Through a generous donation and as part of its
partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada, EPS is the first policing
organization in Alberta to get OSID Blaise, a black Labrador Retriever provided
by BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.
A graduation is being held on April 14 at Police
Headquarters for Blaise and his three handlers, who are all EPS employees. They
have spent the last few weeks training with Blaise to guide him through the
process of supporting employees through mental health challenges.
“If employees are struggling and need some emotional
support, sometimes the gentlest partner makes the biggest difference,” said
Donna Munro, Director of Employee and Organizational Wellness at EPS. “Blaise
isn’t just a companion – he’s a reminder that strength comes in many forms,
including kindness. Mental health is always top of mind at EPS, and we are
always looking for opportunities to increase support and provide our employees
with tools to take responsibility for their mental health and wellness. I am so
proud of our partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada as they made all this
possible.”
Blaise’s role will be to provide emotional support for
all sworn and civilian employees of the organization. He has a gentle
disposition and is trained to recognize signs of agitation to interrupt the process
by providing a calming demeanor.
“Operational Stress Intervention Dogs (OSID) from BC
& Alberta Guide Dogs are professional working dogs that assist Trauma
Exposed Professionals in a workplace environment to achieve therapeutic goals
through specifically trained activities, and tasked behaviours, accompanied by
a highly specialized temperament,” said Mike Annan, Director of Service Dogs
with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. “These highly trained intervention dogs are
specially bred and selected for stress modulation and the capacity to absorb or
redirect tension without being overwhelmed.
“Together these specialized activities and capacities
facilitate the dogs’ ability to work with many different people. This is done
by way of assisting in achieving a wide variety of therapeutic goals as the OSID
has been specifically bred, raised and trained by BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
and our Certified Professional Service Dog Instructors in partnership with
Wounded Warriors Canada to work with and support the Edmonton Police Service
and their employee well-being.”
EPS has partnered with Wounded Warriors since 2023 to
provide mental health support services to all EPS’ active and retired
professionals. The addition of OSID Blaise is another resource in the toolbox
for employees to utilize whenever they need.
“Police officers are required to respond to critical
and potentially traumatic incidents on a daily basis,” said Scott Maxwell, CEO Wounded
Warriors Canada. “We know that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents can
have long-lasting impacts on the members and, by extension, the organization
itself. We also know the importance of being proactive and getting in front of
these situations to help members feel safe, supported and understood. That’s a
big part of the role Blaise will play with the Edmonton Police Service and
we’re extremely proud to help make this pairing possible.”