding mission of Eli’s Place to help young adults develop long-term, sustainable health really appeals to Brendan. Conventional methods often involving short hospital stays followed by limited support once released are simply not working. In our interview, we talked about the way our current system pushes people back to school, back to work without adequate time to adjust. Brendan spoke about the time needed for young adults “to regain control over their lives” which is key to the vision of Eli’s Place.
“The hope is and the evidence suggests that this program can allow people to have sustainable help and support,” he stated. With the opportunity to live in a supported environment young adults can receive treatment in a way that is not currently available.
What our tagline “Where Recovery Grows” means for Brendan
Brendan chuckled when asked this question, noting there are so many ways to interpret this tagline and he concluded that was likely intentional on the part of those who developed it!
Of course growth, in the literal sense of being able to use farming and agriculture in the model of Eli’s Place is important, but it also has other meanings: growing a toolset to manage challenges, and growing the confidence as a person living with mental illness are key concepts for Brendan. He reflected that mental illness can “derail people’s lives, their dreams and their goals,” so “helping people to grow and achieve their potential” is the most meaningful aspect of our vision as he interprets it.
In conclusion
It was my pleasure to meet Brendan over a zoom conversation. It’s very clear that he has skills and motivation to help us on our way. Brendan has already been involved in committee work and on the board and we are grateful to have him on board the Eli’s Place team.
Eli’s Place will be a rural, residential treatment program for young adults with serious mental illness. To learn more about our mission and our proven-effective model click here.
Constantina Venetis | Eli’s Place Volunteer
Constantina Venetis is a communications committee member with Eli’s Place. She is an advocate for mental health and recognizes the importance of ending the stigma circulating mental health. She has a business background, specializing in marketing and hopes to merge her passion for wellbeing with her creative background.
