Blueprint partners with fire fighters and police in B.C. to answer the call for first responder health and well-being
Three organizations committed to the health and well-being of BC's first responders have signed an agreement to continue the delivery of resiliency training for the next three years.
Blueprint has entered into partnership with the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association (BCPFFA) and the BC Police Association (BCPA).
Blueprint has entered into partnership with the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association (BCPFFA) and the BC Police Association (BCPA), the first of its kind for each organization, to formalize the delivery of an innovative health program to support the well-being of fire fighters and law enforcement personnel who are routinely exposed to operational stressors at work.
Blueprint’s First Responders Resiliency Program, a relationship-based retreat focused on the mental health and well-being of first responders across British Columbia, was developed in partnership with BC’s fire service starting in 2015, in response to the loss of a number of its members to suicide, and growing concerns about the toll of fire service work on members’ emotional, physical, and social lives.
“A career in the fire service is incredibly demanding, and no one can fully grasp what they’re committing to at the start,” said Todd Schierling, president of the BCPFFA. “Firefighters are often seen as symbols of logic, resilience, and strength, but at the core, we are human beings with a need for connection, reflection, and healing. Blueprint addresses these needs in a meaningful way, offering a human-centered approach that has proven highly effective in supporting the well-being of our members.”
Blueprint first delivered its First Responder Resiliency Program to fire fighters in BC in 2017; in 2019, a similar program for police officers was developed in collaboration with the BCPA and the Vancouver Police Union (VPU).
“While the public may be well aware of the skills and capacities needed for police to respond to public safety risks, we rarely talk about the equivalent need for professional and personal growth across the law enforcement ranks,” said Ralph Kaisers, president of the BCPA. “We must be able to provide care and support for police members, so they can develop self-awareness and new skills to deal with the immense pressures and stressors they face. They’re human beings who need to feel a sense of dignity about their profession and their work, and the Blueprint Resiliency Program is a critical piece of this puzzle.”
In 2023 and 2024, the BCPFFA and BCPA have joined Blueprint in joint presentations to the Government of British Columbia with multi-year funding requests to support continued delivery of the resiliency program.
“The reality is men die by suicide at a rate three times that of women, both nationally and in BC,” said Dr. Duncan Shields, Blueprint co-founder. “Any workplace with a disproportionally high representation of men, especially those where its workforce is frequently either exposed to traumatizing events—or working closely with those who have—should prioritize the development of a resiliency program. We have evidence it prevents upstream harm, and also provides enormous downstream benefit to families, in the workplace, and in our communities.”
In spring 2024, a research study by University of Canberra, funded by Movember Canada, showed statistically significant results from the program related to six outcome areas associated with individual mental health, workplace performance, and social relationships.
Since its inception, over 400 first responders from BC’s fire and police services have participated in the program, with program funding coming from sources that have included WorkSafeBC and private foundation grants, charitable donations, fire fighter union member dues, police association funds, local fire and police services budgets, and individual contributions from fire fighters, police participants and their families.
ABOUT BCPFFA
The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association is an organization that is comprised of the 56 locals who represent over 4,700 professional men and women fire fighters in BC. All 55 locals are members of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The BCPFFA is a service provider for its affiliates offering training and education in areas of provincial legislation, occupational health and safety, WorkSafe advocacy, financial assistance, bargaining, labour law, and advocacy for best practices in both public safety and fire fighter safety. bcpffa.net
ABOUT BCPA
The BCPA, representing the over 3,500 frontline police officers in BC, is committed to protecting and promoting the interests of our members as they serve citizens in our communities 24/7. By doing so, we will create a safer community and improve the quality of life for all citizens. Through our affiliations all municipal police forces in BC and with the Canadian Police Association (CPA) we also keep up with policing issues that affect our members and the public provincially and nationally. bc-pa.ca
ABOUT BLUEPRINT
Blueprint is a Canadian nonprofit organization founded by clinicians and academic researchers, and affiliated with University of British Columbia’s Department of Family Practice, focusing on fostering men’s well-being and helping men become healthy, contributing members of families and communities. We apply leading-edge research to develop evidence-based programs, education and training models to transform masculine norms, to reduce negative health outcomes like violence, substance use, disease and illness, and to inform policy and support systems change designed to reduce harmful behaviours.
