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Peter Mulcair took the photographs of Brampton, Caledon and
Mississauga shown on the home page of our web site. “Most of my work is creating a small piece of art out of
God’s landscape,” he says. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Peter
studied photography for two years at Vanier CEGEP before starting
work at David Bier Studios, where he dropped off films for TV
news. His next job was at CFCF, a CTV affiliate, where he worked
for five years as an assistant camera man. During the last two
years at CFCF he developed signs of schizophrenia. Side effects
from some of the medication he took meant he couldn’t focus enough
to take clear photographs. His mother-in-law gave him an
auto-focus camera to solve that problem. He used that camera for
10 years.
CMHA/Peel Branch was first introduced to Peter through his
participation in the Frame of Mind Art Show that PAR
North Clubhouse held for many years. Peter’s work has been
chosen five times for art shows at the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (CAMH). Four years ago, the Canadian Mental
Health Association in downtown Toronto had an art show and one
of his pieces was chosen to go on display in Ottawa, Ontario
during Mental Health Week (the first week in May.) That same year,
the City of Mississauga had an art contest. Of 10 images
that were chosen to reflect the city’s heritage, five were his.
Recently the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario had a
competition and one of his large photos will be on display at the
Gladstone Hotel. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
took 18 of his photographs, which they plan to rent out to
businesses on his behalf. Peter also just finished working on a
PSA about stigma with Workman Arts. It was shown at the
2007 Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival.
Peter was discharged from the Schizophrenia Program at Credit
Valley Hospital a few years ago. He describes himself as being 75%
of where he was prior to his symptoms developing. He attributes
his recovery to all the help he’s received over the years
and is grateful to organizations like PAR North and the Canadian
Mental Health Association.
Peter has given speeches to the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (formerly the Addiction Research Foundation)
about Dual Diagnosis (diagnosis of a developmental handicap and
mental health needs). Peter lives in Mississauga with his wife, 20
yr. old son and 16 yr. old daughter. Peter and his wife are active
in his church and he also volunteers at a nursing home. He
currently works in the photolab in the Wal-Mart at Burnhamthorpe
Road and Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga. He and his son also
have a wedding photography business, and recently got a new web
site
www.mulcair.ca. Although Peter sometimes needs to
sit back and listen to soft music to get a break from all his
activity, he believes that he is coping well working, and credits
his success to his wife, whom he calls “a blessing.” |
