Building Resilience: Psychological First Aid in the Workplace

Recently recognized by the Prime Minister, the House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Mike Shoreman is the first person with disabilities to cross the 5 Great Lakes. Leading one of the largest independently run mental health awareness campaigns in Canada, Mike is the recipient of the 2022 Marg Starzynski Mental Health Leadership Award by the Mood Disorder Society of Canada and is an honourary diploma recipient of Loyalist College (2023). Over the last decade Mike has helped in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for national disability and mental health organizations through his initiatives and galas. Mike is an award winning public speaker, a best selling author, a columnist, film producer, athlete and an entrepreneur. His story will be featured in Director Matthew Wagner's feature length film 'When Hope Breaks Through,' chronicling the Canadian mental health crisis and his journey across the 5 Great Lakes, later this year. Mike is a regular featured guest on Breakfast Television, CP 24, CTV National and Global News and speaks on a variety of disability and mental health issues to audiences.

Kelley Curtis is a mental health advocate with experience in delivering workshops both virtually and in person, on a variety of topics. Kelley is also an instructor trainer with the Canadian Red Cross and has been actively involved in the roll out and delivery of their Health and Wellness program, Psychological First Aid. Kelley is also an active Mental Health First Aid facilitator, with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and an ASIST trainer with Living Works. With her background in the area of social work, Kelley uses the skills and knowledge developed while providing direct support to adolescents, adults, and families to better meet the needs of her participants in the various workshops that she delivers.

Christine is a partner with Wilson Vukelich LLP, a full-service firm in Markham and a leader in business and tax law. Christine's practice is devoted to the areas of labour and employment law, tax litigation and related litigation. In regards to her labour and employment law practice, Christine represents unionized and non-unionized employers in all aspects of labour and employment law. Christine is thoroughly versed in issues surrounding the employment relationship from hiring, discipline, compensation, performance management, workplace health and safety, human rights, through to termination. In regards to her tax litigation practice, Christine represents individuals and corporations in their disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency at the Tax Court of Canada. Christine is an active member of various committees, boards, and associations, including acting as the past Chair of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade. Christine regularly moderates and speaks at events, including those held by the Ontario Bar Association, the Professional Engineers Ontario, the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade, and the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Christine enjoys travelling and has been on trips to Ireland, England, Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Belize, several Caribbean islands, several Greek islands, and the Galapagos Islands. Christine is also an avid runner, regularly taking part in local half-marathons.

Raja is a Durham Mental Health Services Crisis Worker of over 20 years working with the community, police and hospital. DMHS Crisis Services offers 24-hour phone support, Mobile Crisis Visits and short term community beds stays. Raja has also trained the agency over the years as an ASIST Suicide Intervention Instructor and a St. John Ambulance First Aid/CPR Instructor. Training new staff and Community Education are other roles within Raj's portfolio. As part of Lakeridge Health's Central Connect, Raja also connects with people in the community with appropriate professionals and services within Lakeridge Health, Pinewood, Durham Mental Health and Distress Centre Durham. His educational background is in Psychology and Philosophy as well as Trauma.

Jamie is CEO at Novus Health, a technology-enabled health services provider and leader in health navigation. He brings more than 20 years of progressive management experience in both public and private health care systems and services, most recently as Chief Revenue Officer of HealthFleet, a digital health engagement platform. Prior to HealthFleet, he served as President of HumanaCare, an employee health services company that was acquired by CloudMD in 2021. A Registered Nurse by training, he has been a leader in the business of health care focused on delivering improved outcomes and exceptional customer experience. Jamie holds a BScN from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and an MBA from Lansbridge University (now the University of Fredericton).

Talia Lane joined the team as Manager of Marketing and Communications in February of 2004. She maintains all aspects of marketing and communications, website content management, social media and she controls all Matheis Financial Group promotional, communication materials and product information from design concept to execution and completion. In December 2018 Talia was appointed to the role of Director, Marketing & Business Initiatives, taking on more corporate duties and growth in the group benefits and pension side of the business. Talia began her career at WHERE Toronto and WHERE Muskoka magazines working her way into the role of Assistant/Web Editor of both publications. Upon leaving WHERE, Talia was appointed to the Marketing Manager position at VideoComm Technologies, a worldwide leading manufacturer of wireless technologies and surveillance items. Talia completed one year Honours B.A. Mass Communications at Carleton University in Ottawa and went on to graduate from the Print Journalism Program at Durham College in Oshawa in 2000. Talia has also completed the Marketing Management course at the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2003 and has taken several continuing education courses through Fred Pryor, and most recently the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.