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@brantmarc
Residents throughout the County of Brant have concerns with the loss of heritage buildings and the rapid pace of development and sprawl. Today as this video is being released, the demolition of the Royal Hotel building is being completed. We present some thoughtful critique and advice for Smart Growth from people who are (or were recently) candidates for the County of Brant and Brantford-Brant.
Read the full story at: https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/brant-ward-2-meet-the-candidates
Full story at: http://www.ignitenews.ca/municipal-candidates-look-to-improve-youth-voter-turnout/
French-language video for an upcoming educational project that pairs with recent Mental Health Awareness series of books being published at Emond by Stephanie Miloknay, MSW and myself. The goal of this series and now video series is to help first responder groups engage successfully with persons living with mental health issues. Also, a great deal of focus on self-care to prevent similar issues from occurring to first responders.
Helping professionals require help too.
Big thanks to Photohouse Studio for their videography talent on this project.
From the front page of the June 8th edition of the Brantford Expositor giving some commentary about the 2018 provincial election race in Brantford-Brant in support of Alex Felsky and giving kudos to all the major campaigns locally for their clean and above the board campaigning.
Lucas Duguid and Miles Hosie are joined by Marc Laferriere to discuss Public Transportation and the importance of voting in elections for the #JustFingVote campaign.
Nominations open Tuesday for municipal vote
Municipal election campaigns in Brantford and Brant County begin Tuesday with the opening of the nomination period for the Oct. 22 vote.
Under new provincial rules, the nomination period for candidates for municipal councils and public and separate school boards opens May 1 during normal office hours and runs until July 27 at 2 p.m.
Several contenders for the top jobs in the city and the county announced their intentions months ago.
In the county, there is one seat to watch in Ward 1. Coun. Willem Bouma is on the campaign trail as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Brantford-Brant in the June 7 provincial election. But that election will be over before the deadline to register as a candidate in the municipal election, giving him time to return to county politics if he does not win provincially.
The other Ward 1 councillor, John Wheat, said he has "no idea" what he will do this time, saying there is still a lot of time before must make a decision.
In Ward 2, Coun. Shirley Simons has said she will seek re-election. Marc Laferriere, a New Democratic Party candidate in two past federal elections, has said he plans to seek a council seat in Ward 2.
In Ward 3, councillors John Peirce and Murray Powell have yet to announce whether they will run again.
In Ward 4, councillors Robert Chambers and David Miller are still considering their options.
In Ward 5, Coun. Brian Coleman said he's game to run for a fifth term. Full story at: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2018/04/30/nominations-open-tuesday-for-municipal-vote
Blue Line Magazine Review of Mental Health Awareness: Practical Skills for First Responders:
"Complete and concise...I would strongly urge frontline emergency training academies and all police services to consider using this text to inform or instruct all staff."
- Chief Stehen J. Tanner
Halton Regional Police Service
Full review: https://www.blueline.ca/opinion/off-the-shelf/mental-health-awareness-practical-skills-for-first-responders-by-stephanie-miloknay-and-marc-laferriere-5307
I have had the privilege of serving as a police officer for just over 35 years, spending the last 16 as Chief of Police in Belleville, Kingston and, more recently, back home in Halton Region. Prior to that I worked in the frontlines and investigative units, where I experienced first-hand the complex world of policing and its intersection with mental health and addictions. There is no doubt in my mind this complexity impacts all frontline emergency service agencies as well as health and social service providers. There is no doubt that mental health is front and centre in so much of what our staff now do, and it is incumbent on us, at all levels within our agencies, to ensure adequate training and support. When I was asked to review Mental Health Awareness: Practical Skills for First Responders I was unsure of what to expect. I found a text that was complete and concise, that covered so many aspects of mental health, and that looked at addictions and dependencies — plus the societal issues that impact frontline service providers — from all perspectives. This book could not have been written by anyone except individuals with a strong background in emergency services, policing and mental health. Stephanie Miloknay and Mark Laferriere clearly have this expertise. This book not only details the variety of mental health issues that a frontline emergency service worker will encounter and need to understand, it also provides numerous practical examples of the varied issues. These examples will lead to meaningful discussion and reflection, and ultimately maximize the learning experience. I was thoroughly impressed by the content and layout of this text. I would strongly urge frontline emergency training academies and all police services to consider using this text to inform or instruct all staff. - Chief Stephen J. Tanner, Halton Regional Police Service
Transit Talk and JustFingVote
Happy to support a local campaign designed to increase millennial voter turnout called #JustFingVote. More information on that campaign can be found at http://justfingvote.ca
As part of my support for the campaign I appeared on a video segment that will help young voters connect democratic concepts to parts of their everyday lives. My segment was on advocacy around public transit - an important issue for young people in our county and region.
Will share the video when it is available.
Book Review: Mental Health Awareness: Self-Care for First Responders by Stephanie Miloknay and Marc Laferriere
by Dr. Peter Collins, OPP
https://www.blueline.ca/opinion/off-the-shelf/mental-health-awareness-self-care-for-first-responders-by-stephanie-miloknay-and-marc-laferriere-5166
The cost of caring can be high. Stress has the potential to affect one’s physical and mental health. As an operational forensic psychiatrist with law enforcement, and as a retired military psychiatrist who has served in war zones, I am acutely aware that first responders are at a higher risk for stress-related illness. Police officers, for example, have an incidence of duty-related stress injury anywhere from 8 to 32 per cent higher than non-first responders. Even if first responders don’t meet the full diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sub-threshold PTSD can also be debilitating. Stephanie Miloknay and Marc Laferriere understand the unique challenges faced by first responders and have written a concise manual that is appropriate for both the novice and the experienced first responder. In addition to addressing the impact of abnormal stress, they offer practical suggestions for physical and psychological self-care in response to stressful events, including a concise identification and intervention guide. This handbook also contains a checklist for physical and emotional well-being, as well as a place to track personal self-care goals and outcomes. This publication is not just theoretical — Miloknay is a retired sergeant from the Halton Regional Police Service, a social worker and a professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont. Laferriere is a professor of Justice Studies at Mohawk College and an award-winning educator in the area of mental health, systems change and community development. In my professional opinion, Miloknay and Laferriere’s Mental Health Awareness: Self-Care for First Responders should be the “go-to” text found in the duty bags of all emergency professionals. It is also a valuable instructional manual to be used in the classroom training of firefighters, EMS and law enforcement personnel.
Step by step towards mental health
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2018/01/15/step-by-step-towards-mental-health
More than 70 people, including musicians, health-care professionals and survivors of mental illness, gathered Monday to share their stories for KickBack, a 12-hour mental-health symposium televised on Rogers TV Cable 20.
Among them was Garry Stephens of Kitchener-Waterloo.
"I'm doing much better now thanks to my family and the peer-support program," said Stevens, who is now a peer support coach for a program run by the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington, which is based in Guelph.
There was a time when Stephens had lost touch with reality.
"I wasn't eating, sleeping or taking care of myself properly," said Stephens, who appeared on the program with his mother, Linda Ockwell-Jenner.
Getting better was a step-by-step process For Stephens.
For his family, it was a matter of recognizing it would take time for him to get better, said Ockwell-Jenner.
"We had to accept that it's not something that's going to be done overnight," she said.
Brantford musician Shaun Mulrain talked about how he has had to contend with attention deficit disorder and anxiety for much of his life.
He later learned that a big source of anxiety was not being true to himself.
Music is a big part of who he is but it was being suppressed as he pursued what most would call a more normal path of working for a living.
He's now taking his love of music and its healing effects to workplaces by offering music lessons to give employees a break from their computer screens and a chance to learn something knew.
"We have to keep learning; it's part of who we are," said Mulrain. "If we don't do it, we stagnate."
Angela Hanlon, a naturopath at Brantford's Holistic Healing Arts Centre, talked about the impact that triggers, or stressors, can have on people.
Lori-Dawn Cavin is Brantford's manager of community recreation development.
She said that the municipality has a lot of programs for people to enjoy. But there are activities that people can do on their own.
"I know it's cold right now but bundling up and going for a walk through a nice park or on our trail system can do a lot to help your mood."
Monday, January 15, 2018 - Kick Back: Blue Monday
It's the most depressing day of the year. Rogers tv shares inspiring stories, mental health resources and uplifting segments to get you through the day.
Here Marc Laferriere and Lucas Duguid interview powerlifting coach Mike Parsons and Stand Up Comedian Clifford Myers about their own battles with mental health in their careers:
http://rogerstv.com/media?lid=237&rid=7&gid=288161
Here Marc and Lucas can be seen at the 1hr mark hosting an hour of Kickback speaking to families and professionals about mental health dynamics in our region:
http://rogerstv.com/media?lid=237&rid=7&gid=288154
Among those scheduled to participate are representatives from the Brant County Health Unit, Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services and Inkblot Therapy, an online counselling service. The City of Brantford, Movember Foundation and Welcome Inn are among the organizations participating. The programming also will include personal trainers demonstrating ways to relieve stress and musicians. “We’re going to be talking about some pretty heavy subjects, so we wanted some balance in the programming and we arranged for the personal trainers, as well as music,” Strasser says. The event also will feature several co-hosts, including Marc Laferriere, Lucas Duguid and Matt Joniec. Laferriere is a professor of social work at Mohawk College, who ran unsuccessfully for the NDP locally in two past federal elections. He recently announced his intention to run for Brant County council. Duguid is the creative director and co-owner of Octopus Red, a graphic design, web development, advertising and marketing firm in Brantford. Octopus Red has been involved in several community campaigns including the Fentanyl Can Kill Initiative and a campaign against domestic violence. And Joniec is the creative director at Fat Panda Studios, a video production studio in Brantford. He is also vice-president of the Millennial Network Group. The program also will be shown on the Rogers TV social media page and at www.rogerstv.com. “This is something that’s important to me and to a lot of other people,” Strasser says. “I know in my family we’ve struggled with mental health issues, like depression and anxiety. I’ve always been able to listen but I think, like a lot of other people, I want to be able to do more and that’s what KickBack is all about.”
Laferriere seeking municipal seat
By Michael-Allan Marion, Brantford Expositor
Thursday, January 4, 2018
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2018/01/04/laferriere-seeking-municipal-seat
PARIS – Local political and social advocate Marc Laferriere says he is taking his message of change from the federal to the municipal scene.
After unsuccessful runs as the standard bearer for the Brant New Democrats in the 2011 and 2015 federal elections, Laferriere has confirmed that he will contest a county council seat in a Paris ward in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
The 36-year-old confirmed Thursday that he will run in either Ward 2 or Ward 3 and will declare his intentions soon.
Laferriere explained that he and his wife, Rebekah, and their two children live on Willow Street, on the Ward 2 side of the boundary line between the two wards and they have lived in both during the decade they have resided in Paris.
He also said in his two federal election forays he campaigned extensively in both wards.
“I love Paris. We have become heavily involved in life here,” said Laferriere, who grew up in Eagle Place in Brantford and has lived in the area most of his life.
Ward 2 is represented by Shirley Simons, who said she intends to run again for council, and Don Cardy, who has announced that he is running for mayor.
Ward 3 is held by councillors John Peirce and Murray Powell, who have not announced their intentions.
Laferriere said he will pursue a campaign focused on fostering social change that reflects the demographic transformation going on in Paris and other expanding Brant communities.
“It is not just a question of providing the physical infrastructure to support growth, it’s also important to foster social infrastructure,” he said.
“We need mechanisms to allow council to hear all the voices in our communities and their needs, more than what the county has traditionally offered. I listen carefully to what people say in our community and there are many who feel they are not really listened to.
“We have had a lot of the same old attitudes on council and nothing is changing. We need fresh eyes and newer councillors who listen to the community and understand it at the grassroots level.”
Laferriere is a justice studies professor at Mohawk College’s school of community and urban studies. He is an award-winning educator and has been featured on a variety of television and print publications discussing issues of mental health, system change and community development.
He is the recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal for his efforts in social work, child and youth work and community advocacy.”
A holder of bachelor and master’s degrees in social work, Laferriere has been a clinical social worker for Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services and previously served in various youth and children’s organizations, and worked at the Grand River Community Health Centre.
@expMarion
How sharing experiences and stories can lead the way to a better future. Empowerment regardless of position or authority. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Photo from my recent TEDx Talk at Laurier.
More information about the event: http://tedxwlubrantford.com/#home
Video to follow
Two columns debating one another.
The first from Conestoga College President John Tibbits.
The second by Marc Laferriere.
This was in regarded to temporary, precarious and contract work.