Open door 2023

• Start Here
• Program
• Speakers
• Event Booklet (PDF)
• Speakers Booklet (PDF)
• Resources

Opening the Door to Mental Health Symposium 2023!

"Reinventing the Path to Work-Life Harmony"

February 22 and 23, 2023, daily from 8:30am to 1:30pm PST

Brought to you by the BC Federal Council Community of Interest on Mental Health

Opening the Door to Mental Health is a two day virtual symposium on mental health and wellness organized by the Community of Interest on Mental Health and sponsored by the British Columbia Federal Council (BCFC). The theme for this year is Reinventing the Path to Work-Life Harmony. The program will provide us with expert advice, perspectives, and strategies as we navigate the challenges and changes in our evolving workplaces, all while attempting to find harmony in our daily lives.

We are not the same as before, having experienced so much change over the past three years. There is no going back and there is no final destination. There is however an opportunity to reinvent our paths by emphasizing ‘work-life harmony’. We know that work and life are never equal: there is no ‘work-life balance’. At times we work more and other times our personal life takes priority. At times the paths we forge can be flat and clear, while other times we feel like we are climbing a mountain or journeying through peaks and valleys. And at different junctures, we need a variety of tools and strategies to reach that harmony.

Managing our health is a skill that needs dedication. Knowing how, when and where to dedicate our time and effort requires both knowledge (of what works for you) and practice (actually taking action) . This year’s Symposium will cover both knowledge and practice, from an organizational perspective as well as individual strategies.

Day One we will focus on content to support building psychologically safe organizations, including panel discussions on burnout, the evolving workplace, and leadership empowerment. Sessions are from 8:30am until 1:30pm PST

Day Two we will turn inward and talk about strategies to nurture our bodies and minds, including: how to prioritize yourself, mental health healing strategies, setting boundaries, as well as powerful lived experience stories. Sessions are from 8:30am until 1:30pm PST

Registration for this virtual event will open on January 25, 2023, Bell Let's Talk Day 2023. Open to all regions, all public servants. The event sessions will be in English. Participants can pick and choose which sessions they wish to attend.

***This event is open to public servants only. Please use your Government of Canada email address to register. / Cet événement est réservé aux fonctionnaires. SVP utiliser votre adresse courriel gouvernementale pour vous y inscrire.***

*Please note that registration closes at midnight February 21st. Same day registration is not available.*

Links

Zoom links -

• Once you are registered, please login to access the Agenda, Speakers and Zoom links here: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/opend_202302/ (opens internet link)

• If you cannot access the Whova website, you can try this link instead: https://whova.com/embedded/event/GMhmZUaRf8lxSfhkID9Cy2RxPbGSVeVnLnJRNClXyHY%3D/

• If your department blocks external internet links such as this on corporate devices, you may wish to try on your personal device.

Open Door - 2023 Agenda

You can see the Agenda and Speakers here (opens internet link)

Zoom links - Once you are registered, please login to access the Agenda, Speakers and Zoom links here: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/opend_202302/ (opens internet link)

DOWNLOAD EVENT BOOKLET	Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Plenary Sessions - same Zoom link for these sessions
8:15 am – 8:30 am	Please join us a few minutes early to test your connection. Reminder: TURN OFF VPN
8:30 am – 8:40 am	EVENT MODERATORS Corey Jackson, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health and Regional Director, Policy & Economic Analysis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Renee Umezuki, Global Affairs Canada, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health, Regional Director and Senior Trade Commissioner
8:40 am – 9:00 am	INTRODUCTION Rod Cunningham, Senior Development Program Officer with the Indigenous Programs, Service Canada, Co-Chair of the Pacific Aboriginal Network
8:40 am – 9:00 am	OPENING PRAYERS AND PERFORMANCE Delhia Nahanee, Chinook Song Catchers, Nisga'a Nation and Squamish Nation· Maurice Nahanee, Chinook Song Catchers, Nisga'a Nation and Squamish Nation
9:00 am – 9:15 am	OPENING REMARKS David Didluck, BCFC Mental Health Champion and Regional Director Partnerships and Reconciliation, Fisheries and Oceans Pacific Region. Roxane Lee, Co-Executive Lead, BC Federal Council Building Black Leaders Initiative and Director General, Citizen Services, Service Canada
9:15 am – 10:00 am	INTRODUCTION Rod Cunningham, Senior Development Program Officer with the Indigenous Programs, Service Canada, Co-Chair of the Pacific Aboriginal Network
9:15 am – 10:00 am	KEYNOTE ADDRESS Dr Evan Tlesla II Adams, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada, Coast Salish actor & physician from the Tla’amin First Nation
10:00 am – 10:15 am	HEALTH BREAK Average Citizens
10:15 am – 11:00 am	Building Psychologically Safe Organizations - Setting the Stage with Dr. John Ogrodniczuk Dr John Ogrodniczuk, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychotherapy Program, University of British Columbia
11:30 am – 1:00 pm	Breakouts Sessions - Theme - Building Psychologically Safe Organizations
Breakout Sessions - individual Zoom link for each session.
11:30 am – 1:00 pm	Breakout A - Burnout Panel – Taking Action Together Teresa Martin, Moderator, National Managers Community Jessica Grass, Registered Psychotherapist, MyWorkplaceHealth Denise MacGillivray, Director General, Environmental Health and Pesticides Directorate, Regulatory, Operations and Enforcement Branch, Health Canada Per Sekon, Learning Design Specialist and Associate Faculty member, Canada School of Public Service David Russell, National Coordinator of Residential Schools at Indigenous Services Canada
11:30 am – 1:00 pm	Breakout B - The Evolving Workplace Panel Jonathan Morris, Moderator – CEO Canadian Mental Health Association Alexandra Samuel, Author, Speaker and Data Journalist Niha Shahzad, Anti-Racism Ambassadors Network (ARAN) Dr Joti Samra, Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth, Psychologist Amanda Vistman, Informal Conflict Management Practitioner (Mediator), Department of Justice Canada
11:30 am – 1:00 pm	Breakout C - Self Leadership - RISExSHINE - Helping Your Teams Learn How to Lead Themselves Introduction - Corey Jackson - Senior Development Program Officer with the Indigenous Programs, Service Canada, Co-Chair of the Pacific Aboriginal Network Jay DeMerrit, Founder/Chief Energy Officer RISExSHINE Development Program and Charity Foundation, former USA Men’s National Soccer Team & Vancouver Whitecaps Captain
Plenary Session - Same Zoom link as morning plenary
1:15 pm – 1:30 pm	MEDITATION AND GROUNDING Carole Eros, BCFC Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator

DOWNLOAD 2023 EVENT BOOKLET

Zoom links - Once you are registered, please login to access the Agenda, Speakers and Zoom links here: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/opend_202302/ (opens internet link)

DOWNLOAD EVENT BOOKLET	Thursday, February 23, 2023
Plenary Sessions - same Zoom link for these sessions
8:15 am – 8:30 am	Please join us a few minutes early to test your connection. Reminder: TURN OFF VPN
8:30 am – 8:40 am	EVENT MODERATORS Corey Jackson, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health and Regional Director, Policy & Economic Analysis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Renee Umezuki, Global Affairs Canada, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health, Regional Director and Senior Trade Commissioner
8:40 am – 9:45 am	INTRODUCTION Carole Eros, BCFC Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator
8:40 am – 9:45 am	KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Choose Yourself; Lean Out With Dr. Mary Donohue Dr Mary Donohue, CEO of the Digital Wellness Center and one of Fortune Magazine’s Business Women to Watch in 2023
9:45 am – 10:00 am	Bhangra Dance – Live with Gurdeep Pandher Gurdeep Pandher, Bhangra Dance Live
10:00 am – 10:30 am	HEALTH BREAK Average Citizens
10:30 am – 12:00 pm	Breakouts Sessions - Theme - Nurturing Our Bodies and Minds
Breakout Sessions - individual Zoom link for each session.
10:30 am – 12:00 pm	Breakout A - Healing for Mental Health Panel Jennifer Grace, Moderator, Conflict Management & Values and Ethics Consultant, Mental Health Community of Interest Coordinator Marilyn Hargreaves, Owner & Provider, Triology® Wellness Michelle Robinson, Community Development in the Community Initiatives Unit, Indigenous Services Canada Tanis Burnett, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Key Rehabilitation Services MacKenzie Pudwell, Learning Specialist, Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion
10:30 am – 12:00 pm	Breakout B - A Moment on the Edge: How Small Encounters Change Lives with Mark Henick Introduction: Corey Jackson, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health and Regional Director, Policy & Economic Analysis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Mark Henick, Mental Health Advocate and Strategist, Top 50 TEDx Speaker
10:30 am – 12:00 pm	Breakout C - Boundary Setting in Action: Creating Safety for a Black Lived Experience with Theresa Thomas Elisabeth Martin, Anti-Racism Ambassador's Network Theresa Thomas, In Power Counselling & Services
Plenary Session - Same Zoom link as morning plenary
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm	Introduction – Renee Umezuki, Co-Chair Community of Interest on Mental Health
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm	LIVED EXPERIENCE STORY - The Impacts of Racism in the Workplace on Mental Health with Olubunmi (Lee) Soyemi Olubunmi (Lee) Soyemi, FBEC, Federal Black Employee Caucus
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm	CLOSING REMARKS David Didluck, BCFC Mental Health Champion and Regional Director Partnerships and Reconciliation, Fisheries and Oceans Pacific Region Yvette-Monique Gray, Co-Chair Federal Black Employee Caucus, BC Chapter
1:15 pm – 1:30 pm	MEDITATION AND GROUNDING Carole Eros, BCFC Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator

Zoom links - Once you are registered, please login to access the Agenda, Speakers and Zoom links here: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/opend_202302/ (opens internet link)

RESOURCES

• DOWNLOAD 2023 EVENT BOOKLET (PDF) - includes resources from speakers.
• DOWNLOAD 2023 SPEAKERS BIO BOOKLET (PDF)

From the Speakers/Panelists

• Psychological Health & Resiliency Toolkit (PDF) from Dr Joti Samra, Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth, Psychologist, February 22, 2023

• Canada School of Public Service from Per Sekhon, Learning Design Specialist and Associate Faculty member, Canada School of Public Service, February 22, 2023
  • Podcasts: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/podcasts/rethinking-leadership-gc-eng.aspx
  • Online course on Mattering https://catalogue.csps-efpc.gc.ca/product?catalog=trn150&cm_locale=en
  • Thrive Learning Series https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/thrive-series/index-eng.aspx
  • Mental Health Learning Series (includes links to training, resources in the Government of Canada and other resources)
  • #GCMentalHealth: You Are Not Alone Video
  • #GCMentalHealth: Supporting a Colleague Video
  • #GCMentalHealth: Tips for Managers Video

• Unofficial List of Black Therapists in Canada (this list was accurate as of the date it was posted. Users are advised to check for new information using public sources as time goes by)
• Healing for Mental Health Breakout Resources list from Marilyn Hargreaves, Owner & Provider, Triology® Wellness, February 23, 2023
• National Managers' Community / Communauté nationales des gestionnaires . NMC/CNG Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUx0RVNgExuP3DDcAtHno2w

Government of Canada Resources

• Mental health and COVID-19 for public servants: Lead with empathy  
• Coping with workplace changes  
• Mental health and COVID-19 for public servants: Get help
• Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace's events (opens gcconnex)
• Mental Health and Wellness  

Other Resources

• Link to last year's event: Open Door 2022

Questions can be sent to Carole.Eros@dfo-mpo.gc.ca