Laurier expert alert: First Responders Day

April 28, 2021
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – First Responders Day is celebrated annually on May 1 in Ontario. The day, established in 2013, is designed to recognize and honour police, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency service personnel. Wilfrid Laurier University has several experts available to speak about related topics, including burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder among first responders and how police officers respond to mental health crises in the community.

Heidi Ahonen is a professor of music therapy, the director of the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research, a registered psychotherapist and accredited music therapist. She is an expert on music therapy and its potential to support those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout and other psychological trauma. She has worked with traumatized individuals using clinical improvisation, guided imagery and music. Contact: hahonen@wlu.ca

Scott Blandford, assistant professor and program coordinator for Laurier’s Bachelor of Arts in Policing and Master of Public Safety programs, is a retired police officer with 30 years of service in operational and administrative positions. He is an expert in police training and organizational development issues. Contact: sblandford@wlu.ca

Jennifer Lavoie, associate professor in Laurier’s Departments of Criminology and Psychology, is an expert on mental health, policing, de-escalation and crisis intervention. Her current research explores the effectiveness of scenario-based training in improving how police officers respond to mental health crises in the community. Read about Lavoie’s work helping police respond to people with mental health issues. Contact: jlavoie@wlu.ca

Carrie Sanders is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology, the director of the Centre for Research on Security Practices (CRSP) and a fellow with the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She is an expert on policing and technological change; crime and intelligence analysis; police collaborations with social service providers; and women in policing. Contact: csanders@wlu.ca