Event Date: Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

Event Time: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm AST

Location: Cedar Event Centre, 111 Clayton Park Drive, Halifax

ACCOMODATIONS

Chateau Bedford Hotel & Suites | 133 Kearney Lake Road, Halifax, NS B3M 4P3

Conference attendees can reserve a room at the rate of $160 CAN per night + taxes. This rate is available until April 5th, 2025 and has limited capacity. We encourage you to book your room early if required. The room rate includes dates from May 5th – May 7th, 2025 for any guests wishing to arrive early or stay later to explore the area.

Reservations can be made through the booking lin k, by calling local at 902.445.1100 and quoting you want to book under the ‘Tema Foundation 2025 Group Block’.

Register your seat today!

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER SESSION

The Capacity to Overcome: Fostering high performance and well-being through community

What is resilience? Is it an individual trait, or does it emerge from cohesive teams and supportive recovery environments? Drawing insights from sport psychology, disaster relief, and elite military and first responder teams, Dr. Shields will explore the connection between resilience, high performance, and overcoming adversity. Discover how to “control the controllables” and embrace the challenge to lead—no matter your position—by fostering collaboration, supporting performance, and prioritizing well-being for yourself and others. READ DUNCAN’S BI O

SESSION INFO

Understanding the Impact of Parental Mental Health on Children

Paul Bromby, author of The Backpack, will lead a workshop exploring how children may unknowingly carry the emotional burdens of a parent’s mental health struggles. Designed for first responders and frontline workers and, heatlhcare professionals, this session offers insights into recognizing these impacts and practical strategies to support children and families with empathy and care. R EAD PAUL’S BIO

SESSION INFO

Nervous System Recalibration© Move from prevention, into preparation

Nervous System Recalibration© creates a framework for a healthy tactical-to practical response within the operator. Calming down or grounding are not always the answer. NSR© means recalibrating your nervous system to be more efficient both on and off duty. This enhances judgement, while also ensuring your tactical skills remain available. READ DOUG’S BIO

SESSION INFO

From service to strength: My journey of recovery through sport

A veteran and mental health ambassador’s journey of resilience, from mental health challenges to recovery through sport leadership at two Invictus Games. READ NATACHA’S BI O

Afghanistan Deployment, Another Story with Natacha Dupu is

SESSION INFO

My Journey to Resilience

On June 12th, 2022, while on duty as a police officer, Deven experienced a traumatic incident that left him with both physical and psychological injuries, pushing him into a state of crisis. Alongside traditional treatment, he turned to fitness, cold water therapy, and meditation—key practices that played a vital role in his full return to active duty just six months later.

Deven founded Resilience Through Fitness to help First Responders and civilians alike harness the power of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices as tools for overcoming life’s challenges. READ DEVEN’S BIO

SESSION INFO

Drive to Decompress

The Drive to Decompress explores using the commute as a transition to unwind from high-intensity roles. By creating intentional rituals – whether through music, mindfulness or technology limits-first responders and healthcare workers can improve their work-life balance and mental well-being, arriving home more present, grounded, and ready to connect. READ HELEN’S BIO