About | Dave’s Gift Society

Content Partnership, Advocacy, Subsidy

Dave’s Gift Society’s mission is to raise funds in support of individual’s on-going private therapy. Through our subsidy program, we provide financial assistance to those without sufficient insurance or expendable income to cover the costs of essential private-sector mental health services.

We believe that the current opioid crisis that has caused so many deaths could have been reduced or avoided if those who were struggling with chronic mental health issues, trauma, or other debilitating mental health challenges could have received intervention and support earlier rather than self-medicating due to limited benefits or funding.

We believe that we are here for such a time as this. It is time to end harm reduction and reactionary health care which cost the systems, not just in dollars, but also in lives. We must move to a preventative framework that offers life-skills, resilience training, and mental health recovery.

We promote health by subsidizing preventative mental health support and maintenance for those who would otherwise not be able to access care due to being overlooked for low-income supports, having inadequate or no health benefits, and not having the resources to pay out of pocket for the needed care. We also advance health education by supporting mental health programs provided by our partnering mental health practitioners.

The society’s goal is to increase access to qualified private sector mental health professionals, complimenting government-funded resources to support and prevent long-term acute and chronic mental health crises.

The intent is to support and enrich the lives of Canadians in honour of the memory of David Andrew Rushford (Dave).

a women speaking at a Dave's Gift Society event

Dave’s Story

Dave was 35 years old when he passed away in September 2018 from an accidental overdose. He was a son, an uncle, a brother and was dearly loved.

Dave loved adventure and people. He would give the shirt off his back to help someone. His passions included snowboarding, camping, cliff-diving, hiking, cycling, walking his dog, and anything that got him into the great outdoors. His dog, Bear, was his constant companion.

Throughout his life he tried to sustain intimate relationships, but struggled due to the throws of mental illness. Although undiagnosed until the end, he struggled with bi-polar with psychotic episodes where at times he was energetic, partying, gambling, and hanging out; and at other times could not get himself out of bed to save his life.

Dave had found solace in his faith, journalling, and little reminders he left himself to remember his value.

Dave’s mental health issues significantly contributed to the loss of his life. Dave had sought mental health support, addiction recovery, and psychological evaluation. He had to rely on the public system due to lack of finances and health benefits. These systems are overwhelmed and underfunded. Wait lists are long and during the wait periods, he was prescribed antidepressants by a GP and attempted to stop using through government-funded programming and AA. He went through recovery programs and was ready to change his life. He had applied to a longer term stay program, but tragically relapsed, accidentally overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl and died. He was 35 years old and had struggled since he was a teen. His pain was over, but his legacy remains.