A local OPP officer has organized a hockey game between players from local organizations and the local high school hockey teams in a fundraising effort for a first responders support organization.
Kristina Bombay is a Mobile Crisis Response Officer with the Fort Frances OPP detachment and she has organized the game.
“It’s a fundraiser, fun hockey game to raise money for Boots on the Ground which is an anonymous helpline providing peer support for first responders across the province 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it’s completely run by volunteers,” Bombay said.
Because ice rental is not cheap, Bombay turned to Bell who offers funding to different organizations through their Let’s Talk Community Fund. While Let’s Talk Day was last week, Bombay says the organization was accommodating.
“I contacted Bell Let’s Talk and this lady that works there, Sandy, was amazing,” Bombay said. “She was like ‘I love the idea, it’s amazing I love supporting police officers and I’ve never done anything in Fort Frances, so I’d love to help, I’ll pay for your entire ice time.’ So they’ve been awesome to work with, they’re going to pay for the ice time which means all the proceeds can go to Boots On the Ground.”
The game will pit players from both the boys and girls high school hockey teams against a team made up of local first responders including members of the OPP, Treaty Three Police, Customs and Border Services Agency, Emergency Medical Services and corrections officers from the Fort Frances Jail. Bombay said that so many first responders were interested that she had to cut off signups.
“There were so many people that wanted to play for the first responders, I had to start limiting numbers of players from each organization because we just wouldn’t have bench space and everybody would get to play like one shift,” she said. “So I’ll do it again next year and Bell Let’s Talk has already said they want to support this so they’ll help again next year with the ice fees.”
First responders face many situations in the line of duty which may lead them to look for mental health support, Bombay says.
“It all depends on the person and what the call is,” she said. “It can be a motor vehicle accident or collision, and there’s a fatality, or it could be a suicide. It could be a house fire with fatalities. There’s a number of different calls that can trigger PTSD right within [a first responder]. I guess it all just depends on the person and what they see really.”
Bombay offered thanks to former Muskie hockey coach and hockey parent Shane Bliss for his help as well as Cadet Piper Cross who is a former Muskie player and now OPP cadet who helped reach out to her former classmates and teammates.
In a recent release, the Ontario government announced that it is building Canada’s first dedicated post-traumatic stress injury treatment centres for first responders. In that release, President of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs Greg Sage said first responders often encounter situations that result in post-traumatic stress injuries.
“Paramedics encounter situations that put them at a high risk for PTSD and other mental health challenges, as such they require access to specialized treatment options in a timely manner,” he said. “These new mental health and rehabilitative treatment services that are tailored to first responders and frontline healthcare providers will ensure that those who serve the citizens of Ontario receive the care they require to remain healthy so they are able to continue to serve and care for our communities…”
“The province’s investment will support the construction of two new facilities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to deliver comprehensive PTSI rehabilitation-focused programs and services tailored to the needs of first responders and support them throughout their journey to recovery. Services include mental health assessments, rehabilitation and residential treatment, virtual care, 24/7 crisis support, peer support and navigation support,” the release said.”
The fundraising game for Boots on the Ground will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 with puck drop at 6:45 p.m. at Ice For Kids Arena. Entry is $5, kids 10 and under are free.
First responders in need of mental health support can call 1-833-677-BOOT (2668). Anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide can call the national suicide support hotline at 9-8-8.
