Year Overview from River Valley Resilience Retreat

Throughout 2024, the RVRR team has been on a mission, advocating for mental health and championing our cause at SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association), the Saskatchewan Safety Seminar, WCB Compensation Institute, the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers Wellness Conference, WCB Critical Reintegration Course, and dozens of smaller, regional meetings.

RVRR, in partnership with One Veteran Society and True Patriot Love, Canada’s Foundation for the military community, proudly hosted the annual Canadian Walk for Veterans. We are humbled and energized by the increase in participants this year, a testament to the growing support for our mission.

Closer to home, we were honored to host His Honour the Honorable Russ Mirasty, and Her Honour Donna Mirasty, as well as our various Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Representatives. Their presence bolstered our resolve and inspired us to push even harder.

During the summer, we launched our RVRR ROAD TO RESILIENCE, clearly defining our FOUR OPERATIONAL PILLARS:

RESILIENCE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Encompassing seminars, curriculum creation, client-specific programs, and large-scale delivery initiatives,

RESILIENCE TRAINING
Including train-the-trainer sessions, internal management training for clients, peer facilitator training, and specialized training such as equine-assisted learning (EAL),

RESILIENCE MESSAGING
Mental health advocacy, changing the stigma, public relations, events, fundraising & overheads, and

RESILIENCE DELIVERY
Peer support meetings, day camps and retreats, post-traumatic incident support, workplace wellness programs, team building, individual and team referrals, and program delivery.

RESILIENCE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, RESILIENCE TRAINING, and RESILIENCE MESSAGING are all structured to focus on our core strengths and deliverables, all geared towards our goal: RESILIENCE DELIVERY.

We’ve initiated the RVRR GAP Program for Public Safety Personnel in Saskatchewan. After a traumatic event, a member can submit a W-1 as a no-lost time injury and be referred to RVRR for follow-up and enrollment in peer support, including ongoing care if necessary. Similarly, any member diagnosed with OSI/PTSI referred to RVRR will receive assistance with their claim and ongoing support throughout their treatment.

Our five cabins were completed earlier this year, and our ATCO trailer and septic tank were installed. With these additions, we can now offer nine rooms for participants to stay overnight, in addition to the three rooms in the main house. The ATCO trailer required significant repairs and renovations, and we are currently collaborating with our contractors and volunteers to get those completed.

As with all construction projects, costs have increased substantially since we began these endeavors. We are fortunate to have an exceptional team of contractors who have worked diligently to stay within budget, and volunteers who have generously contributed their time, skills, and effort to assist with hauling and heavy lifting.

As we look towards 2025, our excitement is palpable. With increased demand from individuals and organizations, we must scale up. And as we scale, our operational (and capital) funding requirements will inevitably rise.

Since our founding, RVRR has been powered by its founders, board members, and a dedicated team of volunteers. Recently, as part of our five-year plan, we’ve developed a robust human resource plan. Upon securing stable, annual operational funding, we will be able to formally contract full-time and part-time team members, enhancing our capacity to serve.

RVRR has been fortunate to receive funding support from private donors, businesses, and organizations. In recent years, we’ve also garnered support from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Royal Canadian Legion’s Saskatchewan Command.

Your continued financial support is crucial. It will enable us to meet the ever-growing demand, which has been steadily increasing by over 30% each year. It will also allow us to fund our annual operational and capital requirements. Most importantly, your support will help us change the narrative around OSI/PTSI and ensure that no brother or sister falls through the cracks.

by River Valley Resilience Retreat

Year Overview from River Valley Resilience Retreat

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