Sgt. Beth Millard, York Regional Police

In 2013, Sgt. Beth Millard was assigned to lead the Occupational Stress Injury Project Peer Support Unit, York Regional Police (18-year member).   

Sgt. Milliard coordinates and implements mental-health training and education for York Regional Police members. She is responsible for Project Safeguard, the internal Peer Support Team, and she liaises with allied health partners including psychologists, in support of mental health for fellow officers.

Sgt.Milliard’s thesis: Project S.A.F.E.T.Y. A Leadership Strategy for Promoting the Psychological Well-Being of Police Officers, is referenced in the Ombudsman’s Report, and was used as research in the revision of the Provincial Adequacy Standard LE-036 Child Exploitation and was used in the creation of a Safeguard Program for York Regional Police. 

Sgt. Milliard has also completed numerous courses specific to mental health to assist members and to create and implement a mental health strategy for all York Regional Police employees.

Sgt. Milliard is the person responsible for the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Ombudsman of Ontario’s Report “In the Line of Duty,” https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/resources/reports-and-case-summaries/reports-on-investigations/2012/in-the-line-of-duty

Sgt. Milliard has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Criminology (University of Windsor), and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership (University of Guelph).

Sgt. Milliard She created and continues to teach the Peer Support Code of Ethics course at Simon Fraser University and have been an instructor with Georgian College in their Police Studies BA program for over 11 years.

Steve Critchley CD, CMed

Steve Critchley is a 28-year Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with deployments overseas is a Chartered Mediator who has taught conflict resolution in Canada, US, Italy, England and South Africa.

As founder of Can Praxis he has worked with over 800 participants from across Canada who have been affected by an Operational Stress Injury such as PTSD. 

He has presented at many conferences across Canada, discussing how military and paramilitary training and environments (culture) shape the response to trauma; OSIs for Veterans, First Responders, and their families; how OSI manifests in daily life (crisis and conflict); the importance of effective communication skills.