Tomorrow is the annual fundraiser for Teddy Bears Anonymous at Southland Mall. Feel free to come check us out & help us put bears into the hands of 1st Responders to give children going through a traumatic event. 🚒🚔🏥 🧸 Doing this for the kids to help them be “Unbreakable” 🙏🏻

My dog doesn’t care if the house is spotless. He doesn’t care if I bought the “right” gifts. He doesn’t judge my Christmas pajamas, my snack choices, or the fact that I’ve watched Die Hard for the 47th time. He just sits beside me tail wagging, heart open reminding me that love doesn’t need to be complicated. Be present. Find joy in the simple stuff. Nap often. Snack responsibly-ish. And love your people (and pets) like it’s the best day ever because to your dog, it is. So here’s to the dogs who stay by our side through every season the silent therapists, the belly-rub addicts, the loyal shadows who make Christmas warmer just by being here. We may be slightly fur-covered… but we are happy… grounded… and absolutely UNBREAKABLE. #Unbreakable #DogDad #DogMom #BestChristmasBuddy

Last night reminded me why giving back matters: not just for others, but for our own hearts. Photographing the Ronald McDonald House fundraiser put me right in the middle of a room full of people choosing compassion. And there’s something about witnessing that kind of kindness that shifts your whole mood. You can’t help but feel lifted. I saw the hugs, the tears, the strength of families fighting for their kids… and it reminded me that when we help others, even in small ways, we heal a little too. To everyone who showed up or gave what they could thank you. You didn’t just support families… you added a bit of light back into your own life. Helping others is one of the fastest ways to feel whole again. ❤️ Jump in on the thought I’d love to hear from you.

Most people will go their entire lives and only face a handful of traumatic events, maybe a serious car accident, maybe a medical emergency in the family, maybe one moment that shakes their world. First responders see that before lunch. I’m not saying that to complain. I’m saying it because the average taxpayer deserves to know the reality behind the uniform. Firefighters, paramedics, police and dispatchers walk into situations every single day that most people would sprint away from. They see the worst moments of someone’s life… again and again and again. And no matter how tough you are, that does something to you. You don’t just “shake it off.” You stack it. Year after year. Call after call. And yet, most first responders will never say a word. Not because they’re heroes but because they don’t want to burden anyone, complain, or sound ungrateful for the job they once loved. But here’s the truth: Mental health in emergency services isn’t a weakness issue. It’s a volume issue. It’s about exposure. It’s about repetition. It’s about carrying stories you can’t unsee. So if you take anything from this, let it be this: Next time you see a first responder understand that behind that uniform is a human being doing their best with the weight they carry and sometimes the strongest thing they ever do is simply show up again tomorrow. This isn’t a complaint. This is awareness. This is respect for the men and women who keep showing up even when the job takes pieces of them. If you’re a first responder and this hits home… Drop a comment. You’re not alone.

They don’t do it for fame or fortune. They do it because someone has to answer that call. Across this province from small towns to city streets, paramedics show up in the darkest hours of people’s lives. They’re the calm in chaos, the steady hands in the storm, the heartbeat that keeps Saskatchewan alive. They’re proud of what they do. Proud to wear that uniform. Proud to serve. But it’s time to wake up. Because the hours are long. The pay doesn’t match the weight they carry. And the toll: physical, mental, emotional is breaking even the strongest among them. They miss birthdays, sleep, and pieces of themselves to keep others breathing. This isn’t about complaints. It’s about compassion. The ones who show up for everyone else deserve a system that shows up for them. If you’ve ever been helped by a paramedic, or just want to say thank you, drop a comment below. Let’s make sure Saskatchewan hears this. Loud and clear. #EMSStrong #SaskatchewanEMS #Unbreakable #HumansBehindTheUniform #SupportOurMedics #FirstResponderLife #MentalHealthMatters