Bell applauds opening of the new Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

• Major redevelopment of CAMH anchored by the Bell Gateway Building "front door"
• Bell's $10 million donation capped CAMH Foundation's $108 million Transforming Lives campaign
• Bell Gateway Building believed to be first mental health facility to carry the name of a major Canadian corporation

MONTREAL, June 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today applauded the official opening of the new Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in downtown Toronto, the culmination of the largest ever fundraising campaign for a mental health hospital - capped off by a $10 million donation in 2011 from the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative.

The major redevelopment includes the Bell Gateway Building, a central hub on the Queen Street West campus that serves as the "front door" to CAMH, bringing together a variety of treatment programs including central clinical services, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a spiritual care centre, a new physiotherapy clinic, and CAMH's client-run Out of this World Café.

"We're very proud that the Bell Gateway to the new CAMH community so prominently carries our company's name," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell and BCE. "This high-profile corporate naming of a major mental health facility underlines how Bell Let's Talk is working to promote Canadian mental health and make the stigma around mental illness a thing of the past."

"The Bell Gateway Building is a visible symbol of how Bell's Let's Talk initiative is helping to change perceptions surrounding mental illness and addictions by leading a national conversation about discrimination and stigma," said CAMH President and CEO, Dr. Catherine Zahn. "Moreover, Bell's historic donation to CAMH is contributing to improved access to care by providing knowledge and tools for primary care specialists and other health professionals."

Bell's $10-million donation to CAMH is part of the $50-million Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative, a national program to promote Canadian mental health that is built around 4 action pillars:

1. Anti-stigma: raising awareness, enhancing understanding and reducing stigma around mental illness
2. Care and access: support for a range of new community care and access opportunities with major hospitals as well as local community organizations
3. Research: funding for new research and treatment options
4. Workplace: developing mental health best practices alongside other leading corporations

Bell is honoured to be recognized by the international Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2012 Freeman Philanthropic Services Outstanding Corporation for the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. To learn more about Bell Let's Talk, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For Bell products and services, please visit Bell.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit BCE.ca.

Image with caption: "The Bell Gateway Building at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3109_PHOTO_EN_15406.jpg

Image with caption: "The Bell Gateway Building at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3109_PHOTO_EN_15407.jpg

Image with caption: "The Bell Gateway Building at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3109_PHOTO_EN_15408.jpg

Image with caption: " George Cope, President and CEO of Bell and BCE and Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative at the opening of the new Bell Gateway Building at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (CNW Group/BELL CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3109_PHOTO_EN_15405.jpg

Jason Laszlo
Bell Media Relations
1 855-614-6602
[email protected]
@Bell_News