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Past Events

Seminar for First Responders and Their Families
April 30th, 2023 in Guelph, ON

The Invisible Wounds team is proud to announce, in partnership with Dalton Associates, that we are hosting a mental health seminar for First Responders and their families on Sunday April 30, 2023, in Guelph, Ontario.

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Mental Wellness Retreat for First Responders

Gran Ventana Beach Resort

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

for First Responders, their Partners/Family and Clinicians who work directly with First Responders

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - Tuesday, February 7, 2023

TPI is the official travel agency for the Mental Health Retreat.

For further booking inquiries/questions Contact Chris and Victoria at TPI.

*Prices are subject to change and availability. Prices based on supplier chosen at time of booking.

For further information, please contact Chris and Victoria at TPI via direct phone number (905) 903-1204.

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7th Annual

Invisible Wounds Conference for First Responders

Wednesday, October 5th and Thursday, October 6th, 2022

Prince of Wales Hotel and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Check out our Facebook summary of the event
along with our Twitter recap featuring coverage from YourTV Niagara!
Invisible Wounds OCT 2022 conference for First Responders
Invisible Wounds OCT 2022 conference for First Responders
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Video Documentary from the 6th Annual

Invisible Wounds Conference for First Responders

October 5th & 6th, 2021

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6th Annual

Invisible Wounds Conference for First Responders

Date: Tuesday, October 5th and Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

Time: 9:00 - 16:30

Location: Elmhurt Inn and Spa

415 Harris Street, Ingersoll, ON  N5C 3J8

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A Seminar for First Responders and their Families

Date: Saturday, September 11th, 2021

Time: 13:00 - 16:30

Location: The Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel and Conference Centre

10 Eastridge Road, Walkerton, ON  N0G 2V0

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The Fifth Annual Invisible Wounds Conference for First Responders

October 6th, 2020                 09:00 to 16:30

Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre

601 Scottsdale Drive, Guelph, ON, N1G 3E7

  • A conference exclusively for First Responders and Clinicians providing direct services to our First Responders

  • Keynote speakers shared expertise, lived-experience, exemplified resiliency, illustrated post-traumatic growth, & provided hope

  • We brought First Responders together from across the province, facilitating education, networking and Peer Support

  • Participants formed breakout groups to identify risk mitigating strategies to promote and sustain mental wellness

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"Stomping Out Stigma"
A Mental Wellness Seminar
Held Saturday, March 30th, 2019 in Walkerton, ON
 
This grass roots seminar was hosted by individuals who have life experience with grief and loss, addiction in the family, bullying, recovery and resiliency

Natalie Nowkawalk is the loving mother of two boys, and hobbies which include photography and a variety of outdoor activities.

 

Natalie is a social worker with a private practice in Kincardine. She is passionate about helping people overcome mental health issues and volunteers in community events promoting mental wellness.


Natalie will provide insight on how alcohol and other drug dependency can impact relationships, describing codependency, and steps she has taken to stop the chaos.

Anthony Wilkenson is the founder and CEO of No Drama Fitness, a business created to introduce people to lifelong fitness in a safe, supportive, engaging and challenging atmosphere free of judgement and discrimination.


As a child and young man, Anthony experienced sexual, physical and emotional abuse, which led to addiction and withdrawal from social settings and relationships. Anthony will speak about the role of physical activity in his journey towards self-acceptance.

Shannon McGlynn is a wife, mom of five children, and Gramma to two grandsons, and works part-time at the Wingham Optometry Clinic.


Shannon’s presentation offers a unique, poignant and personal view on grief. As a facilitator for Bereaved Families of Ontario she volunteers her time to help others as they journey through their grief.

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4th Annual
Invisible Wounds Conference
for First Responders

Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel and Conference Centre
10 East Ridge Road
Walkerton, ON, NOG 2V0
The Invisible Wounds Conference for First Responders will provide opportunities to increase awareness of how to build resiliency skills to help deal with occupational stress injuries that are inherent in your profession. Speakers, most with lived experience, will share how Peer Support and learned coping skills assist in prevention and recovery.

This conference will assist First Responders interested in learning about and addressing relationships issues, anger, and mental health challenges, including, but not limited to, hypervigilance, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSI, and PTSD.
Download the Event brochure for a list of Speakers and Presentations

 

Mike Bellia
01:02
Jon Walters
01:18
Jennifer Grigg
01:14
Graham Trude
01:44
George Hebblethwaite
01:27
Ed Jermol
01:24
Doug Sharp
01:21
Dave McLennan
01:24
Bryan Stevens
01:22
An Evening of Appreciation
In recognition and appreciation of our First Responders
 
Held on April 27th, 2019
This event recognized and showed appreciation for our First Responders
with an evening of entertainment at Teeswater Town Hall.

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Invisible Wounds Conference
for First Responders
 
This event took place
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018

Best Western PLUS Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre

Walkerton, ON

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Download the E-brochure

for this Conference

Invisible Wounds Conference for
Health  Care Professionals 
 
This event took place
Wednesday, July 11th, 2018

Best Western PLUS Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre

Walkerton, ON

Download the E-brochure

for this Conference

Invisible Wounds Conference - 2017

This event took place Oct. 27, 2017

Best Western Governor’s Inn, Kincardine ON

Speakers from across the province discussed recovery from occupational stress injuries, substance abuse and addiction, and mental health challenges including post-traumatic stress injuries, and PTSD.  Individuals with lived experience described tools which enabled them to fight their demons, repair broken relationships, cope with returning to work, and deal effectively with ongoing workplace and life stressors.

Kincardine Fire Chief Kent Padfield, MC for the Invisible Wounds Conference 2017, was joined by speakers Randi-Mae Staford Leibold, Bill Burton, Natalie Nowkawalk, Bryan Stevens of Frontline Forward, Shaun Taylor and Jill Foster of #IGOTYOURBACK911, Doug Pflug recently retired Sergent from Guelph Police Services, and Fire Captain Jeff Balch at City of Barrie

(Photo by Barb McKay of the Kincardine Independent.  See articles by Barb McKay in our "Articles" section)

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