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What is the Ontario Provincial Police’s Occupational Doctor Program and how will it impact OPP Association members? OPP Superintendent Tina Maier is the Deputy Director of the OPP’s Healthy Workplace Team. She joins OPP Association Director Dave Dubé for this discussion, which includes an overview of the program and its origins, handling of medical information, the Occupational Doctor’s role in WSIB cases and workplace accommodations.

Listen by clicking on the player below:

To listen on Apple, Google, Spotify and more click on the image above for all platform links.

The OPP’s Healthy Workplace Team can be reached at 1-844-677-9409. This number is answered 24/7 by a care navigator or mental health clinician. Callers can request information, connection to a peer supporter, or support. Please note that this is not a crisis line. The Healthy Workplace Team can also be reached by email at OPPHealth@opp.ca (not monitored 24/7).

The Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is available to eligible active and retired OPPA Members:

If you have any questions about this episode of the 10-5 Podcast, please email us at communications@oppa.ca

We are grateful that our Burlington Detachment OPP police officer was not seriously injured when his police cruiser with lights flashing helping a stranded motorist was struck by a passing vehicle on Highway 403 in Hamillton on Monday January 31, 2022. Our thoughts are with the officer, his family and colleagues.

Click on image for a digital toolkit to celebrate Black History Month February 2022

The OPP Association is proud to celebrate Black History Month in February, 2022, along with all Canadians.

The Government of Canada’s Black History Month theme for 2022 is ‘February and Forever: Celebrating Black history today and every day”. The Ontario Provincial Police have adopted “Learning from our past, shaping our future” as a theme for 2022. The OPP Association is proud to share in these themes.

We also share the Association of Black Law Enforcers‘ vision of cultural pride, racial harmony within the law enforcement community and building bridges between the law enforcement community and the community at large. 

We invite our members and the community at large to follow along on social media on official hash tags #BlackHistoryMonth, #BHM2022, and #FebruaryForever, and actively promote, and participate in a number of Black History Month events planned throughout our province and country. 

Rob Stinson 
President
Ontario Provincial Police Association

A mass of people attending Jason Rivera's funeral
Rob Stinson and Pat Lynch at the funeral
New York City Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch and OPP Association President Rob Stinson

OPP Association President Rob Stinson, along with Police Association of Ontario President Mark Baxter attended the police funeral of Police Officer Jason Rivera in New York City on Friday January January 28, 2022. Stinson and Baxter also attended the visitation Thursday evening. 

Police Officer Rivera, age 22yrs of the 32nd Precinct in Harlem was killed in the line of duty, along with his partner Police Officer Wilbert Mora, age 27yrs. Both officers were shot at a domestic incident. 

Mourners erupted in a standing ovation for the widow of Rivera when she addressed the thousands of attendees at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. 

Watch the funeral service below.

Following the incident that took the lives of the two NYPD officers, the President of the New York City Police Benevolent Associaton, Pat Lynch issued a heartfelt appeal for the community to join the NYPD officers in mourning. That video can be watched below. 

For all of the tributes on social media for the officers click on hash tag #FidelisAdMortem

Click on player below to listen or on the image above or this link to listen on Google, Apple, Spotify and more

Understanding pregnancy and parental leave provisions can be overwhelming at the best of times. OPPA Executive Officer of Pension & Benefits, Lisa Hillstrom, joins the 10-5 podcast to help our members understand what they are entitled to during these leaves. This discussion includes a members leave provisions, the SUB-Allowance entitlement, the difference between the “Standard Parental Leave” and the “Extended Parental Leave” and the importance of reviewing insurances and updating insured benefit coverage.

To listen on Apple, Google, Spotify and more click on the image above for all platform links.

The pregnancy and parental leave charts referenced in this episode can be viewed by clicking here. (login required)

Ontario Shared Services (OSS) Contact Centre – 1-866-979-9300 or askOSS@ontario.ca.

The Ontario Pension Board can be reached at 1-800-668-6203, clientservice@opb.ca or visit their website by clicking here.

Target Benefit Administrators can be reached at 1-888-660-6055 or by clicking here to visit their website.

Service Canada can be reached through their website by clicking here or by phone at 1-800-622-6232.

If you have any questions about this episode of the 10-5 Podcast, please email us at communications@oppa.ca

We are grateful our OPP Association member sustained only minor injuries in this incident. This could have been much worse. A reminder for all of the potential dangers on our highways. Best wishes to our member and their family and colleagues. Thank you all for your service.

A Niagara OPP officer travelling on the QEW and NService Rd was dragged by a transport truck after the truck lost control due to metal debris on the road. January 27, 2022. Officer taken to hospital with minor injuries. Road reopened at 7:30am.

(photo and info from OPP Highway Safety Division social media)

Click on image to learn more

Virtual Rehab is a clinically intensive treatment with secure video appointments and a dedicated ALAViDA therapist and physician specialized in addiction. Virtual Rehab is available to Encompas registered OPPA members. This 100% virtual and confidential program includes a personalized care plan with iCBT modules, pharmacotherapy, progress tracking, and optional group sessions. Pease note this is not a First-Responder specific program.

To learn more, contact an Encompas Care Manager at 1-866-794-9117, visit try.alavida.co/encompas or read our partnership announcement, here encompascare.ca/news.

OPP Association President Rob Stinson has sent condolences on behalf of OPPA members to family, friends & colleagues of New York City Police Dept Officers Jason Rivera (22yrs) and Wilbert Mora (27yrs) who have both died in the line of duty after being shot at a domestic call for service.

For full details visit the New York City Police Benevolent Association website. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the OPP Association, staff and all of our members, the OPP Association is honoured to participate in #BellLetsTalk Day on January 26, 2022. The theme this year is “supporting ourselves and each other”. Today and every day, please take the time to reach out to your loved ones. Often a simple act of kindness, as little as a text message checking in, can make a world of difference for someone who is struggling. We may not even know they are struggling.

We are fortunate here at the OPP Association to have the Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program. I invite all of our members to reach out to the program 24/7, and engage the professional mental health supports available. Call 1-866-794-9117 any time of the day or night to speak to a care navigator specially trained to deal with your needs. More information is available online at EncompasCare.ca. The OPP Healthy Workplace Team is also there to assist our OPP members, families, retirees, & auxiliaries, and  can accessed 24/7 at 1-844-OPP-9409 (1-844-677-9409). 

Today we will be sharing on on OPP Association social media channels six episodes of “10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association” that have topics surrounding mental health and wellness. A post from our Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program along with the podcast episodes are posted below for quick reference. 

Thank you to each and every one of our members and our family members for caring each and every day, and going above and beyond to look after each other. 

Rob Stinson, President OPP Association 

Bell Let’s Talk Post from Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program

Bell lets talk day poster

Today is #BellLetsTalk Day. For every text, call or social media post using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, Bell Canada pledges to donate 5 cents towards Canadian mental health. It is time to speak up about mental health!

For OPPA members and their families seeking support, the Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program offers a one-stop approach to mental healthcare that provides timely access to confidential, effective and safe mental health support and services that are customized just for them.

OPPA Members also have access to additional resources through the Members-Only Portal. These resources include a 1-year subscription to Muse – a meditation app, a variety of different courses, blogs and more. To sign up for Portal access, contact an Encompas Care Manager at 1-866-9117.

Six Episodes Featuring Mental Health Related Topics
of 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association

Click on the images to listen to the podcasts on the OPPA website.

10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association-Episode 5-A Cop’s Journey To Mental Wellness
10-5 – The Official Podcast of the OPP Association Episode 9 – “Journey of a Hero – Part 1”
Carl Dalton Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program on 10-5 Podcast
10-5 – The Official Podcast of the OPP Association Episode 26 – OPP Chief Psychologist
“Suicide Awareness with Dr. Allison Crawford and Carl Dalton” 10-5 Podcast
10-5 – The Official Podcast of the OPP Association Episode 31 “Encompas Support Services Coordinator

Click on image above to listen to the 10-5 Podcast, or on player below.

Click here to listen on Google, Apple, Spotify and more platforms.

OPP Sergeant Patrick Armstrong is the Executive Director of the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund. He joins OPP Association President Rob Stinson for this episode to talk about Dave Mounsey, the Fund’s work, and upcoming events.

For additional information on the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund please visit DaveMounsey.com.

For additional information and registration for the “Run Around the Square Virtual 2022” please visit RunAroundTheSquare.ca.

For additional information or to support the “100K in a Day” event please visit 

To nominate someone for an “Order of the Good Samaritan” award please visit DaveMounsey.com/order-of-the-good-samaritan.

If you have any questions about this episode of the 10-5 Podcast, please email us at communications@oppa.ca.

Profile on OPP Sergeant Patrick Armstrong
Guest Blog Post by Retired OPP Detective Constable Brenda Orr

I first met Patrick Armstrong in 2002 when he was a new recruit with the OPP.  My life partner, Dave Mounsey, was assigned as Patrick’s coach officer.  Patrick started in policing with a wealth of experience in serving his country.  Patrick was in the army from 1992-1995 and then in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1997-2002.  While Patrick was in the Navy he did tours in Afghanistan, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Gulf.  Dave and Patrick hit it off right away- Patrick says it is because of their military background but I think it was because they were both go getters with a desire to make the world a better place. 

For example, in 2003 Patrick started a business called Heritage Medal Services; a business dedicated to the proper mounting, wearing and presenting of all Commonwealth honours and their correct family history. Patrick believes that Canadians need to be aware of their heritage and the sacrifices that were made by our Commonwealth members who have served this country. Patrick continues to research and return lost medals to families and assists Canadian Heroes in Operation Lost Medals by cleaning and remounting medals free of charge. Patrick located and purchased medals through the Internet that he returned to 19 families including one Police Exemplary Service Medal.  Patrick recently cleaned and mounted 25 World War 1 Medals and returned them to Canadian Heroes in Operation Lost Medals. 

 In October 2006 Dave Mounsey was involved in an on-duty car crash that eventually claimed his life a month later. Patrick was the first officer on scene and continued to support me and my children through our devastating loss. After Dave’s death Patrick founded the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund (DMMF) which is a non-profit organization that honours police, fire, paramedics and military members killed in the line of duty by donating defibrillators in their names.

The DMMF was founded in 2009 and to date has donated 130 defibrillators that have saved 3 lives. Patrick is the Executive Director who has worked tirelessly over the last 12 years to raise the money to be able to purchase the defibrillators. And because Patrick believed that the DMMF could do more than donate defibrillators and honour our fallen heroes, Patrick decided that the DMMF should give out yearly Order of the Good Samaritan awards to the community.

Each year the DMMF gives out the following awards: the Paul Patterson Memorial Award for Lifesaving, the Bruce Crew Memorial Award for Sportsmanship, the Vu Pham Memorial Youth Volunteer award, and the Corporal Matthew Dinning Memorial award for Volunteer for Veterans and Service Persons.

The DMMF has a separate branch called the Breaking the Silence Donation Program that donates a defibrillator to fallen heroes who have died by suicide as a result of suffering from PTSD.

Patrick is now a well-respected road Sergeant in Perth County. Even though Patrick dedicates so many hours to the DMMF, Patrick saw a need to do more. In 2018 Patrick co-founded the Huron and Area Search and Rescue (HASAR). HASAR is a not-for-profit organization that provides professional civilian volunteers to conduct ground-based and marine search and rescue. Patrick was instrumental in securing funding to train and equip 65 volunteers. This was an enormous task but Patrick was able to successfully get donations for uniforms for all the volunteers, a fully equipped and functional mobile command centre, a single axle modified gear trailer with a generator, a rescue Argo all-terrain vehicle with a stretcher, radio and winch, and a 22 ft Grew rescue boat with radio, lights, chart plotter and radar.

The HASAR has been very successful in searching. In May 2019 HASAR volunteers went to Ottawa to assist with emergency status flooding. HASAR also has outreach to the community through the AdventureSmart program. AdventureSmart teaches Hug-a-Tree, Paddlesmart and Survive Outside to name a few of the programs. So far over 600 children and 100 adults have been trained through HASAR. Patrick is the Deputy Commander of the Marine section of HASAR.  HASAR will soon be qualified in Ropes and Ice Water Rescue.

Patrick was also was on the Board of Directors for St. John’s Ambulance from 2011-2013. Since 2018 Patrick has been and still is a civilian instructor with the Maitland Air Cadet Association 532 Squadron.
Maybe Patrick’s love of medals comes from the fact that he has received so many throughout his diversified career. 

Patrick has received service medals in the military, 2 life-saving citations in the OPP, a minister of Veteran’s Affairs Commendation, an Accolade Award, a YMCA Peace Medal, an Inter-Cultural Dialogue Institute Officer of the Year Award, a Huron County Citizen of the Year Award, a Huron County Officer of the Year Award, and 2 medals for his charity work: the Diamond Jubilee and Sovereigns Medal for Volunteers.

The motto that Patrick chose for the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund is a quote by Stephen Grellet that reads “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any other human being, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” I think this quote accurately describes how Patrick Armstrong lives his life.

Patrick is a great officer, a wonderful person, a patriotic Canadian and a dear friend.  I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next in his career! 

Retired OPP
D/C Brenda Orr