OSI-CAN Alberta

04/29/2026

OSI-CAN’s Grande Prairie peer support group meets online the first Tuesday of the month at 7 pm.

📅 The next meeting is Tuesday, May 5, 2026

This is a free, confidential and supportive group for any military members, Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel who have been impacted by trauma.

This group is available to anyone in the above services whether you live in the Grande Prairie area or not.

If you are interested, need to find the location or have any questions reach out to jtrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca.

04/28/2026

OSI-CAN’s Calgary peer support group meets online and in-person every second Tuesday at 11:30 am, 3:00 pm, and 6:30 pm in a safe, private, and confidential location. Attend online or in-person.

📅 Upcoming meetings:
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

This is a free, confidential and supportive group for any military members, Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel who have been impacted by trauma.

This group is available to anyone in the above services whether you live in the Calgary area or not.

If you are interested, need to find the location or have any questions reach out to jtrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca.

04/27/2026

Hello All,
One of our participants is certified and offering this locally in Medicine Hat, to those interested...

04/27/2026

OSI-CAN’s Edmonton peer support group meets online every Thursday at 11:00 am and 6:30 pm.

📅 Upcoming meetings:
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Thursday, May 28, 2026

This is a free, confidential and supportive group for any military members, Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel who have been impacted by trauma.

This group is available to anyone in the above services whether you live in the Edmonton area or not.

If you are interested, need to find the location or have any questions reach out to jtrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca.

04/22/2026

Why Community Support Works

There’s something powerful that happens when you sit across from someone who gets it—not from a textbook, not from training, but from lived experience.

For Veterans and first responders, the weight of the job doesn’t always stay at work. It follows you home, into your relationships, your sleep, your sense of self. And too often, the spaces meant to help can feel clinical, distant, or hard to relate to.

That’s where community-based, lived experience peer support and education changes everything.

It replaces “What’s wrong with you?” with “I’ve been there too.”
It turns isolation into connection.
It builds trust faster, because there’s no need to explain the culture, the dark humour, or the things you’ve seen—you’re already understood.

Peer support isn’t about fixing someone. It’s about walking alongside them. It’s about creating a space where people can speak honestly without fear of judgment, career impact, or stigma.

And when that support exists in the community—not just inside organizations—it becomes accessible, consistent, and human. It reminds people they’re not alone, not broken, and not beyond hope.

Real change happens in connection.
Real healing happens in community.

That’s why lived experience peer support works.

04/21/2026

Why OSI-CAN Alberta?

Too often, Veterans and First Responders are expected to carry the weight of their experiences quietly — to push through, to manage, to “handle it.”

But over time, that weight shows up.
In stress. In isolation. In relationships. In how you see yourself and the world around you.

OSI-CAN Alberta exists because no one should have to navigate that alone.

We provide a space where people with shared experiences can come together — not just to talk, but to understand what’s actually happening beneath the surface. A place where conversations about operational stress, grief, and the lasting impacts of service are normalized, not avoided.

This isn’t about labels or diagnoses.
It’s about connection, education, and growth.

Because when people understand their experiences, they’re better equipped to move forward — not just to cope, but to rebuild, reconnect, and in many cases, grow in ways they didn’t think were possible.

That’s why this matters.

If you’re a Veteran, First Responder or Public Safety Personnel and something here resonates with you, reach out.

JTrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca

👉 Send us a message
👉 Ask questions
👉 Join a group

OSI-CAN Alberta is here to make sure you don’t have to figure this out on your own.

04/21/2026

Join us for Edmonton’s 2026 First Responders Half Marathon!

📅 Sunday, May 3
📍 Laurier Park

Participate in a 21k, 10k, 5k, or 1k fun run. If you can’t participate, you can support us by making a donation.

The marathon supports OSI-CAN Alberta, a program of CMHA Alberta and Centre for Su***de Prevention.

Learn more and sign up today: http://www.firstrespondershalfmarathon.ca/edmonton

04/20/2026

Hello All,
We would like to share the information for a few different upcoming events which are being hosted by our friends and colleagues from Wayfinders Wellness Society. For more information on these events, please reach out to the host organization. They will be able to assist with Registration and provide any further info you may be looking for.

Be Well, Have Faith and Be Grateful

04/20/2026

Mental health challenges don’t always show up the way people expect.

In many workplaces—especially in high-stress roles like first responders and military service—the impacts of trauma, stress, and operational strain can sometimes be misunderstood. What may actually be a mental health concern can instead be labelled as a performance issue, an attitude problem, or a disciplinary matter.

When that happens, it can create something known as sanctuary trauma—where the very system or organization that’s supposed to provide support ends up feeling unsafe. Instead of finding understanding, individuals may feel judged, isolated, or silenced. And that can make it even harder to reach out.

At OSI-CAN Alberta, we understand that reality.

Our peer support groups are built to be a different kind of space—one grounded in respect, shared experience, and psychological safety. You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to be at a breaking point. You just need to be willing to show up and be part of a conversation that acknowledges the real impacts of the work you do.

We talk about things like:
• The hidden impacts of operational stress
• Grief and loss
• Resilience and recovery
• Post-traumatic growth

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood or like your experiences have been minimized or misinterpreted, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate it alone either.

Reach out. Ask questions. Come check out a group.

Because the right environment can make all the difference.

Interested? Contact our Service Coordinator: JTrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca

OSI-CAN is an Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative. OSI-CAN offers Peer Support Groups, Family Support Groups, assistance with service dog acquisition, and referrals to equine therapy programs

04/18/2026

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out to us—but haven’t yet—you’re not alone.

A lot of people sit on the fence for a while. Wondering if it’s “for them.” Questioning whether their experiences are “serious enough.” Or just not knowing what to expect if they take the first step.

At OSI-CAN Alberta, there’s no threshold you have to meet to show up. You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to be in crisis. And you definitely don’t need to have everything figured out.

Our groups are built for real people, having real conversations—about things like stress, trauma, grief, resilience, and growth. Some people come to better understand what they’ve been through. Others come to learn how to manage the impacts. Many just want a space where they don’t have to explain everything; we offer that.

You can join quietly, just listen, and take it at your own pace. No pressure. No expectations.

If you’ve been on the fence, this might be the sign to take that first small step. Reach out, ask a question, or come see what it’s all about.

We’re here when you’re ready.

If you are willing to take that step, contact our Provincial Service Coordinator: JTrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca

www.osicanab.ca

04/18/2026

You don’t have to be at your lowest point to start taking care of your mental health.

At OSI-CAN Alberta, we welcome Military Members/Veterans, First Responders, public safety personnel and those who support them—whether you're doing well, having a tough time, or just looking to better understand yourself and others. There’s no requirement for our participants to have a diagnosis, and no expectation that you’re struggling to attend.

Our groups are educational, supportive, and grounded in real conversations. Together, we explore topics like:
• The impacts of PTSD and operational stress injuries
• Grief and loss
• Resilience and coping strategies
• Post-traumatic growth and moving forward

This is a space to learn, connect, and build tools that support long-term wellness—at any stage of your journey.

If you’ve been curious about what OSI-CAN Alberta does, consider this your invitation to check us out. Reach out to learn more or to join a group—we’d be glad to have you!

Contact our Provincial Service Coordinator:
Jtrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca

www.osicanab.ca

04/17/2026

You’ve seen things.
Handled pressure most people will never understand.
Carried it, pushed through it, kept going.

But here’s the part nobody teaches you:

How to actually process it.
How to make sense of what it does to you.
How to come out stronger—not just survive it.

That’s what OSI-CAN Alberta is about.

This isn’t therapy.
This isn’t a label.
And this isn’t about being “in crisis.”

It’s about:

• Understanding how stress and trauma actually affect your brain
• Learning practical tools to stay grounded and in control
• Building resilience that lasts beyond the job
• Exploring concepts like post-traumatic growth and “struggling well”
• Connecting with people who get it—without pressure or expectations.

Whether you’re doing fine, trying your best holding it together, or just curious…

You belong here.

No diagnosis required.
No judgment.
Just real conversations and real tools.

Join a session. Learn something useful. Take away what works best for you.

Want more information?
Contact: JTrenholm@osi-can-ab.ca

OSI-CAN is an Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative. OSI-CAN offers Peer Support Groups, Family Support Groups, assistance with service dog acquisition, and referrals to equine therapy programs