Gavin Hayes is a retired Staff Sergeant who started his career at 18 years of age and served 31 years in municipal policing. His career was one that others called “active”, the officer who you would need to keep track of or listen to the reflection in their voice to realize something was amiss. Gavin retied in 2011 and believed he had left it all behind.

Post retirement, many intrusive thoughts began manifesting in his daily activities, and especially at night. He didn’t realize that “The Uninvited Guest” not only had joined him in his career but had followed him into retirement life. He struggled to understand why these things that happened over 30 years ago were now being relived and were occupying so much of his daily thoughts. It was always, “Why am I thinking about that!” One fateful morning, it all came crashing down and that is when he realized that something was wrong and he needed to seek some help. That was the start of his journey, from contacting his past employer, the Workers Insurance Safety Board (WSIB), and even his member of Provincial Parliament.

His journey was none of struggle, fear, reliving the past, and eventually coming out the other side. It included being honest with himself and those around him. It involved therapy, medications, realizing he was not alone, and developing coping skills to shut the “file drawers”. As part of his journey, it was discovered that in 31 years of policing, he was involved in over 30 significant traumatic incidents and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Yes, you can say he did have an active career, he was the one that would find trouble or be the first one there.Coming out the other side he realized, it wasn’t fate, it was just how things happened and those things will always be part of who he is. Join him and hear his story, one of self advocacy dealing with workplace trauma, stigma, and wellness.