The Canadian Mental Health Association Central Region has a new executive director. Kyle Berg started his new role last month, switching gears from a previous social worker position. As a former frontline worker, Berg has the experience he feels will help him guide the CMHA.

"I was a social worker for the Garden Valley School Division and I grew up in the Winkler area, and I know the central region quite well, so I'm fairly aware of the status of mental health and the needs of the region," Berg says.

Berg adds as a social worker with the school division, he got to know families quite well, as well as their histories, and where they're coming from.

"They have complex needs that they bring to the table and really abundant strengths. Having the ability to recognize those strengths and how those people maybe don't have the ability to meet their own needs. You can do that to a certain extent as a social worker but the avenues to explore are limited," says Berg.

Berg notes he wanted to be involved with the CMHA so he could reach more people.

"I wanted to have a larger scale perspective on the needs of the region and have more of a role in directing how we address mental health and wellness on a big picture scale... that's what really drew me to this and I knew there was really great stuff going on with CMHA Central prior to me getting here," explains Berg.

Berg says he's excited about his new role, especially about the new Recovery College that's starting this month.

"We're really focusing on doing that well and looking to see what works, what doesn't and adapting as we go along and making that catch on in the region and the community," Berg says.

The Recovery College offers unique courses focusing on mental health, and teaches skills on taking care of your well-being, Registration's underway, and classes begin this month through to December for the first semester. Courses are online to view at https://central.cmha.ca/