First Responders Symposium brings wellness to Nova Scotia’s frontline staff

Brianne Foley chats with one of the coordinators of the upcoming First Responders Wellness Symposium.

First responders get called to be there for people during life’s emergencies but an event on Nova Scotia’s South Shore is going to be there for them.

The third annual First Responders Wellness Symposium takes place on Saturday, April 26 at the NSCC Lunenburg Campus in Bridgewater, N.S.

Sgt. Kevin Pick works with the Kentville Police Service. He said the event was started to help first responders take care of their health.

“First responders are notorious about giving themselves to others,” Pick said. “Not necessarily always so great at taking care of ourselves.”

Pick said the event was started by like-minded first responders to encourage peer support and wellness but he doesn’t take any of the credit.

“Wendy Rafuse trained a lot of us,” Pick said, “This has been her baby from day one.”

Rafuse is the chairperson of the Nova Scotia Fire Service Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team.

The first symposium was cancelled because of Hurricane Fiona, but Pick said it’s gathered steam since then.

“We’ve brought together people who have professions that can help out first responders,” Pick said.

Wellness sessions are scheduled throughout the day, including what Pick calls “traditional” wellness offerings alongside programs like funeral and will preparation.

“We’re in a profession where one of our participants said, ‘You know, tomorrow’s not guaranteed,‘” Pick said. “So it’s that stuff that we come to reality to think about and put forward.”

Pick said all first responders are welcome, including those outside the traditional three.

“We always think fire, police and EHS but there’s so many more.”

Pick said first responders include tow truck drivers, emergency room doctors, nurses and media who report accidents.

“We do it for the wellbeing of everyone,” Pick said.

The First Responders Wellness Symposium partnered with the Tema Foundation in memory of Tema Conter who was murdered in 1988. The Foundation began to support mental health among first responders and frontline workers and their loved ones.

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