12/12/2025
Last month, I had the honour of being part of something truly meaningful!
Over the past few years, I’ve spent countless hours working with competitive athletes and sports teams - both privately and in my role as a Health & Wellness Coordinator with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.
Last season, while working with a local middle-school girls' team, I first learned about the story of Carter Morris and his tragic passing. Later that year, Carter’s mother - Terri Bell - reached out to see if I wanted to support a new initiative, one designed to close a gap that’s been overlooked for far too long.
That initiative became known as Affect 15, an event created to support youth mental wellness, especially for the small schools and community programs that often don’t have access to the same resources, funding, or support systems as the big programs.
Last week, Affect 15 came to life, and I was honoured to serve as the opening keynote speaker and event host.
The evening rounded out with a special guest speaker Sage Watson - Olympic hurdler, two-time Olympian, and Pan Am Games Champion. Sage shared her journey through sport, adversity, injury, and resilience.
Together, we closed the night with a live Q&A, unpacking what it means to compete, persevere, and grow in today’s world.
Another amazing organization in attendance was Kickstand, which offers free mental health and peer support services for young people across Alberta. They provide a safe place for youth to talk, breathe, relax, and access support...and all at no cost.
The whole evening left me inspired and reflective.
As a young athlete myself, I would have given anything to hear these messages. Growing up undiagnosed, sensitive, masked-up, and anxious…I often felt like a fish out of water. My performance anxiety eventually turned into depression and a deep fear of failure.
Events like this would’ve changed everything for me.
That’s why I’m passionate about this work, not just with youth in sport, but also with corporate groups, nonprofit organizations, and teams wanting to build healthier, more resilient cultures.
When we support people early, compassionately, and consistently...the ripple effects last a lifetime.