On October 24, 2024, Legacy Place Society, in conjunction with the Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge Fire Services, Alberta Health Services – Emergency Medical Services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and City of Lethbridge Emergency Management and 911 will be co-hosting the 1st Annual First Responders Suicide Awareness Conference in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day.

This is an opportunity for all first responders from police, fire, EMS, 911, Canadian Armed Forces, corrections, probation, peace officers, sheriffs, fish and wild life, commercial vehicle enforcement, boarder services, animal and bylaw, security personnel, frontline medical staff, social workers, and also adult family members to come together in one place. By doing so, we can remember those we have lost to suicide, recognize many today are still suffering in silence and identify what we can do as a collective community to build resiliency and healthy workplaces through awareness and education.

First Responders are key stakeholders for our safe and healthy communities and often don’t recognize that they too also require support and care to ensure their health for a long career as well as life after their service.

Please join us to learn more about the topic of suicide, the most common concerns around mental health and addictions, how to build resiliency in today’s fast paced world and be a part of the network that is promoting understanding and compassion to reduce stigma and foster hope.

Speaker line up will continue to build as we confirm them – it’ll be incredible!

CHIEF CONSTABLE NEIL DUBORD – Legacy Place Society is grateful to have Chief Constable Neil Dubord share his journey and insights at our First Responders Suicide Awareness Conferences in Alberta! Cheif Dubord joined the Delta Police Department on June 29, 2015 after three years as Chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police and 25 years with the Edmonton Police Service where he was the Deputy Chief in charge of Community Policing Bureau.

Chief Dubord brings to the Delta Police a career of working closely with the community. Some of his career highlights include: the development and implementation of Community Action Teams, the management of the Neighborhood Empowerment Team, implementation of “The Spirit has No Colour”, a cultural competence program in support of police working in diverse communities and the advancement of a community based service delivery model.

Chief Dubord is recognized nationally as an expert in critical incident command and was the Incident Commander in the Workers Compensation Hostage Taking in Edmonton. He is past president of the National Incident Command Working Group Association, has taught nationally at the Canadian Police College and is published internationally on the topic of Incident Command and Tactical Operations. He has been awarded the Police Officer Order of Merit from the Governor General of Canada, the Police Exemplary Medal and the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal.

He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy, and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, and serves on committees for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Chief Dubord holds a Master’s degree in Leadership & Training from Royal Roads, graduated from the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development program, is a Canadian Human Resource Professional (CHRP) and successfully defended his dissertation to fulfill the requirements of his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in business from Northcentral University.

In the meatime, check out his https://www.deltapolice.ca/bend-dont-break POD CASTS!

BEN VERNON Legacy Place Society is thrilled to have Ben share at our 3 First Responder Suicide Awareness Conferences (Edmonton Sept 25, Calgary Oct 1 and Lethbridge Oct 24)…Benjamin Vernon is a Captain/Paramedic for the San Diego Fire Rescue Department. He has proudly served the citizens of San Diego for over a decade. During his career, Ben Vernon has become a member of the Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Teams and is an outstanding member of FEMA California Task Force Eight Urban Search and Rescue Team (CA-TF8). He holds five specialist positions on the team: Rescue Specialist, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Technical Search Specialist, Communications Specialist, and Medical Specialist.On June 24, 2015, Ben’s life changed when he was stabbed while responding to a “routine medical assistance” call. The incident and the ensuing ordeal left Ben with a changed perspective. He shares his story so that others, who may be going through a similar situation, can know that what they are experiencing is not their fault and that they are not alone. He wants others to know the impact that this kind of event can have on a person, and how best to help someone who is going through crisis.

DANIEL SUNDAHL Legacy Place Society is thrilled to have Daniel Sundahl speak at our Edmonton and Lethbridge First Responder Suicide Awareness Conferences on “Post Traumatic Growth Finding Benefits Within Challenges”. Daniel Sundahl (DanSun) is a published artist and writer with four (4) art books produced of his works. Articles of his work are featured in several international publications, and his art is recognized worldwide. Daniel travels internationally,speaking about his art and personal experiences with occupational stress injuries and post-traumatic growth; he is an advanced care paramedic, pre-hospital educator, retired firefighter, photographer and photo editor. He is the president and founder of The Recovery and Resiliency Foundation, a charitable organization thathelps support people living with symptoms of trauma.Daniel was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Taking up a global residency as an English language teacher in Egypt, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan, he now works fulltime as an artist, photo editor and public speaker. Daniel became a full-time paramedic and firefighter in 2003 and retired from his full-time position in 2022. He is now enrolled in a two-year counselling therapist program and will graduate in 2024 as a registered counselling therapist with the Canadian Professional Counselling Association. Check out some of his artwork at https://www.dansunphotos.com/

More information to follow