Former BMO executive named head of Canadian Mint

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The new head of the Royal Canadian Mint is a former Bank of Montreal executive with a passion for eradicating the stigma around youth mental health issues.

Appointed by the federal finance minister, Sandra Hanington will run the Mint for the next five years. She is also on the board of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and Extendicare Inc.

Ms. Hanington previously ran operations at BMO, but left on her own accord following a difficult time in her personal life.

First, Ms. Hanington's son Jack died by suicide while studying at university. After taking three months off, she returned to work but then caught pneumonia, which ultimately forced her to leave.

Since recovering, Ms. Hanington has been a vocal supporter of talking openly about suicide, and co-founded a charity, known as The Jack Project, after her son, to educate the public and to remove the stigma around mental illness in secondary and post-secondary education.

Ms. Hanington's advocacy has expanded the network of Bay Street figures who talk openly about mental illness. Michael Wilson, whose son also died by suicide, is another notable figure in this group.