Speaker. Author. Changemaker.

Andrea Paquette is the President and Founder of the Stigma-Free Society. She created the Bipolar Babe Project in 2009, and thereafter, an impacting website, which offered people a place to connect and find valuable mental health information.

The Bipolar Babe Project evolved into her Charity in 2010, with the collaboration of a Board of Directors. The Stigma-Free Society's purpose is to create awareness and understanding of various stigmas, while encouraging people to be accepting of themselves and others.

Andrea shares her passionate personal story of struggle and triumph since her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2005 throughout multiple venues across Canada. She is an award winning mental health activist, educator, facilitator, speaker and published author. Andrea has presented her story at over 500 schools, workplaces, community organizations and events, reaching over 75,000+ people.

Andrea is the Winner of the 2023 Alberta Blue Cross Faces of Wellness Finalist, 2019 President's Commendation Award, Canadian Psychiatric Association of Canada.  2015 Courage To Come Back Award Recipient in the category of Mental Health given by Coast Mental Health, 2013 Mel Cooper Citizen of the Year in Victoria, BC, and she is also the Winner of the 2013 Award for Youth Mentorship from the National Council for Behavioral Health, Washington, D.C. Andrea is recognized as the winner for Vancouver Island's Business and Community Award - 2015 Top 20 Under 40 Award.