Our Experts. Our Allies. Our Voice.

Janie Chadwick is a passionate mental health advocate whose dedication is deeply rooted in lived experience. As a former first responder—with roles as a volunteer firefighter and Correctional Officer in both provincial youth custody and the Correctional Service of Canada—Janie brings an intimate understanding of the unique psychological and emotional challenges faced by those who serve on the front lines.

Today, Janie devotes her life to fostering healing and resilience among first responders and their families. Her message emphasizes the transformative power of surrendering to the recovery journey—an act of courage that opens the door to growth, self-compassion, and renewed well-being. Through candid speaking engagements, creative pursuits, and her love for music, she shares compelling insights on navigating trauma and embracing vulnerability as a pathway to strength.

Join us as we engage in an inspiring and meaningful conversation with Janie Chadwick—an exploration of courage, vulnerability, and the hope that comes with healing.

As a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer, Kwesi has had over a decade of experience in helping others overcome adversity and manage stress and social & emotional issues. His story, known nationally and covered in a documentary movie by the CBC, included years of public scrutiny and struggle.  You’ll ultimately see his layers of grit, tenacity and remarkable perseverance. 

In police training, its taught that when police officers have to intervene, tragedy can result.  However, just like a death in the family, you are never prepared when it happens to you.  The evening of October 14, 2007 was an evening at the Vancouver Airport that positioned Kwesi and 3 fellow officers respond to a call about a man who had violently destroyed airport property.  The conversation progressed to struggle and arrest and ended when the man Robert Dziekanski died of heart failure.

That night was only the beginning.  Over the next decade, Kwesi faced speculation, accusation and incarceration.  Through battling many issues, he has learned significant lessons about anger, forgiveness and self-awareness.  Kwesi will talk share poignant stories from harrowing difficulties to how he learned insights to both enlighten and lighten the burden of anyone struggling with adversity and self doubt.  How to overcome anxiety, hopelessness and depression through hope. 

He is now a mental Health and resilience speaker, as well as a certified wellness coach helping students, frontline workers, and high-stress organizations to overcome adversity, cope with and conquer stress, and build confidence, ultimately improved mental health.

John brings over two decades of distinguished service with the Canadian Armed Forces, having served in Germany, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. His military career included roles with both the Armoured Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Since 2015, John has devoted himself to peer support initiatives through organizations such as the Department of National Defence, OSICAN, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Over the past 10 years, he has played a pivotal role in supporting veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel navigating operational stress injuries (OSIs) and post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSIs).

With deep compassion and lived experience, John is recognized as a leader in the peer support community. His commitment to connecting individuals and families to vital mental health resources—while emphasizing the power of community and mutual support—continues to make a lasting impact.

Dave has spent more than four decades working to prevent high-risk behaviours, with a particular focus on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, child protection, and mental health. With extensive experience as a therapist, trainer, and speaker, Dave has worked closely with the Centre for Suicide Prevention in Calgary for over 30 years, helping to advance suicide intervention efforts across Canada and beyond.

Throughout his career, Dave has supported a wide range of individuals and communities, including first responders, medical professionals, social service agencies, educators, and cultural groups. His work is grounded in both developmental psychology and forensic psychology, with a strong emphasis on risk assessment and intervention for vulnerable populations.

In the area of child protection, Dave’s expertise has led to a particular focus on parenting capacity assessments, evaluating mental health, cognitive functioning, addiction, violence, and environmental stability to help ensure the safety and well-being of children.

Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training, School and Applied Child Psychology, at the University of Calgary. He has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and an MSc in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary. A registered psychologist since 1993, he has previously served as a school psychologist, program head, and clinical director. Dr. Schwartz continues to engage in private practice (PsyConsult Inc.) and provides direct service and consultation with school divisions, provincial ministries, and agencies across Canada.

Dr. Schwartz is a Researcher with the Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and he was previously the Principal Investigator on a CIHR PSP Team Grant (2020-2024) building and testing evidence-informed programs for families of first responders.

Legacy Place Society is thrilled to have Dr Schwartz share on the strengths and challenges of living in a first responder or military family

Raised in northern BC and showing horses up to a national level from a young age, Stacie  Bourdon always understood the grounding, healing power of horses—long before she had the words for it. In 2008, she began her career in federal corrections, first at Drumheller Institution and now at Edmonton Max, where the weight of trauma and violence officers face daily became impossible to ignore.

In response, and inspired by the quote “See a need, fill a need” (Robin Williams, Robots), she began bringing horses and dogs onsite to offer mental wellness breaks. The shift in staff was immediate—just being near the horses helped reduce stress, spark calm, and reconnect officers to themselves. That small act grew into CX Solid Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for proactive mental health programs like Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL), yoga, and tai chi for correctional officers.

Now a certified EAL facilitator with over 30 years of experience in the horse world, Stacie has seen how horses help people rebuild emotional regulation, trust, and self-awareness. What started with a few animals and a simple idea has grown into a team-driven effort that now supports not only correctional officers, but all first responders and veterans— Because sometimes the best listener… has four legs and no judgment.

Cpl. Nader KHALIL has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since January 2008. He began his RCMP career as a general duty police officer in Bonnyville, Alberta. In 2011, he was transferred to Edmonton, Alberta, where he worked in the Federal Drug Section. In 2014, he moved to the Calgary Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).

Cpl. KHALIL was promoted to Corporal in 2017 and served in the Calgary Integrated National Security Public Engagement unit. He is currently back with the investigative team in INSET.

In 2024 Cpl. KHALIL was formally acknowledged for his commitment and leadership within Law Enforcement, where he provided support to members facing mental health challenges, exposure to traumatic events, discrimination, and racism. Cpl. KHALIL was seen as a champion within the peer-to-peer program and EDI, ultimately receiving the EDI Leadership Award from the Command officer and the Alberta Community Justice Leadership Award, presented by the Public Minister and Justice Minister of Alberta