Originally posted: April 30, 2024
After nearly five years supervising the EWU, Dave has moved to 2120 Cambie to supervise the special municipal constables in the Community Safety Unit (even side). What a great fit that will be!
Dave accomplished a lot in 4-and-3/4 years in the EWU:
- 2019 became first full-time Employee Wellness Unit (EWU) Supervisor-supporting the CISM Team, Peer Support Team, and the Physical Health & Performance Team
- Organized and obtained funding for the first annual wellness workshop – to look after for the Peer Support/CISM Team and for subsequent years
- Helped build and participate in the first and subsequent VPD Let’s Talk Mental Health videos
- Instrumental in obtaining Vancouver Police Foundation funding and approval for the Wellness Accredited Facility Dog (AFD) program; became a secondary PADS AFD handler
- Received funding and approval for Trauma Resiliency Training (TRT) “Train the Trainer” course for 17 VPD employees to present the program, so far 16 TRT sessions to 195 VPD employees
- Secured a second EWU Office at Cambie
- Advocated for additional Physical Health & Performance Team office/treatment rooms
- Arranged for onsite mobile Breast Screening Program through the BC Cancer agency
- Helped navigate the process and approval for onsite external therapy services through the City of Vancouver
- Helped retired members get WSBC claims
- Worked closely with Wounded Warriors Canada to send VPD employees to a variety of their mental health programs
- Advocated for fulltime fitness coordinator position and two part-time athletic therapists
- Has helped build a closer relationship with the Chaplaincy Program
- Has been part of several external committees for mental health initiatives
- Endorsed EWU rebranding, increased CISM Peer Support Team to 35 part-time members, and endorsed CISM “Standby” pay
- Along with Becky, was instrumental in arranging in-house Kintec Orthotics clinics and the BC Cancer Mobile Breast screening clinic
- Received Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2023
It’s hard to see someone leave, but change is good!
This week we welcome Sgt. Chris Berda as our new supervisor. Chris started volunteering on the CISM team in 2008 and has been a valuable contributing member ever since (expect when he took a break from the team while he was working in HR). While Chris has always been a companionate guy, his lived experience through the police-involved shooting at Science World in 2016, IIO and OPCC investigations, chronic pain, a hip replacement, and the loss of his brother to suicide means that he knows, too well, the impact of occupational and personal stress.
Chris, welcome, we are very lucky and excited to have you lead our team!