Call to action for mental health!

A group of OPP members have volunteered to organize pandemic safe bike rides in support of an OPP Suicide Memorial between Feb 20-27, 2021. You can support by ordering a toque online, or doing a ride! 

To sign up or support for a ride click here

To order a Bridge The Gap toque online click here

Provincial Constable Linzi Edwards of the Wellington County Detachment of the OPP near Guelph, Ontario has been nominated by a member of the public for the 2021 Police Association of Ontario Police Services Hero of the Year Award for her work reaching out to community members off duty to assist them during the COVID19 pandemic.

The OPP Association is proud of the work our members do every day. We are always happy celebrate stories of the good work of our police officers, civilian members and retirees. 

When Linzi was notified of this honour, she was quick to state that she doesn’t do this for recognition and was quite humble about her work. Linzi explained that this was a Facebook Group about helping and being kind.

She gave credit to her two sons and many other community members who have helped her doing the outreach work. Linzi agreed to provide a photo and some more insight into exactly what she was doing which we have included in the story below.
The nomination from a community member is posted on the PAO Police Services Hero of the Year Award website, and is reprinted below, along with some examples of the help that has been provided by Linzi and her team of volunteers to the community in Halton Hills, Ontario.

Community Nomination

(reprinted from Police Association of Ontario Website)

Where do I begin! OPP Constable Linzi Edwards started a community Facebook page in Halton Hills. The page is called Halton Hills it Takes a Village. This page now has over 1,600 members.

Linzi created this page in 2020 when COVID-19 hit us and she realized there are people in need of support locally. She created the page to get the community she lives in together to support each other. This page allows people to reach out and get help for people who might be struggling. 

I was one of these people struggling with missing my family during COVID, and when Linzi brought me in as an Admin to the group in November 2020 to help with the group, what she didn’t realize is that she helped me!

We were able to help over 250 seniors during Christmas. She arranged Christmas presents for each and every senior in our low income housing in Halton Hills along with supporting the Halton Mental Health nurses and bringing joy to some of their patients that needed a reminder that community will always support them.
Linzi also helped over 13 families and was able to put together Christmas presents for them, being a secret Santa dropping them off. COVID-19 has caused people to feel isolated and lonely, and Linzi has created this amazing group to remind people they are not alone.

If someone is in need of some cheer or community spirit, she is there! I have been blessed to be apart of this and to see just how special Linzi is. She truly wears her heart on her sleeve. Linzi would help anyone and has brought so much joy to our town of Halton Hills in this very dark time of COVID.

Linzi’s true calling of being a police officer and putting others first is so evident in everything she does. I’m so proud of her and so thankful that she has allowed me to be apart of this very special group, which she started with only 1 follower to now an amazing Facebook Page giving back to everyone and turning away no one. Please take the time to check out the Facebook page and you will see the joy Linzi has brought to our community during this difficult time.

Follow Up

The OPP Association reached out to Linzi to follow up. She was very humble and reiterated that this wasn’t being done for recognition. We managed to get a few more details on all the people in the community that have been helped from this community Facebook Group.

The following is a list of the people that Linzi and her team have helped.

• Collected and donated a car full of skin lotion for health care workers at the beginning of the pandemic.
• Collected and donated gifts and treats for frontline workers and their children in town for Easter, as they were all working overtime.
• Arranged and co-ordinated the Georgetown Pipe Band along with several day shift Halton Regional Police Service cruisers to attend and pay honour to the four seniors residence locations on Mother’s Day. Several seniors had contracted Covid-19 from the homes.  We drove from place to place with upbeat signs and they got to listen to the bagpipes.
• Helped feed a family whose father had an illness and helped find the much needed medical supplies. 
• Started a group called “Sponsor a Senior” where families helped seniors who were afraid to go out during the pandemic to do their errands and cook meals. Over 23 families were involved and still continue to do so.
• Care packages were made for those who are struggling or homeless. The packages were filled with donated new items like toiletries and hats and snacks and place them out weekly.
• During the Christmas season, 13 families were sponsored with a total of 25 children to make sure every child had gifts and provided a Christmas dinner for each family.
• Helped the family of a mother who is going through chemo with finding her a phone and supplying meals during this time.
• Provided 250 gifts for low-income seniors who would normally not get anything
• Helped the Halton Hills youth make handmade cards and we gave these to seniors
• Currently helping raise food and funds for young man who had no heat and needed his furnace fixed. Funds were raised to pay for the parts and to buy him kitchen appliances and heaters. In the process of raising some money to get his cat spayed.
• Fed 7 families who are low income and struggling every week, by making meals and having donations of bakes good, delivering them each Sunday afternoon.

How To Nominate Police Service Members For the 2021 Police Services Hero of the Year Award 

The Police Hero Awards are open for nomination for all OPP members, as well as members of all PAO affiliated police organizations in Ontario (RCMP and Toronto are not members). Click on PoliceHero.ca to nominate: 

• Nominations need to include a written or verbal description (through the online nomination form, email, Facebook direct message, or Twitter direct message) as to why your local police personnel should be considered for the PAO Police Services Hero of the Year award in one of the following three categories:
   
  • On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform Officer (An officer(s) who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on-duty)
  • On-Duty Difference Maker – Civilian Police Service Employee (A civilian police service employee(s) who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on-duty)
  • Community Role Model (A police officer(s) or civilian police service employee(s) who has made a difference in their community while off-duty)

• The deadline for 2021 submissions is Monday, March 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• All submissions are kept strictly confidential. No names will be disclosed without the expressed written consent of the nominator. 
• Winners will be announced during the Police Association of Ontario’s virtual Annual General Meeting in June.
• Police hero award nominees must be one of the following – an active sworn/uniform police officer or an employee of a municipal police service in Ontario (such as a 911 Dispatcher, Communications personnel, Court Services personnel, Forensics ID personnel, etc).
• Please note, as they are not members of the Police Association of Ontario, nominations will NOT be accepted for police officers or civilian police personnel with the Toronto Police or RCMP.
• Nominations must identify a specific ‘police hero’ to be recognized and identify whether they are a uniform or civilian member of their police service.
• Nominations must indicate which of the three Police Services Hero of the Year Awards categories they are nominating a ‘police hero’ for.
• Nominations must include reference to an occurrence where the ‘police hero’ has gone above and beyond the call of duty while on the job or in their community.
• Nominator must identify themselves in the submission for the purpose of verifying validity of content.
• Nominations must come from members of the public – police personnel cannot nominate each other for these awards.
• PAO Awards Committee members are ineligible for the Police Services Hero of the Year awards.

Written by Scott Mills, OPP Association with excerpts from the https://www.policehero.ca/linzi_edwards.

The OPP Association is supporting Bell Let’s Talk Day on Thursday January 28, 2021. We are committed to ending the stigma surrounding mental health, and are sharing on OPP Association social media some posts today that educate our members on what some common symptoms are, and how we as OPP Association members can access confidential professional or mental health assistance for ourselves, or anyone in our lives.

Our goal is to leave nobody behind. There are often gaps where a loved one, a friend or neighbour is not covered by benefits, and we want to ensure that it is widely known that services are available for everyone.

Peer support is always an option as well. There are many peer support services available for the law enforcement community. It is important to find the right fit for you and your needs.

The Ontario Provincial Police now have staff psychologists on the Healthy Workplace Team who are available for all of our members. These psychologists, care navigators and peer support can be accessed by members by calling the Healthy Workplace Bureau of the OPP 1-844-677-9409 or emailing: OPPHealth@opp.ca.

The Encompas Mental Wellness Program is a one stop approach for eligible OPP Association members, Commissioned Officers Association members and family members covered under benefits to care so individuals can be connected to the most appropriate mental health supports and services as easily and quickly as possible. It is a confidential and personalized experience with continual care throughout your tailored wellness journey and includes access to personal and family wellness programs, children and seniors-focused support services, virtual care support, crisis intervention specialists and mental health treatment facilities.

Highlights of the Encompas Mental Wellness Program are:

For OPPA and Retired OPP Members

•  24/7-365 access to regulated health professional case managers who will be able to triage and connect individuals to the appropriate clinical professional services
•  Experienced clinicians who have special training in law enforcement culture
•  First responder treatment facilities (exclusive centres available to active and retired OPP members when referred by the clinical professionals)
• Holistic circle-of-care inclusive of aftercare services
•  Specialized website with a secure portal for confidential access to wellness resources
• Tailored programs and assessment tools
•  Immediate crisis support
• Distance (virtual) counselling

For Eligible Dependents

• Access to an expansive list of mental health professionals in all relevant OPP locations
•  Family members can call Encompas on behalf of a member who may be reluctant to reach out to understand the services, programs and supports that are available.
• Access to aftercare resources to support the member and their family through the continuous care cycle

Contact Encompas confidentially anytime 24/7 1-866-794-9117 or online at EncompasCare.ca

For any member of the public the Ontario Government has implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic a free online mental health service for anyone who needs it. This may be appropriate for our fixed term members and full time members, in the event that a child no longer meets the definition of an eligible dependent, siblings, parents, grandparents or friends and neighbours who my be in need of mental health supports. The link to click on to sign up and access these services is led by Mind Beacon. Free therapy can be accessed by visiting the “Ontario Residents” Mid Beacon webpage.

The following are our OPP Association social media posts on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages as part of the #BellLetsTalk initiative. They are reproduced here for ease of reference. 

Depression

Common Symptoms of Depression: low mood and energy, feeling hopeless, difficulty sleeping, low self esteem, increased anxiety. Fit for duty in body and mind is our goal. For eligible OPP Association members call 24/7 1-866-794-9117 or http://EncompasCare.ca #BellLetsTalk.

Anger

It is #BellLetsTalk Day! The OPP Association is working towards ending the stigma. #EndTheStigma. Feeling angry, upset and irritable is a normal part of life. Sometimes anger can be a destructive emotion that negatively impacts our ability to communicate, our relationships, our jobs, and our health. Signs that your anger is a problem include: frequent anger, angry outbursts, struggling to compromise, ignoring people, self-harm, and cycles of ineffective behaviour. Your Encompas Mental Health Wellness program has more than 90 therapists experienced in providing safe and supportive treatment to help manage anger issues. If an eligible OPP Association member or a family member need mental health support, please visit http://EncompasCare.ca or call 1-866-794-9117.

Anxiety

Common Symptoms of Anxiety: Fatigue, Difficulty Sleeping, Difficulty Focusing, Restlessness, Racing Heart. Fit for Duty in Body and Mind. Safe and supportive treatment for eligible OPP Association members. Call 24/7 1-866-794-9117 or online http://EncompasCare.ca #mentalhealth

Mental Health Support For All

Did you know? Guided digital therapy with Mind Beacon is now available free of charge during COVID-19, which is funded by the Government of Ontario. Free therapy can only be accessed by visiting the “Ontario Residents” webpage: https://info.mindbeacon.com/btn542

Peer Support

On #BellLetsTalk Day it is important to acknowledge the many organizations who are out there working tirelessly to support our law enforcement community. This is not an exhaustive list. Thank you all for doing what you do. Together we are stronger. It is ok not to be ok #MentalHealth.

We are sharing with OPP Association members for your consideration an ask to participate in a WSIB-funded, University of Toronto led, research project about return-to-work (RTW) in Ontario police services.

The researchers are looking to recruit both civilian and sworn police service members in Ontario, both active and retired, with personal experience with RTW (either as a worker having gone through RTW after an occupational injury, or as someone managing a person who has experience with RTW after an occupational injury) to participate in this research. 

The researchers have received approval from OPP to conduct this research project and are looking to recruit participants. The following organizations are supporting the research; Ontario Provincial Police Association, Police Association of Ontario, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ontario Police Health and Safety Association.

Below is information about the project and the recruitment process. The researchers would appreciate it if you know of anyone this applies to that you forward them the information so they can consider participating. 

The Institute for Work & Health (IWH), based in Toronto, has received funding to develop a free resource that details return-to-work (RTW) practices in Ontario police services. 

To help develop this resource, the research team is recruiting both civilian and sworn police service members in Ontario with personal experience with RTW (either as a worker having gone through RTW after an occupational injury, or as someone managing a person who has experience with RTW after an occupational injury) to participate in this research. 

This study is led by Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd, from the IWH; and is funded by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). 

The IWH is an independent, not-for-profit research organization.  

Participants who volunteer to take part will be asked to participate in a 45-60-minute telephone interview. In the interview, participants will be asked to describe their experience with RTW and to describe the practices and supports available at their workplace.  

Participation in this study is voluntary and participants will receive $50 as compensation for their time, as a gift card or if preferred a donation to an organization of their choice. 

The research team carefully protects the identity of all study participants. The information shared during the interviews will remain strictly confidential and will NOT be shared with workplaces or the WSIB. 

To help with recruiting participants at your police service: simply share the survey link found below, with anyone you think may be interested in participating. This can be an individual who has gone through RTW themselves, or someone who has supported another person with their RTW. 

People who receive this link may then complete a short survey and enter their contact information if they wish to be interviewed for the study. People who receive this link can also forward it to others who they think might be interested:  

The 2-3 minute survey can be completed by clicking here:

To protect participants’ anonymity, you will not know who chooses to take the survey or who ultimately volunteers to participate in an interview. 

Feel free to contact either the project coordinator Morgane Le Pouésard at mlepouesard@iwh.on.ca; (1-416-927-2027 Ext. 2294), or the study lead Dwayne Van Eerd at dvaneerd@iwh.on.ca; (1-416-927-2027 Ext. 2138) with any questions.  

 Thank you for completing the survey if applies to you and for sharing with others who it may apply to. Your time is appreciated.

Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
Ontario Provincial Police Association

Opioid use and abuse is the startling new pandemic of our age. AND it’s affecting a wide range of people from all walks of life! 

Please join Our Health to hear from a public health nurse, a mother, an emergency room physician and a police officer as they describe the impact opioids has had on their lives and on society.

This event will be LIVE at 7:30 PM on January 21, 2021 and will broadcast on all Rogers tv Simcoe County area channels.

Rogers tv can be found on channel 10 in Barrie and Orillia, channel 53 in Midland and Collingwood, and channel 65 in the Borden/Alliston area. 

For those with smart phones, tablets or computers with a Wi-Fi connection, you can view online by clicking on this link. Once on the website, click on the “watch now window” on the left-hand side of the screen. This link works from anywhere in the world and does not require a Rogers subscription to access.

Special funding to make this event possible has been provided by the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) Head Office in Barrie, OPPA Branch 18 Orillia, OPPA Branch 7, and OPP Veterans Association Branch 18 Orillia. 

Please share the information about this upcoming event with your friends, family and colleagues.

January 9th is National #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay in the USA. The OPP Association wish our American colleagues all the best today and every day. Thank you to all of our members and colleagues across Canada as well for your continued dedication and service to our communities.

January 9th is National #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay in the USA. The OPP Association wish our American colleagues all the best today and every day. Thank you to all of our members and colleagues across Canada as well for your continued dedication and service to our communities. pic.twitter.com/tfyldbH7Cu

— OPPA (OPP Association) (@OPPAssociation) January 9, 2022

On December 24, 2020 recently retired OPP Constable Phil Nowiski tragically died in an ATV mishap near his home in Elliot Lake, Ontario. Phil served his entire policing career in Elliot Lake and was well known and well respected by the community and his colleagues. He leaves behind his wife Lesley and daughter Emily.  There will be no funeral. The OPP Association extends our condolences to all. Phil’s wife, Lesley, sent this message along to the OPP Association for publication.

Written by Lesley Nowiski December 30, 2020

So many people have asked me how I am doing and I wanted to share a few things with you all here.

The overwhelming and I mean overwhelming support I have received in the past few days is tremendous. I feel so loved and protected and that is what Phil would want.

I went to the accident site with his greatest “boyfriends” and watched as they worked together to remove the atv from the accident site. Standing back and watching them….I finally understood the brotherhood he always talked about. I felt him there saying….Lester these guys will take care of you. That is what Phil would want.

I have received over 1500 messages…Facebook, text, phone, email….with love and stories and support. That is what Phil would want.

He was larger than life. He touched so many people. I am so grateful for every single message…..it is so healing.  That is what Phil would want.

When a knock on the door the other night brought us upstairs and I could see the blue and red flashing lights….his colleagues saluting us…standing so still….that is what Phil would want.

I cannot keep this all to myself because Phil was a part of your life…a big part of the community…..and that is what Phil would want.

On Thursday I have decided to see his body and say goodbye. I need to touch him again and tell him what he meant to me. I will share with him everything you have shared. Thank you everyone for all of your support as it has made this time a tiny bit easier. Thursday is New Years Eve…have a drink for him. That is what Phil would want.

Earlier this month, our OPP members in Perth, Ontario responded to a disturbance call at a local bar.  Media and social media attention resulted. The bar owners publicly defended our officers’ conduct as professional.  Our officers acted in accordance with their training, and we stand by their actions. 

This week, myself and  members of the OPP Association attended at the bar and personally thanked the bar owners for their support of our members. We are grateful for the support of our communities that we serve, often in very stressful circumstances, especially during the added stressful times of the pandemic.

Rob Stinson
President and CEO
Ontario Provincial Police Association

Rob Stinson has been elected as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Provincial Police Association effective December 1, 2020 for a term of two years.

Rob previously served the OPP Association in Branch 7. He has over twenty years service as a front line officer with Ontario Provincial Police, most recently serving as a Patrol Sergeant at the Huronia West Detachment in the Wasaga Beach area. He previously served as a military police officer.

“The OPP Association welcomes our new President, Rob Stinson, and his commitment to the OPP Association’s collective advocacy for our members that we proudly serve.” ~ Michael Briscoe, Chief Administrative Officer of Ontario Provincial Police Association.

We are all devastated when a child tragically dies. We continue to support our members affected by an incident that occurred near Lindsay, Ontario on November 26, 2020 involving the death of a child.  It is important to wait for the facts of the final investigation. We urge anyone from the public or our members to reach out for professional mental health supports. Contact information for both public and our members is posted below.  

Mental Health resources are available for all OPP members, including direct access to our psychologists and care navigators. Contact a Care Navigator for Healthy Workplace support services, including psychological services, by calling toll-free 1-844-677-9409.  

The Ontario Provincial Police Association’s (OPPA) Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is  available to eligible OPPA and Commissioned Officers’ Association members. Call 24/7: 1-866-794-9117 or visit EncompasCare.ca. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge offers mental health supports to residents of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Peterborough and County, and Northumberland. To learn more about the programs and services they offer, visit cmhahkpr.ca or call 705-328-2704.

If you or someone you know in the City of Kawartha Lakes / Lindsay area is in crisis, call Four County Crisis at 705-745-6484 or toll-free at 1-866-995-9933.

Police are not able to comment by law on “the interaction” surrounding  SIU investigations. The following is shared for easily accessible information directly from the news release from The Special Investigations Unit dated December 3, 2020: 

On November 26, 2020, a 33-year-old man became involved in an interaction with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in the City of Kawartha Lakes. When three officers discharged their firearms at the man, the man was struck. He was airlifted to hospital. Last night at 8:40 p.m., the man succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Toronto.

What we officially know so far (from the SIU):

• During the interaction, a one-year-old boy sustained a fatal gunshot wound. His post-mortem took place on Saturday, and the SIU is awaiting this report.
• Prior to the shooting, the man’s vehicle collided with an OPP cruiser and a civilian vehicle. An officer who was outside of the cruiser – laying down a spike belt – sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. He remains in hospital in stable condition.
• The three officers who discharged their firearms were designated as subject officers. Thirteen OPP officers were designated as witness officers. Ten of the witness officers have been interviewed by SIU investigators, and the remaining three will be interviewed in the coming days.
• The Centre of Forensic Sciences is in possession of the man’s pickup truck for examination. The CFS is also in possession of a handgun that was located in the pickup truck. The three police-issued firearms that were discharged are currently with the SIU.

Media inquires for the OPP Association email: communications@oppa.ca