The Canadian Mental Health Association Central Region's executive director is ready for the next 12 months. Jordan Friesen says they'll be focusing on the many returning events, as well as the organization itself throughout 2016.

"We had great success with the Heroes awards in 2015, and we're looking forward to expanding on that in 2016. In terms of the organization, I think what we're really focused on is organizational health to ensure we have a sustainable organization that can deliver quality services to the people of the community that need it."

Friesen was hired as the executive director in September, and says now that's he's becoming more comfortable with the role he's hoping to reach out to other organizations to create partnerships.

"I'm hoping to take on a more active role among the non-profits in the community. Portage has a really strong network of non-profit organizations that do a lot of good work, and I'm hoping to become a little bit more involved in that network of organizations and see how we can strengthen our collective impact here in Portage."

He says partnering with other organizations is essential in the social service sector, adding it provides an opportunity for like-minded organizations to work together to achieve a common goal.