Norm Taylor has been an independent advisor, educator, author and researcher for 40 years, concentrating his practice in the field of policing and public safety for the past 30 years. Between 2008-17, he spent much of his professional life in Saskatchewan as a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Ministry of Justice: Corrections and Policing.
His 2009 Future of Policing report to that Ministry set the stage for the whole-of-government approach to crime reduction, and he and his advisory team have been widely recognized as co-founders and architects of the high-profile Situation Table model.
Norm also served for two years as a Lead Advisor to the Ontario Working Group, and through 2014-17 he served often as a Special Advisor to Ontario’s Deputy Solicitor General, assisting with the formulation and initial roll-out of the Strategy for a Safer Ontario, enacted into provincial law in spring 2018.
Paulina Sienko has over eight years of experience working with injured workers with various physical and mental health conditions. Paulina’s professional background includes her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from UBC Okanagan with expertise in mental health and vocational rehabilitation.
She is continuously exploring moments of stillness and self- awareness in her personal life which greatly complements her work in trauma, mental health, and overall well-being. When Paulina is not working, you will find her somewhere in nature, playing and exploring with her family, including her fur baby, Winston.
I am Christina Groth, an esteemed Psychologist registered in the province of Alberta and British Columbia, who has recently set roots in the captivating province of British Columbia. I have a wealth of experience in diverse settings, from educational institutions to residential environments, and have flourished through years of dedicated training and application.
My practice is characterized by an eclectic approach that draws from a rich tapestry of therapeutic methodologies. Grounded in the foundational principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Client-Centered orientations, my methods are underpinned by evidence-based practices and a commitment to tailored interventions.
What truly sets me apart is my unwavering belief in the significance of therapeutic alliances. Building upon the cornerstones of trust, empathy, and collaboration, I strive to create a safe and open space for transformative growth. My approach is inherently strength-based, encouraging clients to harness their innate capacities for resilience and positive change.
In my journey as a helping professional, I consistently challenge conventional paradigms and embrace innovative ideas. My commitment to excellence and open-minded exploration drives me to continuously seek diverse perspectives and dynamic solutions, all while adhering to the ethical standards set forth by the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.
While my professional journey is a central focus, my family remains the cornerstone of my life. Their unwavering support fuels my passion for fostering meaningful connections and transformative change.
I am a clinician who is dedicated to facilitating holistic growth and positive change through a rich tapestry of therapeutic experience. It would be an honor to accompany you on your journey toward well-being, empowerment, and lasting transformation.
Through dynamic collaboration with Diversified Rehabilitation Group’s mental health clinicians, veterans, first responders, their loved ones, and the pivotal referring organizations, Paulina and Christina will delve into innovative strategies aimed at fostering healing among veterans and first responders grappling with the profound challenges of occupational stress injuries, PTSD, and the often-overlooked burden of secondary trauma. Their insights will offer an overview, illuminating pathways toward resilience and recovery.
Dr. Hawryluk is a Psychologist registered in both Manitoba and Ontario, practicing in the areas of Clinical Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba, having completed his Internship at the University of Manitoba Health Sciences Centre, as well as a Post-Doctoral residency in Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology.
He was initially employed at the Grace Hospital Department of Psychiatry, after which he assumed the Directorship of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology at the Health Sciences Centre. Academic appointments included Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Adjunct Professor in Psychology. During this time had also served on a number of professional boards and advisory committees on both provincial and national levels.
In 1990, he had entered full time independent Private Practice in both Manitoba and Ontario, providing assessments and treatment to a variety of clinical populations, with a particular emphasis in dealing with individuals with neurological illness or injury, and psychological and physical trauma. He has undertaken independent evaluations for a variety of private companies and private agencies, with heavy emphasis upon fitness for work and related issues, and has also served as program consultant to corporations and agencies regarding program development in areas related to rehabilitation, psychological fitness and occupational return. Dr. Hawryluk has also served as an expert witness in cases pertaining to diagnosis, disability determination, functional disability, workplace accommodation, and occupational fitness. He has been involved with the diagnosis and treatment of First Responders, particularly military and police, and has a 30 year history of services to the RCMP, in person and via telehealth, and frequently provides direct on site services to Members serving in remote northern Detachments in Manitoba, as well as Critical Incident Stress Debriefings across the Province.
Recreationally, Dr. Hawryluk is an active Private Pilot, currently training for his Instrument Rating, who enjoys construction projects and spending time with his family at his cottage at Lake of the Woods, Ontario.
PTSD is a well-established diagnosis, with extensive research dedicated to treatment models. While Dr. Hawryluk will briefly outline these frameworks, his presentation will primarily focus on the clinical aspects of treatment, emphasizing the importance of building strong rapport and tailoring interventions to each individual. He will also discuss the roles of clinicians, management, and spouses in the healing process. Finally, Dr. Hawryluk will explore emerging directions in PTSD treatment and their implications for both practitioners and those they support.
Cst. Jessica Brown is a currently serving member of the RCMP. She has 9 years of service, having worked most of her career in rural Alberta. In addition to being a Police Officer, she has also served as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder working on an ambulance. She coaches multiple youth sports and has a love of all-things Broadway. Persevering through a series of traumatic events, Jessica shares her story of resilience and the power of positive psychology.
Constable Jessica Brown faced the fight of her life – charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault after a fatal shooting, she was thrust into a relentless legal storm. As the world watched, she endured not only the courtroom battles but also the deep personal toll of trauma and public scrutiny. Yet, against all odds, she emerged stronger, a living testament to resilience and the power of positive psychology. Now, she shares her gripping story – a raw, unflinching journey through survival, redemption, and the unbreakable human spirit.
I haven’t always been a psychologist. I came into this field later in life compared to my colleagues. As a lad in my early 20’s I pursued a career with the RCMP and thus because a RCMP Auxiliary member in Richmond, BC. In those days, the early mid-seventies, auxiliary members did most things a regular general duty member does including carrying a side-arm, driving police cars, attending autopsies and issuing tickets for moving violations. We also would attend court in support of the regular member with whom we rode with and if the file necessitated us attending by Crown.
During this time, I was also a paramedic with BC Ambulance or Emergency Health Services (EHS). I did this for a little over seven years. I spent the majority of my “on car time” stationed in and around Vancouver’s east side. We worked four on and four off. In my last year with EHS, I went to dispatch. In those early years, we worked in pairs and dispatched all of the lower mainland via incoming 911 calls as well as arranging and dispatching transfers from hospital to hospital and care homes.
I started back at UBC in 1981 having picked up a few credits from Douglas College ending up with a degree and diploma in elementary school education (B.Ed & Dip). I taught grade seven at Rocky Mountain elementary for four years in Elkford, BC prior to coming back to UBC to complete a MA in psychology. I then spend five years as an elementary/secondary school counsellor with the Surrey School District mostly in the inner-city schools for Surrey.
I then returned to UBC and started the PhD program. My father was a pilot during WWII flying Lancaster bombers. After 28 missions, he was shot down with two of his crew being killed in the process. My father bailed out and was subsequently hid by the French Underground in eastern Franch. He was sent home several months later after the US Army liberated that area. Sadly, however, one of the killed crew member’s family blamed my father for his death. My father suffered with PTSD and died early because of it.
My dissertation was based on my father’s experiences and its effects largely on me. My dissertation addressed the impacts of war trauma on the father’s sons and subsequently, on the family. After graduating, I worked as an institutional psychologist with the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) at Kent and Mountain Institutions. Our main job was to interview inmates and write reports to the National Parole Board address recidivism threats when inmates became eligible for parole. We also conducted suicide risk and mental health assessments when inmates were placed in segregation.
I then went from CSC into private practice in Abbotsford. I was fortunate to have made connections with both Abbotsford Police and Fire Department as well as connecting with members of the RCMP who started referring other members to me. Several years into my practice, my wife obtained a position with the RCMP and we were transferred to Ottawa. My wife had made a connection with the then Human Resource Officer (HRO) of E Division. When the HRO was told what profession I was in, she asked if I would take the Division Psychologist position at Green Timbers, RCMP E Division Head Quarters. In 2015, I moved back to BC started with the RCMP.
When I started in Surrey there were two of us, but shortly after my arrival, my colleague quit the position. I was the only psychologist for over a year. Unfortunately, the job became too much and an offer to move back into private practice in Chilliwack arose. Although I worked in private practice, with the bulk of my clients being both RCMP and Abbotsford PD, I went back on contract with the RCMP reviewing RCMP regular member applicant psychological files and conducting clinical interviews on applicants. In 2020, I received a call from the then HRO asking me if I would return as a Chief Psychologist at E Div HQ. I started this position in May of 2020.
During my tenure in this position, I formulated and put together the Peer Support Response team with the help of Sergeant Ronda McEwen. This team is comprised of members and employees of the RCMP and response to all critical incidents. The result of this team is that psychologists are no longer needed to conduct critical incident meetings. Through material which I provided to Sgt McEwen, she developed an eight-day training from the material and research I provided to her. This program is the only one of its kind in the RCMP. Sgt McEwen and myself also formulated the Proactive Employee Health Support Unit (PHSEU), again the only one of its kind in Canada. This unit supports all levels of employee within the RCMP on a very wide range of topics and interventions. There were two main goals we were working on addressing; the reintegration of member back to work after a critical incident and extended absences from work, such at maternity leave or five-year care and nurturance leave, and on finding more support and resources for partners/spouses and families.
I have learned that the fragility of life is constant. There are no manuals on how to prepare for what we witness or experience. I have had the distinct honour of working within the RCMP meeting people who are keen to become RCMP officers. Likewise, I have worked with those who have not fared well as they approach the end of their careers, despite the level of enthusiasm and excitement at the start of their careers. In the first responder world, policing has its own unique set of challenges separate from those of the fire and emergency medical service. Over the course of my career and my personal background, I have learned to understand and appreciate fully these unique challenges and hope to bring my experiences and insights into the Diversified group.
Miscommunication, unclear decision-making, and lack of closure can create emotional distress for responders and military service members, leading to frustration, trauma, and diminished well-being. Left unaddressed, these issues often hinder professional growth, erode morale, and impact retention. A collaborative solution-focused approach that fosters resilience and shifts perspectives is essential for supporting personnel and strengthening organizational health.
Leadership is the foundation of any organization, demanding a delicate balance of adaptability, competence, and resilience. Leaders frequently navigate high-stress environments, exposing them to significant emotional and psychological strain. The weight of their responsibilities can lead to burnout, occupational stress injuries, and mental health challenges. These difficulties not only hinder their ability to lead effectively but also take a toll on their personal and professional relationships.
This panel will explore these critical issues, offering insights into leadership wellness strategies that foster resilience, sustain trust and respect within teams, and ensure both personal well-being and organizational success.
Norm Taylor has been an independent advisor, educator, author and researcher for 40 years, concentrating his practice in the field of policing and public safety for the past 30 years. Between 2008-17, he spent much of his professional life in Saskatchewan as a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Ministry of Justice: Corrections and Policing.
His 2009 Future of Policing report to that Ministry set the stage for the whole-of-government approach to crime reduction, and he and his advisory team have been widely recognized as co-founders and architects of the high-profile Situation Table model.
Norm also served for two years as a Lead Advisor to the Ontario Working Group, and through 2014-17 he served often as a Special Advisor to Ontario’s Deputy Solicitor General, assisting with the formulation and initial roll-out of the Strategy for a Safer Ontario, enacted into provincial law in spring 2018.
Shahin Mehdizadeh began his policing career with the RCMP in 1989. He is an accomplished police executive with more than 34 years of national and international policing experience.
Mehdizadeh has lived and served in four provinces and worked projects in every province throughout Canada in policing disciplines including general patrol duties, major crimes, drugs and organized crime, covert operations and national security. He has worked internationally with law enforcement partners in Europe, the US and Mexico as well as many Canadian agencies in numerous joint forces operations spanning from Vancouver to Halifax.
Mehdizadeh is a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (M.O.M.) and has a proven track record of success in leading initiatives to counter and prevent crime, promote public safety and build strong relationships with communities. His greatest accomplishment in life is his daughter Alexandra.
Deputy Chief Lucie Tremblay (Retired) has over 35 years of public safety experience at the federal government. Upon joining the VIA Rail Canada Police Service in 2016, she was entrusted with managing police operations and administration. She also supported the corporate security strategy, contributing to the safety and security of passengers, employees, infrastructure, and rail operations.
A police executive veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, she held numerous positions and command appointments as a Military Police Officer over 28 years of service with the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, the Canadian Forces National Counter-Intelligence Unit and other groups. She deployed to Afghanistan to command the multinational brigade investigation team and was seconded to Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, contributing to the fight against organized crime. During her military career, she also had the privilege to work in police human resources, selection and training, and policy development. One of her career highlights was to lead the Military Police contribution to a large-scale domestic operation in support of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
A people-oriented leader focused on wellness and mental health, she contributed to advance the objectives of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) in various capacities over the past 20 years. As a member and most recently Co-Chair of the CACP Human Resource and Learning committee, she led various wellness and psychological services initiatives. Since 2020, she is a member of the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) and the Public Safety Steering Committee (PSSC) which is a standing committee whose members represent federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal public safety organizations. The primary function of the PSSC is to engage in collaboration with CIPSRT, Public Safety Canada (PSC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) on matters related to the mental health and well-being of current and former Canadian Public Safety Personnel (PSP), their leaders, and their families.
Lucie is an MBA graduate from Athabasca University executive program, holds a bachelor’s degree in administration from College Militaire de St-Jean and also completed a certificate in Environmental Sciences.
Superintendent Dustine Rodier
Officer in Charge, Administration and Personnel
Superintendent Rodier began her career with the RCMP in 1994 as a dispatcher at the Surrey Detachment and an auxiliary member/firearms instructor. In 2000, as a regular member, she was posted to general duty at British Columbia’s Richmond Detachment. She worked in the Plain Clothes Section; Property Crimes and the Serious Crimes Unit.
In 2010, Superintendent Rodier helped establish the first Special Victims Team within the Richmond Serious Crimes Unit, targeting major offences against the most vulnerable.
Superintendent Rodier transferred to New Brunswick’s Federal Policing Unit in 2013, focusing on organized crime, proceeds of crime and money laundering. In 2016, she was promoted to Sergeant as the Detachment Commander for Hampton.
In 2018, Superintendent Rodier was promoted to Inspector and transferred to Nova Scotia as the Officer in Charge of Operational Support and the province’s state-of-the-art Operational Communications Centre.
From 2021-2022, Superintendent Rodier was assigned as the Executive Officer to the Commanding Officer, where she worked on Division-wide initiatives supporting the RCMP’s mandate across the province.
In 2022, she was promoted to Administration and Personal Officer and oversees recruiting, training, human resources, mentorship and the strategic support of operations. She is an advocate for employee wellness and ensuring healthy, respectful workplaces for H Division.
Jonathan’s journey has been one of resilience and transformation. At 35, he embarked on a career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, leaving behind his family to undergo rigorous training. His commitment and dedication were recognized with the Comradeship Award from the Royal Canadian Legion.
In 2017, the weight of trauma and personal struggles became overwhelming. His marriage, already strained, shattered when he discovered his wife’s infidelity. Jonathan’s resilience was tested, but he sought help, confronting PTSD, anxiety, and depression with therapy and medication.
During his medical leave, guided by his therapist, Jonathan rediscovered his passion for music. A seasoned singer-songwriter, music became his solace, leading him to produce an album titled “Rebirth.”
Accepted into the Traumatic Stress Recovery Program, Jonathan found solace and support, learning to trust again and manage his PTSD. This newfound strength empowered him to make the difficult decision to retire from the RCMP and pursue music full-time.
Now, with a new album on the horizon and performances throughout the Okanagan Valley, Jonathan’s story is one of redemption and embracing the next chapter with courage and resilience.
Jonathan, an RCMP member, faced a challenging life situation stemming from an occupational stress injury and PTSD. Through his participation in the Traumatic Stress Recovery Program, along with his deep connection to spirituality, he embarked on a transformative journey toward psychological well-being. In his path of post-traumatic growth, Jonathan not only resurrected his passion for music but also began supporting others as an alumnus of Diversified, offering guidance and inspiration to those on similar healing journeys.
Steve is a VP for the BC Professional Firefighters Association and is the vice-chair of the BCPFFA’s Mental Health Taskforce, as well as their Occupational Health & Safety Committee. He has over 30 years of experience in the fire service and was hired as a full-time firefighter in Coquitlam in 1997.
Steve is currently a Captain in the Fire Suppression Division on Engine 1. He also represents the BCPFFA on the BC First Responder Mental Health committee that is chaired by WorkSafeBC, and is the 6th District rep for the IAFF’s Behavioural Health Committee. Steve is also a CISM and Peer support team member for Coquitlam Fire
First responders operate in high-stress environments where exposure to trauma is inevitable. Despite the availability of support, many hesitate to seek help due to stigma, cultural norms, and concerns about career implications. These barriers can delay recovery, impact job performance, and, in some cases, lead to more serious mental health challenges.
In this presentation, Steve will examine the factors that discourage help-seeking behavior among first responders and explore effective strategies for stay-at-work and return-to-work planning. By addressing these challenges with proactive and supportive approaches, we can foster a culture where seeking help is seen as a strength rather than a liability.
Mark Bouchard has 17 years of law enforcement experience in Canada, where he has primarily worked patrol (general duty) and the Emergency Response Team. He recently received a promotion into a full-time role in the RCMP’s National Tactical Medicine Program. Mark has also been an advanced care tactical medic for the past 10 years. He also has many years of experience instructing mental health (R2MR), as a peer to peer support member, and as part of BC’s proactive support response team.
Mark has also completed a master’s degree from Royal Roads University in leadership, with a research project focused on police culture and police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and his research into a book called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind. It is a combination of his experiences with his PTSD diagnosis, and the research that helped him to heal from his psychological injury. Mark speaks publicly about policing and mental health in an attempt to reduce mental health stigma and to shift policing culture for the better.
Policing is more than a career – it’s a calling. However, with that calling comes immense challenges, not just on the streets but within the mind. Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts from an Injured Mind is a powerful, firsthand account of life as a police officer navigating the realities of PTSD.
Mark takes us beyond the badge, sharing his personal struggles, the hard-won lessons of his recovery, and the strategies that helped him heal. More than just a story, this book is a guide—written by a cop, for cops—to break down the barriers of self-stigma and prepare officers for the mental health challenges of the job.
Join us as we explore the unseen battles of policing and discover how resilience, support, and self-awareness can pave the way to healing.
Ross will talk about the mission and history of the Memorial Ribbon Society, an organization dedicated to honoring fallen officers and supporting their families. The society’s provides scholarships for children of fallen officers and ongoing assistance to grieving families. Ross will also talk about the traumatic effects such losses have on colleagues of first responders.
Born in 2013, Riot went on to serve with the Durham Police until 2021.
From his Durham base, Riot served across southern Ontario and worked major cases in Waterloo, Toronto, York and Peel, and also with the OPP in smaller centres. Riot worked on numerous high-profile homicide cases and also found time to facilitate over 100 hundred arrests when he wasn’t hunting murderers.
Embark on a journey with Ned’s Wish ambassador as we honor the retired K-9 officers who spent their lives protecting us. These courageous heroes stood by their human partners, facing danger with unwavering loyalty. When their service ends, they need our care—physically, emotionally, and with love. Supporting them in retirement is not just a duty, it’s a heartfelt promise to uphold the values of loyalty, compassion, and justice they’ve shown us all their lives.
This panel discussion will explore the mental health wellness continuum of first responders, examining current approaches and innovative strategies to enhance support systems. By addressing challenges, identifying gaps, and highlighting best practices, the discussion will provide valuable insights for first responders, their leaders, and employers. Topics will include effective interventions for fostering mental well-being and organizational strategies to create a supportive culture. This session aims to advance mental health initiatives, strengthen resilience, and promote best practices within first responder organizations.
Steve is a VP for the BC Professional Firefighters Association and is the vice-chair of the BCPFFA’s Mental Health Taskforce, as well as their Occupational Health & Safety Committee. He has over 30 years of experience in the fire service and was hired as a full-time firefighter in Coquitlam in 1997.
Steve is currently a Captain in the Fire Suppression Division on Engine 1. He also represents the BCPFFA on the BC First Responder Mental Health committee that is chaired by WorkSafeBC, and is the 6th District rep for the IAFF’s Behavioural Health Committee. Steve is also a CISM and Peer support team member for Coquitlam Fire
Pascal began his career as a Paramedic in Vancouver in 1988. After 25 years of working in BC he joined Ambulance New Brunswick where he later retired in 2018. He brings with him over 35 years of experience and progressive leadership roles and he is currently the Provincial Director of Emergency Preparedness for a provincial health authority.
He has a breadth of experiences in leading teams on several very large-scale incidents, including the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the COVID-19 Pandemic healthcare response in NS.
He is a Certified Emergency Manager as well as a Certified Healthcare Executive. He holds a Master of Arts in leadership (Health), certifications from the Emergency Management and Emergency Exercise Design Programs, as well as an extensive education in public safety and emergency management from FEMA and DHS. He is currently a Lead Instructor in the Incident Command System in Canada.
His many honours and awards include, being promoted to Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, presented with the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal 30 Year Bar, receiving the Order of St. John Priory of Canada Provincial Council Chair’s Commendation, the Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (NS), as well as the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.
He has been a presenter, facilitator and an Emcee at many public events, courses, workshops and national and international conferences.
I haven’t always been a psychologist. I came into this field later in life compared to my colleagues. As a lad in my early 20’s I pursued a career with the RCMP and thus because a RCMP Auxiliary member in Richmond, BC. In those days, the early mid-seventies, auxiliary members did most things a regular general duty member does including carrying a side-arm, driving police cars, attending autopsies and issuing tickets for moving violations. We also would attend court in support of the regular member with whom we rode with and if the file necessitated us attending by Crown.
During this time, I was also a paramedic with BC Ambulance or Emergency Health Services (EHS). I did this for a little over seven years. I spent the majority of my “on car time” stationed in and around Vancouver’s east side. We worked four on and four off. In my last year with EHS, I went to dispatch. In those early years, we worked in pairs and dispatched all of the lower mainland via incoming 911 calls as well as arranging and dispatching transfers from hospital to hospital and care homes.
I started back at UBC in 1981 having picked up a few credits from Douglas College ending up with a degree and diploma in elementary school education (B.Ed & Dip). I taught grade seven at Rocky Mountain elementary for four years in Elkford, BC prior to coming back to UBC to complete a MA in psychology. I then spend five years as an elementary/secondary school counsellor with the Surrey School District mostly in the inner-city schools for Surrey.
I then returned to UBC and started the PhD program. My father was a pilot during WWII flying Lancaster bombers. After 28 missions, he was shot down with two of his crew being killed in the process. My father bailed out and was subsequently hid by the French Underground in eastern Franch. He was sent home several months later after the US Army liberated that area. Sadly, however, one of the killed crew member’s family blamed my father for his death. My father suffered with PTSD and died early because of it.
My dissertation was based on my father’s experiences and its effects largely on me. My dissertation addressed the impacts of war trauma on the father’s sons and subsequently, on the family. After graduating, I worked as an institutional psychologist with the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) at Kent and Mountain Institutions. Our main job was to interview inmates and write reports to the National Parole Board address recidivism threats when inmates became eligible for parole. We also conducted suicide risk and mental health assessments when inmates were placed in segregation.
I then went from CSC into private practice in Abbotsford. I was fortunate to have made connections with both Abbotsford Police and Fire Department as well as connecting with members of the RCMP who started referring other members to me. Several years into my practice, my wife obtained a position with the RCMP and we were transferred to Ottawa. My wife had made a connection with the then Human Resource Officer (HRO) of E Division. When the HRO was told what profession I was in, she asked if I would take the Division Psychologist position at Green Timbers, RCMP E Division Head Quarters. In 2015, I moved back to BC started with the RCMP.
When I started in Surrey there were two of us, but shortly after my arrival, my colleague quit the position. I was the only psychologist for over a year. Unfortunately, the job became too much and an offer to move back into private practice in Chilliwack arose. Although I worked in private practice, with the bulk of my clients being both RCMP and Abbotsford PD, I went back on contract with the RCMP reviewing RCMP regular member applicant psychological files and conducting clinical interviews on applicants. In 2020, I received a call from the then HRO asking me if I would return as a Chief Psychologist at E Div HQ. I started this position in May of 2020.
During my tenure in this position, I formulated and put together the Peer Support Response team with the help of Sergeant Ronda McEwen. This team is comprised of members and employees of the RCMP and response to all critical incidents. The result of this team is that psychologists are no longer needed to conduct critical incident meetings. Through material which I provided to Sgt McEwen, she developed an eight-day training from the material and research I provided to her. This program is the only one of its kind in the RCMP. Sgt McEwen and myself also formulated the Proactive Employee Health Support Unit (PHSEU), again the only one of its kind in Canada. This unit supports all levels of employee within the RCMP on a very wide range of topics and interventions. There were two main goals we were working on addressing; the reintegration of member back to work after a critical incident and extended absences from work, such at maternity leave or five-year care and nurturance leave, and on finding more support and resources for partners/spouses and families.
I have learned that the fragility of life is constant. There are no manuals on how to prepare for what we witness or experience. I have had the distinct honour of working within the RCMP meeting people who are keen to become RCMP officers. Likewise, I have worked with those who have not fared well as they approach the end of their careers, despite the level of enthusiasm and excitement at the start of their careers. In the first responder world, policing has its own unique set of challenges separate from those of the fire and emergency medical service. Over the course of my career and my personal background, I have learned to understand and appreciate fully these unique challenges and hope to bring my experiences and insights into the Diversified group.
Volunteer coordinator at Badge of Life Canada
Laura came to Badge of Life Canada with 32 years of policing experience. She holds several positions within a major Ontario Police Service and understand and identify with those diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Injury, Sanctuary Trauma and Moral Injury.
Join this enriching panel discussion, where you’ll gain firsthand insight into the transformative journeys of individuals who have participated in Diversified’s mental health programs. Our panelists will openly share their initial challenges and highlight the critical role of a supportive environment in fostering recovery. Discover the empowering strategies they’ve adopted to maintain their mental well-being and gain valuable perspectives on resilience and growth. This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to connect with our panelists, ask questions, and gain deeper insights into their experiences.
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