Speakers

A survivor of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, Tyler has transformed his journey of resilience into a mission for advocacy. In 2022, he co-founded the Speak Your Mind podcast, creating a platform for meaningful conversations about mental health. In 2023, he and his partner Kat captured hearts as winners of The Amazing Race Canada, continuing to inspire open dialogue around mental wellbeing.

Dr. Colleen Carney is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory. Dr. Carney is a leading expert on cognitive behavioural insomnia therapy (CBT-I), with over 25 years of experience in sleep medicine experience, and over 200 publications. Dr. Carney is the current President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Behavioral Sleep Medicine group and was recently a member of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders Insomnia Disorder diagnostic criteria revision workgroup and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline workgroup. They are a passionate advocate for improving access to evidence-based treatments for sleep.

Andrée-Ann Deschênes holds a doctorate in occupational psychology and is a professor at the School of Management at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. She educates current and future managers in public security management programs. She is co-holder of the UQTR-ENPQ Research Chair in the prevention of psychological health at work in public safety and co-director of the UQTR branch of the International Centre for Comparative Criminology. Her funded research, recognized both nationally and internationally, focuses on management psychology in public safety organizations, with particular attention to the prevention of occupational psychological health issues in police environments.

M. Louis-Francis Fortin has been a clinical psychologist for the past 23 years. M. Fortin has been involved with the Montreal police service (SPVM) since 2006. As a psychologist and chief of unit, his work consists of managing a team of psychologists and offering counselling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, safeguarding high risk unit and participating in prevention programs. M. Fortin has been collaborating with police organizations on the national and international level.

The Montreal police service employee’s assistance (PAPP*) program has implemented a suicide prevention program that decreased the suicide rate by 79%. The suicide prevention program has been recognized by the World health organization, and serves as a model for several police organizations.

Annie Gendron, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in psychology. She is a researcher at the Centre de recherche et de développement stratégique de l'École nationale de police du Québec (Centre for Research and Strategic Development, National Police School of Québec), an associate professor in the Psychoeducation Department at the University of Québec in Trois-Rivières, co-holder of the Research Chair in Prevention of Psychological Health at Work in Public Safety, and a regular researcher at the International Centre for Comparative Criminology - Inter-University Centre. Her research interests focus on issues relating to the selection of candidates for the police profession, training, and police intervention in Québec. Her work explores the competency profile of candidates, the academic and professional trajectories of police officers, selection tests, the prevention of psychological health problems among public safety personnel, practices related to the use of force and suicide situations in the presence of police. She is also interested in the issues of police intervention in indigenous contexts and with indigenous clienteles.

Leo Goudal is a Research and Policy Analyst within the Research Partnerships portfolio at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. He obtained his Master of Public Health at the University of Western Ontario. Additionally, he is a Veteran that served four years as a reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces. As part of his role at the Atlas Institute, he led the project coordination on the National Peer Support Community Network (PSCN); a national network of stakeholders from the Veterans, Public Safety Personnel (PSP), peer support, research and service provider communities. In collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Atlas Institute and the PSCN co-created best practice peer support guidelines that are specific to Veterans, PSP and their Families. Going forward, Leo will oversee the evaluation and implementation phases of these guidelines to monitor their adoption and suitability.

Amanda Conway has been a member of the Brandon Police Service since 2016. She is currently in the Community Policing Unit. Before policing, Amanda graduated in 2011 from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Social Work. Her work experience includes mental health crisis services and community corrections within Manitoba Justice. She remains a Registered Social Worker through the Manitoba College of Social Workers and a Social Work Field Educator for the University of Manitoba.

Additionally, she is nearing completion of the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Policing program at Wilfrid Laurier University. Sharing her knowledge and experience, Amanda co-facilitated a Thompson River University Social Work community learning course in First Responder and Military Mental Health. Amanda is committed to the community she serves and is largely involved with several Indigenous boards and planning committees, restorative justice, downtown neighbourhood renewal, mental health, and suicide prevention.

In 2020, after noticing the need for peer support within first responder organizations outside of Brandon Police Service, Amanda co-created Project Resilience 911, a not-for-profit Manitoba-based multi-agency peer support initiative for first responders, frontline workers, military personnel, and their families. Project Resilience 911 provides peer support and CISM resources to organizations in need at no cost. It promotes frontline mental health awareness and education through community events. Amanda’s understanding of trauma and stress response inspires her to be there for her peers and the community alike #beyondthecall.
In 2021, Amanda was awarded the first Mental Health Service Award in Manitoba for her distinguished contribution to those suffering from mental health. She has also been recognized as a Champion of Mental Health by the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment. In 2023, she was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her leadership and contributions to the community.

Amanda grew up in a small town in southwest Manitoba. She is Metis. Her spirit name is Two Tobacco Woman. Amanda is honoured to represent local Indigenous communities at the Brandon Police Service. She acknowledges the historically challenging relationships between Indigenous peoples and public service. Thus, her goal is to create cultural safety and a changed experience in the future through unity, truth and reconciliation.

Personally, Amanda is married to another Brandon Police Service member, which has contributed to her increased appreciation for first responder spouses, especially those in the stages of raising their own little people. Off duty, she enjoys traveling and camping, just showing up with her family, hiking, and trail riding. Amanda has two adult children: her daughter Morgan, a registered nurse, and her son, Jayden, a Heavy Equipment Operator. Lastly, but most importantly, she has a four-year-old grandson, Dominic, and a baby whom she adores and values every minute she spends with him.

Cynthia Hamilton Urquhart is a passionate speaker, writer, and mentor dedicated to empowering the First Responder community through mental health advocacy. Her unique perspective draws on her 25 years of experience as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Officer and her personal life with her First Responder husband and their blended family.

When Cynthia and her husband were both diagnosed with PTSD within eight months of each other, they embarked on a shared healing journey. This experience gave Cynthia deep insight into the physical and mental health challenges faced by First Responders and their families. It inspired Cynthia to become a passionate advocate for change, and a source of hope for others navigating similar struggles. As a result, she founded A First Responder Voice to reach out to First Responders and their families and is the author of ‘A First Responder Voice: A Guided First Responder Journal Encouraging Mental Health Care’.

She is a Universal Women’s Network, 2019 Woman of Inspiration - Unsung Hero award winner, and the recipient of both the RCMP Long Service Award and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal. In 2024, she was selected to appear in The Big Talk Academy Virtual Showcase, speaking about ‘Changing your world with the courage to care’.  

Matt Johnston is a full-time professional firefighter and CEO of First Responder Health Services. As a trained mental health clinician, Matt co-founded the Occupational Awareness Training (OAT) Program in 2017, following a cluster of suicides in the fire service.

The OAT program is an innovative twofold initiative: it educates healthcare providers on how to effectively build rapport with public safety personnel and provides tailored training for frontline workers. In collaboration with Blueprint and the University of British Columbia, Matt helped mobilize findings from the First Responder Resiliency Program, which achieved statistically significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among participants.

During his presentation, Matt will discuss the online OAT program, which employs a drip content delivery method, enabling monthly training to be seamlessly integrated into firefighters’ in-station, on-duty schedules. With over 12,000 firefighters enrolled, Matt will highlight how the program translates research into practical, engaging psychoeducational training that mitigates the impact of psychological stress injuries.

Dr. Renée MacPhee has been an integral member in the Canadian paramedic community for almost 30 years, devoting her time helping as a researcher and educator. She is a tireless advocate dedicated to improving their physical and mental health and well-being. In 2017, she became a Founding Member and Paramedic Sector Lead at the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research & Treatment (CIPRST). In 2018 her commitment to the health of paramedics across Canada earned her the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada Presidential Award of Excellence, marking the first time that the award has been bestowed upon a civilian. In 2022, she joined the Mental Health Collaborative for Public Safety Personnel Round Table with the Ontario Solicitor General’s Office. In 2022, she was presented with the Laurier University Award for Community Service and Engagement in recognition of her efforts supporting Canadian paramedics. Her determination to identify and implement solutions that address the needs of the paramedic community has earned her the respect and cooperation of paramedic leadership, frontline, and labor groups. It is her long-held belief that successful research in the field of paramedicine is the result of work that is done by paramedics, with paramedics, for paramedics.