The Honourable George Smitherman
Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Province of Ontario
"Emergency services workers are a vital part of Ontario's health care system, yet their contributions and personal sacrifices are frequently overlooked. These professionals are called upon time and time again to respond to life-or-death situations, often putting their own lives at risk."
Mr. Jay C. Hope
Commissioner of Community Safety, Province of Ontario
"I have enjoyed a long and rewarding career in policing and now embark on a similar journey as Commissioner of Community Safety with responsibility for emergency management in Ontario. Over the years I have witnessed countless men and women who were in need of help due to involvement in a critical incident. In some cases they availed themselves of it, an in others, sadly, they did not. All too often, emergency responders believe they can fix what ails them on their own, all the while, suffering in silence. We know that the suffering is never really silent though as its impacts often hurt those closest to us and may result in domestic abuse, substance abuse and in extreme cases, death."
Chief Julian Fantino
City of Toronto Police Services
"Emergency Services' personnel are often faced with traumatic and emotional circumstances and are exposed to tragic events such as the horrific and incomprehensible acts of terrorism on September 11th, 2001. Exposure to these types of situations can and does affect all those who offer assistance and we must help the men and women who are so willing to sacrifice themselves for others."
Message from Dr. Brian Schwartz, MD
Director - Sunnybrook Osler Centre for Pre-Hospital Care
"The interaction of emergency services personnel with those they care for is a sentinel event in the lives of all involved. Endeavours, such as yours, express the fact that we all must not only care for our patients, but also for ourselves and each other. As physicians, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, police officers and others who provide support and comfort, we must recognize that our lives are impacted each time we care."
Chief Steve Rapanos
President, Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada
City of Edmonton - Emergency Medical Services
"Emergency medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and hospital staff are exposed to traumatic events the rest of the world never sees, hears, smells or touches. Those events - and the memories of them - take a toll on us and our families. We have all been in situations that have forced us to rely on our our personal coping mechanisms. But sometimes those mechanisms are not enough. The Tema Conter Memorial Trust is getting the message out that sometimes the helpers need help too."
Mr. Robert Burgess, A-EMCA, ACP
President, Ontario Paramedic Association
"Your leadership has brought attention to the very important issue of critical incident stress related to the practice of out-of-hospital medicine. There are few issues in our profession that are clouded with such bewilderment as this. Your initiative will improve the lives of practitioners as they continue to care for the sick and injured under the most adverse circumstances in health care."
Testimonials
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The Honourable Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
2000 to 2006
"In recognition of your establishment of The Tema Conter Memorial Trust to improve the understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Critical Incident Stress.
And with sincere appreciation for your contribution to the well being of your fellow citizens."
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
2007 to Present
For firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and members of the Canadian military in-theatre, traumatic events are part and parcel of everyday routine."
