Health Canada estimates that 20 percent of Canadians will suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization five out of the ten leading causes of disability are related to mental disorders. Through the provision of employment opportunities and education around mental illness, Crazy Daisy is making efforts to support those who suffer from mental illness. 

The exterior of the small Cannon street shop is quite deceiving; its cold brick, worn from the abuse of Canadian winters and passersby. The DIY sign reads “Crazy Daisy” in purple cursive and the lights are dimmed low, but hidden away into the small brick indent and two steps up to the door, the feeling of welcome is overwhelming. 

Frustrated with the way that many employers stigmatize, treat and discriminate against people dealing with mental illness, Sarah Moir decided to go back to school and make a difference. Having survived mental illness, Moir says that society needs to realize that mental illness is a physical illness; and just like any other survivor, mental illness survivors are “much more than their diagnosis.” 

Moir enrolled in Mohawk’s Small Business Entrepreneurship program and decided to pair her long-time love for flowers and floral design with her mission to provide an undiscriminating place for people to work. Moir says that flowers just make her happy and that there is a bond between flowers and human emotion. 

“Flowers are our tie to the earth. Human beings have always expressed emotions with the giving of flowers.” 

Moir says that she received a lot of support along the way. She says that Mike Piczak, coordinator of Mohawk’s Small Business Entrepreneurship program is “the best thing since sliced bread”, and Pia Muscott of Disability Services gave her support, guidance and advice that pushed her through the tough times. As well, her family was and is still her biggest supporter and they are the people Moir can rely on most. 

After graduating, Moir got things rolling quickly and found her location at 1215 Cannon Street East with a small start-up initiative of $500 from the ODSP Employment support program. She recently placed 9th in the McMaster Startup Challenge – a prestigious competition to welcome innovation. Moir is going on to compete in another entrepreneurial pitch contest in the Social Innovation Category called the Launchpad, later this spring. 

Right now, Moir cannot afford to pay employees and she and her volunteers are very busy with many clients who already call Crazy Daisy their preferred vendor. She attributes this to the good feeling that companies get when buying from Crazy Daisy and hopes to soon be able to provide paid work. 

Moir says it is worth it to provide reliable references and an understanding place for people who are commonly misunderstood. But doing this openly is what sets her apart from many businesses in the Hamilton area. She says that there are a lot of businesses in the city that do hire those with mental illness and provide them with a great work environment, but they are apprehensive to advertise it. Moir says that’s why she initially started Crazy Daisy. “The stigma is the reason I’m doing this in the first place and mental wellness isn’t just mental illness”. 

If Crazy Daisy works out, Moir says that she will be in Hamilton for a long time to come. Moir hopes that her initiative for openness will catch on and that’s good news for many of us, one in five to be exact. 

By: Carly Balabanowicz 

This story was originally published in Spring 2009 in the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.