OPP Association President Rob Stinson was honoured to attend the 2020 OPP Accolade Awards presentation December 3, 2021. Congratulations to the award recipients. Thanks also to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones & Deputy Solicitor General Mario Di Tommaso for attending to honour our members.
OPPA President Rob Stinson was honoured to attend the 2020 Accolade Awards presentation December 3, 2021. Congratulations to the award recipients. Thanks also to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones & Deputy Solicitor General Mario Di Tommaso for attending to honour our members. #OPP https://t.co/BdFqJSMqEy pic.twitter.com/Z13GOzoBtr
— OPPA (OPP Association) (@OPPAssociation) December 6, 2021
This episode of the 10-5 Podcast features a conversation around the topic of suicide that may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
Dr. Allison Crawford and Carl Dalton join the 10-5 Podcast to start an important conversation around suicide awareness. This includes:
- Dr. Crawford’s work to created suicide prevention awareness strategies and programs (4:16)
- How do we start a conversation about suicide (7:14)
- Shifts in stigma around suicide and discussing it (13:23)
- Responding to questions about why people die by suicide and the predictability of suicide (14:46)
- Prevention strategies or models that are being used currently (18:42)
- What members can do for each other if they are concerned about a colleague or loved one, recommended and helpful treatments for people experiencing suicide ideation (23:55)
Dr. Allison Crawford is a Psychiatrist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Additionally, she is the Associate Chief of Virtual Mental Health and Outreach at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CaMH) and the Chief Medical Officer of the Canada Suicide Prevention Service.
Carl Dalton is a Registered Social Worker and CEO of Dalton Associates, the organization that powers the Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program.
The Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is available to eligible active and retired OPPA Members:
Telephone – 1-866-794-9117 (Available 24/7)
Email – info@encompascare.ca
Website – EncompasCare.ca
If you have any questions about this episode of the 10-5 Podcast, please email us at communications@oppa.ca
On December 2, 2021 the Office of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario released its annual report, which contained the following about the Ontario Provincial Police.
- News Release: The OPP has so many Frontline Vacancies, It Cannot Provide the Level of Service it is Supposed To: Auditor General
- Audit at a Glance: Ontario Provincial Police
OPP Association President Rob Stinson was interviewed by reporters for his reaction.
The following was quoted in the Canadian Press and appeared on several media outlets, including Global News.
You can’t run with 1,000 members short.The population in my patrol area doubled and the number of officers was down 60 per cent ? It just doesn’t make sense.The government has made great strides in recent years addressing mental health in policing, Stinson said, including with the announcement of a health and wellness centre for first responders, and a round-the-clock triage line. But what is really needed to address the shortage is simply hiring more officers.
The following is an excerpt from The Toronto Sun, including quotes from President Stinson.
Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) President and CEO Rob Stinson said the organization has been attempting to draw attention to the staffing shortage for the past two years.
he shortfall put increasing pressure on the remaining frontline officers, he said.
“During the last two years with the pandemic, the amount of manpower-intensive crimes has risen dramatically … your domestic assaults, your mental health calls,” Stinson said. “They went up over 100%.
“In small communities that we deal with, the population has doubled and the amount of officers has decreased proportionately, which is the opposite of what you want,” he added.
A large number of officers brought on after a hiring freeze in the early 1990s will be eligible to retire in the next few years, creating the potential for even more severe staffing shortages unless action is taken to correct the situation, he said.
"You can’t run with 1,000 members short. The population in my patrol area doubled & the number of officers was down 60 per cent? It just doesn’t make sense.” ~ Rob Stinson President Ontario Provincial Police Association in reaction to Auditor General report Dec1/2021 #OPP #ONpoli https://t.co/3lt7ffuWxs
— OPPA (OPP Association) (@OPPAssociation) December 2, 2021
OPP frontline constable shortage grows to over 1,000 vacancies https://t.co/eglqf00NM4 Via @suntooz
— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) December 2, 2021
The OPP Association led by Branch 4 is proud to be silver sponsor of 4th Annual Streetsville Christmas Breakfast Drive Thru | Breakfast with Santa at 75 Derry Rd W Mississauga Saturday December 4, 2021 8am-11am. Kids eat free! Orders for you or gift a breakfast: Streetsville.org. Proceeds to Eden Food For Change. All are welcome!
OPP Association Director Mike Adair, OPP Sergeant Kieran Hiland, Sergeant Jules Morrison,
PC David Gobraeil, Chief Supt Carson Pardy, Inspector Daniel Foy in Moosonee, Ontario 30 Nov 2021
On Tuesday November 30, 2021 OPP Association Director Mike Adair attended the OPP Detachment in Moosonee, Ontario along with the OPP to collaboratively draft a plan to address a staffing shortage at the Moosonee Detachment.
During the visit, OPP Sergeant Kieran Hiland and community member Gordon Innes were presented a life saving citation from the OPP Commissioner by Chief Superintendent Carson Pardy. Congratulations to Mr. Innes and Sergeant Hiland on being honoured for your bravery in saving the lives of four males on August 27, 2020 during marine rescue after a vessel capsized on the Moose River south of the Town of Moosonee.
#NEROPP Chief Supt. Carson Pardy & members of #NER Command including Insp. Dan Foy from the #JamesBayOPP were in #Moosonee today to recognize 2 people for their Lifesaving efforts. Congratulations to Mr. Gordon Innes & #OPP Sgt Kieran Hiland. #WorkingTogether to save lives. ^cb pic.twitter.com/awI32iMQNq
— OPP North East Region (@OPP_NER) November 30, 2021
Communications Operators Lisa Darch and Melissa Van Erp from the Provincial Communications Centre (PCC) in Orillia join the 10-5 Podcast to discuss their roles in the Ontario Provincial Police.
This includes how they became a Communications Operator, why they choose this career, “burnout” on the job, staffing, career opportunities, and the new “Crisis Call Diversion Program” that has placed mental health workers in OPP PCC’s.
inquiries about this podcast or to suggest a topic and guest(s) for future episodes please email communications@oppa.ca
November 25 is International Day to End Violence Against Women. Today and every day, the OPP Association encourages everyone stand together in solidarity with survivors of violence and to eliminate gender-based violence in all its forms. To view the worldwide engagement on social media click on the hash tags on Twitter #16Days and #OrangeTheWorld.
November 25 is International Day to End Violence Against Women. Today and every day, the OPP Association encourages everyone stand together in solidarity with survivors of violence and to eliminate gender-based violence in all its forms. #16Days #OrangeTheWorld https://t.co/RFMNYAYZKc
— OPPA (OPP Association) (@OPPAssociation) November 25, 2021
New UN Women data confirms violence against women has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report launch kicks off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme, “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”
To learn more visit the United Nations Women webpage.
Toronto, Ontario based White Ribbon has a ongoing pledge to end violence on their website.
Watch archived live Youtube video from today’s celebration at the United Nations.
On Friday November 19, 2021, family, friends and colleagues remembered OPP Provincial Constable Marc Hovingh at a BBQ at the Manitoulin OPP Detachment in Little Current, Ontario on the one year anniversary of his line of duty death. Constable Hovingh loved to cook for his shift mates and was highly respected by all who knew him. Over one hundred gathered to honour his memory and dedicate a BBQ pit at the Detachment in his honour. A metal sign was permanently affixed to the BBQ pit area with Marc’s Badge 8340 on it.
CBC Sudbury marked the anniversary with a news story titled “Manitoulin OPP officer killed in the line of duty remembered one year later”
Tributes to Constable Hovingh were posted throughout the day on social media, a few of which are embeded below.
Read the OPP Association Honour Roll post here.
One year ago, #OPP PC Marc Hovingh tragically lost his life in the line of duty while protecting his community. Today, we honour his sacrifice and honour him as a #HeroInLife. #HeroesInLife pic.twitter.com/iXuBetLbUo
— Thomas Carrique (@OPPCommissioner) November 19, 2021
Dr. Vivien Lee is the Commander of the OPP’s Healthy Workplace Team (HWT) and Chief Psychologist of the OPP. During this episode, Dr. Lee talks about what the HWT is, the services they provide, who is eligible for these services, the confidentiality of their services, the differences between the available programs (HWT, Encompas, and the Employee Family Assistance Program), the differences between the HWT and the previous Wellness Unit, and the role of the care navigators.
The HWT 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 HWT can also be reached by email at OPPHealth@opp.ca (not monitored 24/7).
On Thursday November 18, 2021 at Ontario Provincial Police General Headquarters in Orillia, Ontario, the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund made a defibrillator donation in honour of OPP Provincial Constable Tyler Boutilier who was killed in the line of duty on May 23, 2004.
The defibrillator was presented by OPP Sergeant Patrick Armstrong to Boutilier’s parents, Lewis and Sharon, Boutilier’s sister Chief Superintendent Kari Dart and Boutilier’s nephew OPP Provincial Constable Karn Dart.
The Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund is an organization that donates defibrillators to honour fallen police, fire, paramedic and military who were killed in the line of duty. This is the 135th defibrillator donation, 3 of which have been used and saved lives.