HIGH NOTES AVANTE inspires, gives hope and connects those touched by mental illness through artistic expression.

Our vision:

Compassion, Understanding, Respect and Connections through arts for everyone touched by mental illness. 

Our mission: 

To inspire, give hope and connect those touched by mental illness through artistic expression.

Our registered charitable objectives are:

To relieve conditions associated with mental illness by offering art productions directed towards the alleviation of loneliness and isolation, as well as to reduce the associated stigma.

To promote mental health by providing information from mental health professionals and testimonials from artists, well-known personalities and others who suffer or have suffered from mental illness.

Since at least 1 in 5 Canadians are living with mental health issues at any time, and half of us will have had a mental health issue by the time we turn 40--we ALL have a story. Whether it is you yourself, your daughter, your father, your sister, cousin, spouse or friend or coworker who has it--we are all affected. Mental illness deserves the same compassion and respect from society as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Our work encourages you to share more openly so that we can learn from each other and move forward on higher notes together.

Sadly, many suffer in silence and never reach out for help due to stigma and the fear of being judged. An astonishing 230,000 people consider suicide every year in Ontario and about 11 die by suicide every day in Canada. Still as many as 80 per cent of depression cases and many other conditions can improve, with help. We just have to make it easier to access.

We have been producing the annual High Notes Gala for Mental Health since 2013. Our accessible and affordable events are not fundraising but image raising—making our lifesaving messages accessible.  By showcasing what people are able to do despite mental illness we address the underlying problem of stigma and loneliness as we help prevent premature deaths. A big chunk of our tickets are given away to current mental health clients with the hope to reduce loneliness and give them hope for a better future. For our 10-year anniversary we have written and produced a mental health anthem "WEALLHAVEASTORY (everyone's unique) which we hope will eventually reach everyone across Canada.

MOST RECENTLY, we started the FREE HIGH NOTES MUSIC PROGRAM with individual instruction on a variety of instruments--including piano, guitar, voice and sax--for people with mental health issues and others who can simply not afford the normal price tag of music. We have also provided mental health first aid training to our highly qualified teachers. We think the therapeutical benefits of music making should be available to everyone. We hope to grow the HIGH NOTES MUSIC PROGRAM to be offered through the public schools but it will take some time. 

Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.