Bill Wilkerson (business executive)

Bill Wilkerson
Born
William E. Wilkerson

(1942-03-10)10 March 1942
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Died26 January 2025(2025-01-26) (aged 82)
Port Hope, Ontario
Occupations
  • Business executive
  • mental health advocate
  • journalist
Years activec. 1960s–c. 2000s
Known forMental health advocacy in Canada, U.S., Europe, Middle East, and beyond
Board member ofKaiser Foundation
Spouse
Olga Cwiek
​
(m. 1998)​
AwardsLL.D. (Hon) (McMaster University)

William E. Wilkerson (1942-2025)[1] was a Canadian business executive, mental health advocate, author, and co-founder of the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health.[2] He was a prominent advocate for mental health issues impacting Canadian employees.[3][4]

Wilkerson's career began in journalism and public affairs before he moved to executive roles and then into mental health advocacy. In 1998, he co-founded the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health with business executive Tim Price and former Canadian Finance Minister Michael Wilson. Wilkerson and Wilson were also appointed by the Canadian Minister of Health to review mental health in the workplace.[5] Wilkerson spoke widely about workplace mental health, suicide prevention, and frameworks for mental health policy. He was also an industry professor of international mental health at McMaster University and a member of the Ontario Ministry of Health Task Force on Mental Health Reform.[6][7]

Early life

Wilkerson was born on 10 March 1942[1] in Niagara Falls, Ontario.[8] He was the son of Bernice[9] and James Wilkerson.[8][10] He attended St Patrick's Elementary School and the Niagara Falls Collegiate and Vocational Institute.[8] Wilkerson was expelled from high school in his senior year; he didn't return and didn't attend university.[11]

Career

Early career

In 1962, Wilkerson began his career as a court reporter for the Welland Evening Tribune,[12][11] and joined the Niagara Falls Evening Review in late 1964. In June 1967, he became an aide for the Secretary of State for Canada, Judy LaMarsh.[8] In 1968, he became the executive assistant to Joe Greene, Canada's Minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources.[10][12]

He began working in communications at International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) c. 1971,[12] and was vice-president of communications and advertising in 1977.[13] This was followed by turns at the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) as director of communications and public affairs,[1][12][9] at the Royal Bank of Canada[12] as communications director, and as Chief of Staff to Art Eggleton, the Mayor of Toronto[12] from 1982 to 1986.[14]

Wilkerson was also an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Western Ontario Graduate School of Journalism in the 1980s.[6] He often worked as a crisis specialist and co-founded CorpWorld Communications Group. In 1995, he became the president of Liberty Health.[11] He served as CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and executive director of Roy Thomson Hall,[12][1] senior counsel to the public affairs and communications firm, GPC International,[6] and advisor to the National Hockey League's board of directors, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Canadian Football League.[1][12]

Mental health work

In 1998, Wilkerson co-founded the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health with business executive Tim Price and initial support from former Canadian Finance Minister Michael Wilson.[2][11][15][16] The organization focused on promoting employer engagement in mental health and addiction in the workplace and is credited with popularizing the term "workplace mental health".[17] The Roundtable convened business leaders, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to examine the economic and organizational impacts of mental illness. It advocated for change,[18] produced guidance[19] and employer-focused tools, and contributed to the development of workplace mental health policies and practices in Canada.[4][20][5] Wilkerson and Wilson were also appointed by the Canadian Minister of Health to review mental health in the workplace.[5]

Between 2008 and 2011, Wilkerson served as a sworn civilian mental‑health adviser to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He contributed to the development of national psychological health guidelines for police organizations, including the “COPS” framework (Care, Outreach, Prevention, Support).[21]

After closing the Roundtable in 2011,[11] Wilkerson co-founded Mental Health International (MHI)[22] with Joseph Ricciuti. He later chaired MHI's initiative European Business Leadership Forum for Mental Health and Productivity (2013-2015). For its campaign to "Target the Impact of Depression" in the Workplace, he travelled to twenty European capitals to recruit multinational employers, such as the European Central Bank and Royal Mail.[23][24] He was also vice chair of the Kaiser Foundation.[25]

Wilkerson spoke widely about workplace mental health, suicide prevention, and frameworks for mental health policy. He delivered talks to business and scientific organizations,[26] as well as also to caregivers, teachers,[27] police, military,[28] and first responders[29] across Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He was also a member of the Ontario Ministry of Health Task Force on Mental Health Reform.[6][7]

Awards and honours

Wilkerson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by McMaster University in 2015.[24][30]

Personal life

While working for CBC in Vancouver, Wilkerson met Olga Cwiek, and they married in c. 1998. They lived in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto before moving to Port Hope. Wilkerson died suddenly on January 26, 2025 in his home. Memorial services were held in Toronto at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, and in Port Hope.[1]

Selected published works

  • Wilkerson, Bill (August 6, 1996). "What to do about Disability: Another Perspective". The Globe and Mail, Toronto. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Pérez, Edgardo; Wilkerson, Bill (1998). Mindsets: Mental Health, the Ultimate Productivity Weapon : a Report and Commentary. Homewood Centre for Organizational Health at Riverslea. ASIN B01B99GFCC.
  • deVries, Marten W.; Wilkerson, Bill (February 2003). "Stress, work and mental health: a global perspective". Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 15 (1): 44–53. doi:10.1034/j.1601-5215.2003.00017.x. ISSN 0924-2708.
  • Wilkerson B. (2006). "Global business and economic roundtable on addiction and mental health. An agenda for progress global business and economic roundtable on mental health" (PDF). mentalhealthroundtable.ca.
  • Wilkerson, B. (2006). "Business and economic plan for mental health and productivity". mentalhealthroundtable.ca.
  • Wilkerson, Bill (August 12, 2008). "Mental Health and Productivity in the 21st Century: Keynote Address". International Foundation of Employee Benefits and the 41st Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Retrieved February 16, 2026 – via yumpu.com.
  • Wilkerson, Bill (2010). "Principles of mental health Charting a new course for the RCMP" (PDF). RCMP Gazette. 72 (1): 14–15.
  • Wilkerson, Bill; Wilson, The Honourable Michael (December 2011). Brain Health + Brain Skills = Brain Capital. Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health.[31]
  • Wilkerson, Bill; Baynton, Mary Ann (January 1, 2016). "Stigma reduction plan". Workplace Strategies for Mental Health.
  • Wilkerson, Bill; posthumously (March 16, 2025). Fluke: Volume 1 of Life's Adventures. Blurb. ISBN 9-798-31753-013-6.
  • Wilkerson, Bill; Ricciuti, Joseph; Wilson, Michael. Breaking Through: Brain Health in a Brain Economy.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Obituary for William Wilkerson". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2026 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ^ a b "Inside a Canadian businessman's controversial and ambitious plan to eradicate depression in the workplace". The National Post. October 5, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  3. ^ Lim, Kim-Lian; Jacobs, Philip; Dewa, Carolyn (2008). "Institute of Health Economics Report: How Much Should We Spend on Mental Health?" (PDF). Institute of Health Economics.
  4. ^ a b "Report of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology: Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction: Overview of Policies and Programs in Canada". Senate of Canada (37th Parliament, 2nd Session). Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "Part V: Federal Leadership". Out of the Shadows at Last [Final report on Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction] (PDF). Ottawa: Canadian Senate. p. 351 – via Public Safety Canada.
  6. ^ a b c d Paths to Equal Opportunity: Business Case for Accessibility. Government of Ontario. November 2001.
  7. ^ a b "Every Door is the Right Door: Towards a 10-Year Mental Health and Addictions Strategy - A discussion paper" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
  8. ^ a b c d "Bill Wilkerson Accepts Post as Aide to State Secretary". Niagara Falls Evening Review. May 29, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved February 27, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Former Review Writer Named to Senior CBC Job". Niagara Falls Review. July 19, 1978. p. 4. Retrieved February 28, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Former Review Reporter Named Greene's Assistant". Niagara Falls Evening Review. July 5, 1968. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c d e Burns, Tammy (July 13, 2012). "Inspiration: Wilkerson puts minds over matters". Benefits Canada.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h May, Kathryn (October 7, 2014). "Why Bill Wilkerson battles to cure mental illness". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  13. ^ "Elvis Imitation Now Works for ITT". The Toronto Star. September 3, 1977. pp. H1. Retrieved February 28, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Smith, Michael (July 24, 1986). "Mayor Eggleton Loses his 'Alter Ego': Chief Assistant Bill Wilkerson Resigns Aug. 1". The Toronto Star. pp. A6. Retrieved February 28, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Samra, Joti (2017). "The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada (2007-2017)" (PDF). York University.
  16. ^ Dowsett Johnston, Ann (July 31, 2006). "Fighting Depression-related Suicide". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  17. ^ Baynton, Mary Ann; Fournier, Leanne (2017). The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada: Toward a standard for psychological health and safety (PDF). Friesens Corporation. ISBN 978-1-55383-458-8.
  18. ^ "Corporate world called on to lead the fight for mental health". Canadian HR Reporter. Key Media Business Information. October 11, 2001. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  19. ^ Bender, Ash; Brenneman Gibson, Jane; Gnam, William H.; et al. (November 14, 2002). Mental Health and Substance Use at Work: perspectives from research and implications for leaders: A Background Paper (PDF) (Primary source). Prepared by the Roundtable's Scientific Advisory Committee. Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health.
  20. ^ "Mentally Healthy Communities: A Collection of Papers" (PDF). Government of Canada. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  21. ^ "Police services promote mental health in the workplace". Canadian Mental Health Association. March 24, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  22. ^ Attridge, Mark (April 21, 2019). "A Global Perspective on Promoting Workplace Mental Health and the Role of Employee Assistance Programs". American Journal of Health Promotion. doi:10.1177/0890117119838101c.
  23. ^ "Champignon Appoints Dr. Bill Wilkerson, Executive Chairman of Mental Health International to Board of Directors". Psychedelic Alpha (Press Release). May 25, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  24. ^ a b "Faculty of Social Sciences: Bill Wilkerson, Industry Professor in International Mental Health". McMaster University (Profile page). Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  25. ^ Stueck, Wendy (February 3, 2012). "CEO made mental-health work his business". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  26. ^ "New expert-led report calls for urgent changes around mental health". Ontario Brain Institute. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  27. ^ Harvey, Robin (April 30, 2004). "Depression haunts teachers: Situation so bad educators almost `uninsurable' Illness causing major health crisis in sector: Study" (PDF). The Star – via edupax.org.
  28. ^ Bernier, Jean-Robert. "Surgeon General's Report 2014" (PDF). Government of Canada. Canadian Forces Health Services Group. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  29. ^ "Supporting Mental Health in First Responders: Making the Business Case" (PDF). Sask First Responders. 2017.
  30. ^ Paddon, Natalie (November 21, 2015). "Why Workers Need Support for Traumatic Events". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 3. Retrieved February 27, 2026 – via newspapers.com. Bill Wilkerson, chair of the non-profit [Mental Health Int'l], received an honorary degree and delivered a convocation address for McMaster University Friday morning. Wilkerson, who is also chair of the European Business Leadership Forum for Workplace Mental Health
  31. ^ "Evidence of Tana Nash to the Standing Committee on Health". House of Commons of Canada. Retrieved February 16, 2026. Wilkerson and... Wilson, released their final report for The Global Business and Economic Roundtable for Addiction and Mental Health this past December. The title is "Brain Health + Brain Skills = Brain Capital".
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