Our Origin

In the Summer of 1999, a small but enthusiastic group of stakeholders from across the province began the task of establishing the foundation for the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (OPGRC). The working group evolved into the founding Board of Directors of the OPGRC on June 28, 2000.

Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Centre's mission is to "enhance understanding of problem gambling, and strengthen treatment and prevention practice through research". Beyond this, the Centre has a mandate to develop, accumulate, organize and disseminate research through a variety of methods and strategies.

Some of the principles that guided the Centre's development include:

• The Board should be drawn from all seven Health Regions of Ontario;
• The Centre should have a strong "virtual presence" that makes it accessible to all residents of the province - and beyond;
• The research granting system should be highly accessible, transparent and user friendly;
• The Centre should maintain close touch with both the research community and treatment providers.

The first order of business was to appoint Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rob Simpson to oversee the Centre's operations. Rob comes to this position with extensive experience in both addictions and the broader health services sectors. Previously, he headed the Homewood Behavioural Health Corporation, a private sector company that specializes in employee assistance and specialty behaviour change programs. Before this, he served as Executive Director of the Wellington-Dufferin District Health Council, provincial health promotion consultant for the Addiction Research Foundation, and program officer with Health Canada. In addition, he has served as Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) at McMaster University within the faculty of Health Sciences.

One month after appointing its CEO, the Centre initiated its first round of grants by requesting Letters of Intent from the research community. Before the results of the first round were announced, the Centre issued a second solicitation, this time, focusing on special populations including ethno cultural groups, First Nations, women and youth.

Later in 2000, the Centre tackled the need to build capacity in this relatively new field of research. It awarded six fellowships to Masters and Doctoral students for the 2000/2001 academic year along with one post-Doctoral Fellowship. To further assist in building capacity, the Centre announced in December, an Incentive Grants program aimed at helping researchers enter the field.

At the Centre's official opening on November 20, 2000, the Centre announced the funding of eleven one-year research grants totalling $1.7M.

In less than six months, the new Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre established its key role in developing new research initiatives and attracting more researchers to the field through research awards, fellowships, and seed grants.

On September 22, 2000 the Centre moved into its new headquarters at Research Park Centre, 150 Research Lane, Guelph, Ontario.

The Founding Board of the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre

Elected members:
Dr. G. Ron Frisch (Windsor) - Chair
Wendy Dolan (Thunder Bay) - Vice Chair
Dr. Jon Kelly (Toronto) - Treasurer
Cecile Boegel (Timmins)
Akwatu Khenti (Toronto)
Russ Larocque (Algoma)
Betty MacGregor (Ottawa)
Dr. Anne Marie Guilmette (St. Catharines)

Ex-officio members:
Vicente Gannam (Ministry of Health and Long Term Care)
Wendy Rinella (Ontario Gaming Secretariat)
Rob Simpson (Chief Executive Officer and President)