One of the founding members of the Saskatoon Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan Ellen Parchomchuk has passed away. She was 83 and lost her life to cancer.

Ellen helped her sister Jennie Dickson form a Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society in Saskatoon in 1991.

In those years there wasn't enough being done to help people directly affected by schizophrenia and their families in Saskatoon so there was a major need for this.

Along with their friend Lois Bruce they got the Schizophrenia Society up and running. Eventually the office moved into the basement of Lois's home in Sutherland.

Ellen, Jennie, and Lois all did amazing things for mental health in our community.

Ellen helped out with our annual fundraising walks, bingos and other events. She attended our support groups and was just an amazing support and encourager.

We fondly remember when the Saskatoon Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society had the opportunity to move out of Lois's basement in Sutherland. We moved to the Saskatoon Community Service Village in March of 2001 and spent a full decade there. Ellen helped us move there that day. She was always willing to lend a hand.

In recent years she attended our Partnership Program luncheons at The Cave prior to COVID and some of our newer members had a chance to meet her. Ellen had a great sense of humour and we had many laughs together. She was a very friendly person. She helped make such a positive difference for mental health in our community.

She will be missed.

Her obituary from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix can be seen here