Curtis Gillespie worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association and Catholic Social Services prior to embarking upon his writing career. Curtis is the author of five books and his magazine writing on science, politics, travel and culture has earned him seven National Magazine Awards from 20 nominations. In 2010, he co-founded the award-winning narrative journalism magazine Eighteen Bridges, which he also edits. He is on faculty at the Banff Centre and is currently at work on a book-length project about the oil and gas industry.
The Stelmach government's closed-door decision to remove 246 beds from Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and redistribute them without a detailed plan, demonstrates that mental illness is not treated in Alberta with the same level of service, care, and dignity afforded other serious illnesses.