Bonnie Blakley recognized for transforming youth mental health care

Learn more about RRU’s Alumni Changemaker Achievement Awards. 

Bonnie Blakley was about to be a mom when she left home at 16. When she completed university years later, her first thought was: 

“I need to give back to the public sector that helped me.” 

Now she leads CASA Mental Health in Alberta, an organization which provides support to children with mental illness and their families. 

For a career marked by leadership and innovation, Blakley is being recognized by Royal Roads University this spring with an Alumni Changemaker Achievement Award. 

Blakley, who earned a Master of Arts in Leadership with health specialization in 2013, will be honoured with the Community Changemaker Award. The award recognizes an alum who is leading systemic community change. 

Supporting families through mental health challenges

CASA’s mission is to provide medical and therapeutic intervention for kids three to 18 years with a mental illness, and to their families, Blakley explains. 

“It’s what we call ‘the missing middle,’” Blakley says, explaining there is enormous need between the extremes of treatment by a family doctor or commitment to a hospital. She knows from experience, as her blended family of seven adult kids has experienced the stresses of a child struggling with mental illness. 

While she initially committed to three months filling in as CEO for CASA, that was five years ago. It didn’t take long for her to fully commit to the organization’s mission.  

Grow more to help more

Four Alberta families started CASA 35 years ago and for most of that time, it has served about 4,000 families a year, Blakley says. Her aim was to grow its reach. During her time with the organization, with the goal of doubling the number of children and families supported by CASA, they tripled that number to almost 12,000 annually. 

“We wanted to reach more kids where they live, play and go to school, ensuring they had timely mental health services and are empowered to thrive,” she says.  

CASA already has programs in schools and is aiming to expand from 28 to 60 schools. It is opening care centres in several cities and recently received a $5.5 million donation to build in Fort McMurray. “The communities know what they need,” she says. 

With an operating budget of almost $70 million, CASA has expanded both its staff of health care providers trained in pediatric mental health – from 150 to 600 – and its roster of volunteers, from 100 to 500. 

RRU is a ‘touchstone’ for Blakley 

Her part in the expansion of CASA was in part fueled by the growth she experienced earning her MAL at Royal Roads, says Blakley.  

“I just wanted to understand leadership better, and, man, did I ever learn about myself,” she says, adding, “People who’ve known me say that, after Royal Roads, it’s part of the fabric of who I am.” 

Blakley says when she was a pregnant teen and had left her prairie home, she landed in Victoria and lived near RRU, which was then a military college. 

“I walked past Royal Roads almost every day. And I remember then thinking how awe-inspiring it was,” she says. “There was something that really drew me to it…it’s always been kind of my touchstone.” 

About the awards 

The Alumni Changemaker Achievement Awards showcase the diverse talents and accomplishments of RRU's alumni network as they advance the university’s vision to inspire people with the courage to transform the world. 

A celebration for the award-winners will take place as part of Alumni Weekend May 1–2, 2026, which also includes a keynote address by Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier, alongside inspiring talks, workshops, and tours.