The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and I
Co-Hosting Suicide Awareness Event Jammin’ for Jamie
6 -Time Canadian Olympian and Mental Health Advocate Clara Hughes – Love you lots!
My beautiful kids! ❤
Mental Health Awareness Talk for the Barrie Police Department
With amazing friends at the Tema Conter Memorial Trust Gala
With my brother Ross, sister in law Mandy, and my brother Mitch
Walter my amazing dog! Me while I was a Humber College Paramedic student in 2002. And my friend AB and I.
Learning that I was finally going to the Homewood Treatment Centre for PTSD and Addictions
Meeting Clara Hughes at her book signing (Open Heart Open Mind) and her endorsing my event and signing the event poster
At the 1st Annual Paramedic Nat’s Evening for Mental Health
With my friend Ozz from Rock 95 Barrie’s Radio Station
At the Bill 163 Ontario’s First Responder’s Bill Reading with MPP Kevin Flynn
Wearing some of my favourite #Ivegotyourback911 clothes!
Wings of Change Published in the Canadian Paramedicine Magazine
Part of the first paramedic Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) Train the Trainer Course
With the Chief of Paramedic Services, Police Services and Fire Services at the Paramedic Nat’s Evening for Mental Health
On my ‘I Have Depression T-Shirt Mission’
Meeting Canadian Olympian and Mental Health Ambassador Clara Hughes for the first time.
Wings of Change – Peer Support Logo and me on my way to Alberta to share the model
The Ontario Paramedic Conference in Niagara Falls
Flyer for MP John Brassard’s Riding (Barrie – Innisfil)
Participating in the March-Mullet Fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association
With MPP Cheri Dinovo; Ontario’s PTSD Bill Founder
Participating at the 911PTSD: Evening of Hope in Calgary, Alberta
April 5th, 2016. Bill 163: Ontario Supporting First Responder’s Bill PASSED!
Barrie Examiner Newspaper Article Photo
Narrating an advanced care paramedic scenario at Paramedic Week with National Champions Steve Prophet and Julia Young-Williams
Mood Disorders Society of Canada Peer Support Training with Syd Gravel, Brad McKay…and more
Thank you MPP Kevin Flynn for ALL you do for first responders in Ontario! A gift I will treasure forever
I was so lucky to have been given a tour of the Canadian Parliament Building in Ottawa by Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard. AND I finally got to meet Caribou Prince George MP Todd Doherty who has developed the Federal PTSD Bill C-211
I am the luckiest mom in the world! Mother’s Day 2016. ❤️
Note from my son Adam I found just before speaking at the Capital-to-Capital Symposium in Ottawa, Ontario. Talk about motivation! 😘
Grateful for the news coverage my advocacy has received
Celebrating recovery with my son.
Honoured to be the professor of the ‘Introduction to Addiction’ course in the Simon Fraser University, First Responders Trauma Prevention and Recovery Program
Equine Learning with Maud Rivel at New Horserizons
At the Simcoe County Suicide Awareness Council’s Walk with my daughter
Had the honour of speaking at the Canadian Mental Health Association Annual General Meeting
Speaking at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Start Talking Golf Tournament
At the Pie Magazine Release Party with MP John Brassard, Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman, Editor Sandra Roberts and the magician…he was pretty good
Article in Pie Magazine – Thank you to Editor and friend Sandra Roberts and Photographer Jeff Buchanan
At the Badge of Life Conference with Jason Mackenzie, Public Speaker and Author of ‘The Dadly Book of Open’
Successfully raised money for medical treatment for PTSD Service Dog, Bear
Got to meet my hero, Nicky and his beautiful family
Met with Canadian Military Hero and Ottawa City Councillor Jody Mitic to discuss mental health initiatives and research for first responders and military members
At the 2016 Paramedic Ride Banquet with MP Todd Doherty and MP John Brassard
On Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario with the County of Simcoe Paramedic Ride Crew and MP John Brassard.
Celebrating Ontario Paramedic Association President, Geoff MacBride’s completion of the 2016 Paramedic Ride (570 kms from Toronto to Ottawa, Ontario)
At the 2016 Paramedic Ride Banquet with my friends and Peterborough Paramedics Jeff Ryan and Randy Papple
Had the honour of ringing the last memorial bell of the 2016 Paramedic Ride in honour of my friend, Bob Cooke
The Badge of Life Canada Conference in Waterloo, Ontario
With Retired Staff Sergeant from the Ottawa Police Service and Member of the Order of Merit for Police Officers, Syd Gravel. Also one of the founding fathers of the Robin’s Blue Circle Peer Support Group, who’s model was adapted to create Wings of Change – Peer Support.
Being interviewed at Homewood Health Care Centre two years after being a patient there. Such a full-circle gratitude day being able to pay it forward!
Max the Ottawa Paramedic Therapy dog and my son, and me preventing about Wings of Change, at the Ontario Paramedic Association Conference and Expo in Oct 2016
Participating in the National Homewood Health Care Town Hall Meeting
I got to meet Eddie the compassion dog!
Had the opportunity to share about Wings of Change -Peer Support at the Norfolk CMHA Conference
Supporting the First Responders First Campaign
Love from my beautiful friend Clara Hughes – Thank you!
Giving Caribou Prince George MP Todd Doherty, and founder of the National PTSD Bill C211 an #IVEGOTYOURBACK911 sweater at the Badge of Life Canada Ottawa Conference
Had the honour of speaking at the Toronto Police 22 Division Rovers Crew meeting about mental health and peer support
On the KITTY Talk TV show with Dr Ann from Homewood Health
At Georgian College’ Mental Health Week sharing my recovery story and the Wings of Change – Peer Support model
Save-My-Life School Bookmarks are in
Canadian Military Hero and National Best Selling Author of ‘Unflinching’, Sniper Jody Mitic sharing his support of Wings of Change – Peer Support
At the Toronto Police HQ with my Badge of Life friends
I had the opportunity to speak at the Midhurst Correctional Centre
At the Simcoe County Canadian Mental Health Association STACD Convention
This amazing kid! Adam hamming it up before a CTV interview
Speaking in Saskatchewan
With Christine Bentley from ‘What She Said” radio
Adam, signing his first copy of Save-My-Life School. He is happy to be a published author.
The words coming out of the side of my head make me laugh. I was at a psychic convention – the words were from the previous speaker.
Dropping the puck at the Barrie Molson Centre
Barrie Chapters Book Signing
Homewood Health came to deliver flowers at my first book signing – I cried a bit
My brother Mitch and I
Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard and I
At my friend and mentor’s book signing. Syd and Judy Gravel and Brad McKay. I highly recommend this book.
With the Toronto Chief of Police, Mark Saunders, at Caroline’s Rover’s Inauguration
Honoured to receive the Tema Conter Memorial Resiliency Award
With the Ontario Provincial Police Association President (Rob Jaimeson – Right) and Vice President (Chris Hoffman)
These beautiful people ❤ Adam and Caroline
Interviewed on the Agenda – Will be broadcasted Aug 2017
Auditioning for Dragon’s Den with Heather and Kim
Honoured to win a Leading Ladies Award by Barrie MPP Ann Hoggarth and Mayor Jeff Lehman
Some of the best women I know. Co-founder of #IveGotYourBack911 Jill Foster, my daughter Caroline and Wings of Change facilitator Katherine Pomerleau
The ladies who made Save-My-Life School possible. Friend, Kim Forster and Wintertickle Press Publisher, Heather Down
Being silly with Liz Grummett at Rock 95 before an interview about Jammin’ for Jamie
I have been fortunate to speak at many colleges about mental health
With my beautiful friends Christine and Danielle at Ryerson University after an LGBTQ talk
Jammin’ for Jamie (Simcoe County Canadian Mental Health Association)
Peterborough CHEX Morning Show
Chatting with Michael Landsberg on the Daily Landsblog (Sick Not Weak)
Fortunate to have done quite a few radio shows
Official Proclamation of Mental Health Week in Barrie, Ontario. With Mayor Jeff Lehman
At Parliament Hill in Ottawa to testify in favour of MP Todd Doherty’s Bill C-211. We were so fortunate to meet the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and give him a copy of Save-My-Life School
In Alberta, Canada at CanPraxis
How does David Beckham pop up everywhere?…
2016 Paramedic Ride. I had the honour of ringing the memorial bell in memory of my friend Bob Cooke
Minto Fire Department Awards Night
My LOVES ❤
Save-My-Life School release and my birthday celebration~
Daniel Sundail and I
Editor of PIE Magazine and friend Sandra Roberts
March 3, 2016 at 8:10 AM
gLAD there are others out there… today I am feeling depressed…..
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March 3, 2016 at 1:19 PM
You are never alone!
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January 3, 2017 at 4:21 AM
Thank you for sharing……and providing a yellow brick road model for fellow PTSD first responders. And to help their families understand.
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April 15, 2017 at 10:26 PM
I just finished reading your book recently. I laughed so much and cried a lot too. It is one of my very favourite books. You are a “Gift to the world” It was the first time in my life that I felt that someone understands how I feel. I didn’t feel alone any longer. I was handed your book after attending a funeral, before I headed back to Windsor Ontario. God works in mysterious ways. Coming to that funeral and getting your book was “life changing”
I couldn’t end this “reply” without saying how sorry I am for all you have been through. I wrote you a letter, that I still haven’t been able to get in the mail but in it I say “you might end up saving more lives as an author than you may have being a paramedic”
“not yet” are the best two words that I have ever read in any book!
Thank you!
You give the reader the freedom of removing their mask of pain. For the first time I can publicly say I am a survivor of “incest” and “rape” I have PTSD.
Your book has given me HOPE.
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April 16, 2017 at 5:20 AM
Hello 🙂 I can’t thank you enough for your beautiful words. I am so happy that you found hope! You are never alone and even though we have never met, I am a friend who will always understand what you’re going through on your darkest days and I send you so much love and positivity so that those days start to become less dark. Xo Thank you
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August 25, 2017 at 8:31 PM
Thank you Natalie
I just finished watching your story. I realize how important personal stories are…and how important they are to share, once you have the strength to do so. Mine still is organizing itself and will come to fruition in time. It’s already been over 8 years. I’m finally coming to some independence in my life again. I do appreciate the time and effort and energy you’ve taken to share. I really do feel it would make the world a much better place if people did this more. I enjoy your portraits… and your beautiful children. You are very blessed!
Dan
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August 26, 2017 at 8:37 AM
Thank you Dan. I hope you are doing well. I agree the more we talk the more we heal.
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