North Glengarry Fire Department Chief Matthew Roy told council on Monday, October 27, that the department will receive $25,000 for specialized mental health and resiliency programs. The Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel Program, organized by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Warrior Health, aims to address the unique occupational stress injuries commonly experienced by public safety personnel.
The program subsidizes the cost of mental health and resiliency training.
Roy said the department applied for the grant in July and received approval on September 29.
The $25,000 must be spent by March 31, 2026, and will give the department access to Warrior Health’s fee-for-service supports offered by Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Trillium Health Partners, and Boots on the Ground.
Available programs include general wellness and mindfulness training, peer and leadership development, stigma-reduction initiatives, and pre-employment mental health screenings and recruitment tools.
Councillor Michael Madden asked whether the programs would also extend to families of first responders.
Roy said some programs include family members, depending on the type of program selected.
Councillor Brian Caddell then asked whether the courses would be offered in person or online, and if they would be taken individually or as a group.
Roy said in-person training would generally be team-oriented, while some programs would be available individually and accessible at any time.
Council unanimously approved the report without further discussion.