Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Sure, good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I'm your host, Elliot Pierre. And we're going to start this show off the same way we start every episode off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you spend with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, tenor hit them with
Speaker 1 00:00:20 You caught me loves and you're listening to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:24 all right. And we are back. I'm excited about today's episode because it's my favorite types of episodes. It's when I have no idea who the person across from me is. So it's a complete stranger. So on that note, I think everybody at home knows by now I don't introduce my guests because they can do a better job at that than myself. So on that note, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 2 00:00:47 Absolutely. Uh, well, first of all, I just want to say thank you so much for having me today. It's an honor to be here. Uh, my name is Sylvie Miller. I have lived and worked here in Fort McMurray for the past eight years. Uh, pretty much exclusively in the social profit sector and a wide variety of rules organizations. Um, and it's just been such a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet people and, uh, build relationships and really see what this community is all about. Um, and I know that obviously Fort McMurray has a lot of reputations from other communities and across the country. Um, but I, yeah, I can definitely say from my experience, there's, there's so much value here because of the people that are here.
Speaker 0 00:01:34 So which not-for-profit are you with right now?
Speaker 2 00:01:37 Um, I'm actually transitioning, I just finished a position, um, and, uh, I'm not able to release publicly my new position and we're, we'll be working, but very excited to announce that in the new year. Um, but I have worked, like I said, at a bunch of different, uh, nonprofits, um, the multicultural association, the hub family resource center, the wine CA way points. Um, I'm sure there's probably a few others, but yeah, definitely a lot of experience there. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:02:07 Nice. So originally, where are you from? You've been here for eight years, but where did you move?
Speaker 2 00:02:13 Uh, well originally, uh, I was born in Brazil and adopted when I was two and a half. Uh, so I don't really have any recollection of that, but, uh, I was adopted, uh, as I said, when I was two and a half, um, my family adopted family lives, uh, just north of Toronto. And, uh, so that's where I grew up, uh, went to a few different schools in Ontario and then I moved out here, uh, almost three or four days, I think after I graduated university with an ex partner for his work and, uh, immediately started into work and just realize the potential in this community. So,
Speaker 0 00:02:54 Very cool. So in university, what did you
Speaker 2 00:02:57 Take a, I took a of different things. I was one of those people that, uh, yeah, I wasn't really sure exactly of what I wanted to do. And I guess that hasn't really changed. I've kinda just been, uh, as opportunities are presented and it feels like the right fit, then I go for it and then trust the next thing will be made clear to me. Um, I did, um, start a bachelor of social work, um, and then transitioned out of that program. Um, I did just a general year, uh, a bachelor of arts with sociology and psychology. Um, and then I ended up finally finishing, I did a bachelor of education with a religious component as specifically specializing in children and family.
Speaker 0 00:03:40 When you say religious component, what does that
Speaker 2 00:03:41 Mean? So just like a faith based. So it was a Christian university. Um, so just, um, yeah, faith-based biblical kind of lens as you're looking at education.
Speaker 0 00:03:53 Okay. Very neat. Yeah. So then you come to Fort McMurray and how did you get into the social, uh, aspects of the community and working in that like, yeah,
Speaker 2 00:04:04 Yeah, absolutely. Um, so when I first moved here, um, I started working at the YMCA as an early childhood educator and, uh, that helps you kind of get right connected to the community right away. Um, and like I said, it kind of just, um, yeah, just been one of those people that as opportunities present themselves and I have a clear sense of that's the right thing for me then I've, you know, moved from one thing to another. Um, so eventually I moved up, uh, to be a director of one of the childcare centers. And then I left the Y and went to another daycare and was a director there for some time. Um, then I went to the hub and was there for almost three years, um, as a family support, um, worker and coordinator, um, then I was at waypoints for almost three years as the child and youth care center facilitator, helping to, um, really kind of build what that center is going to be.
Speaker 2 00:04:58 Um, so yeah, I was going to say, and then obviously there's been a lot of volunteer opportunities as well. Um, when you work in the social profit sector, that's usually something you're pretty passionate about. Um, and that was actually how, I guess kind of perfect segue. Um, that's how I ended up getting involved with, uh, CISM for communities are critical incident, stress management for communities, which is what I'm here today officially to be speaking about. Um, but, uh, but my history I got involved with, uh, Susan for communities just over five years ago. Um, I was very involved in the helping professional fields in the community. So I had heard about, um, the organization and that they were offering training, um, for individuals and for groups for a critical incident, um, stress management, essentially when a critical incident happens, how do you respond? Um, obviously something that I very much wanted to learn more about and was going to be directly applicable to my work.
Speaker 2 00:05:55 Um, so I took both of trainings, was excited to learn more about the organization, um, got involved in different capacities, whether that was, um, helping with fundraising events or things like that. Um, and then the Oregon actually at recently has assumed new leadership. So there's a new executive director. Uh, there's a new board of directors, um, including myself. Um, and it just seemed like the right time for me to kind of step into this new role and, uh, provide my experience and expertise within the community, um, to the work that critical incident stress or yeah, critical incident stress management for communities does, um, which that work essentially, um, the organization exists to provide awareness, education, training, and support, um, for a critical incident, as well as just in mental health in general. So one of the big things that we really want to communicate and clarify, cause I know that there's been a lot of confusion over what that means is we do not respond when an incident is actually taking place. We come in after the incident has, has been, um, concluded
Speaker 0 00:07:05 What would constitute
Speaker 2 00:07:06 An incident. Yeah, so there's so many different things that could be constituted as an incident. Um, really anyone can contact us for that, um, that service, um, which is at no cost as well. Um, but, um, examples of that is a, um, a bunch of, uh, firemen or paramedics have just responded to a extremely difficult situation at work. And they're feeling very escalated after they could contact us. And then we could come in to either do individual or group intervention after. And really the focus is to stabilize, um, the individual or the group makes sure that they're safe. They have the physical things that they need. Um, if there's any of those needs that need to be taken care of. Um, and then we do a follow up afterwards to see how the individual or the group is doing and then be able to refer them to a higher level of care at that point. So we are by no means counselors. Um, and I know sometimes that can be confusing for people, but we're really there as the front line, emotional support, um, for if there's been any sort of traumatic event that may have happened for anybody. Um, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:08:20 And how some friend, a professional friend, there you go, Tanner nail in it. So how long has that, uh, organization?
Speaker 2 00:08:28 Um, so Susan for communities, I was originated in late 2014. So it has been around for quite some time. Um, it was, um, obviously very heavily involved in different initiatives, um, after the wildfire. Um, and that was when there was, um, obviously a lot of funding that was available and there was, um, a bunch of trainings that were offered to the community, which was wonderful. Um, that was when I had taken a training as well. And, um, yeah, it's, it's been very cool to, to see their progression, like anything in Fort McMurray, people come and people go all the time, but, um, it's, it's just been from my perspective of being involved in the organization before to see where it's going now, uh, just really exciting to see, um, yeah, just the progression of growth and the potential and right now, more than ever, I think everyone can, you know, do some honest reflection and say the last almost two years have been incredibly difficult, um, without any question.
Speaker 2 00:09:30 And, uh, there is currently a huge mental health crisis and we know that there's going to be even more so as we go forward in the months and years ahead. Um, so the work that we're doing right now is, is critical, is essential to everyone's wellness and yeah, we're just really passionate and excited to, um, to help educate, um, and equip people to be able to deal with their own crisis situations, um, as well as others. Um, and I can say, I mean, obviously I've used the training and a bunch of different environments, but it's also very helpful for yourself when you find yourself in a, a crisis situation of how to deescalate and make sure that you're stabilized and safe. So that cool.
Speaker 0 00:10:12 Cool. Well, listen, Tanner, just giving me a signal that it's time for the max CD minute segment, where he's going to ask you some questions. I have no idea what he's going to ask you, so I wish you nothing but the best
Speaker 3 00:10:25 Alrighty. Question number one. What is one thing that you learned about the community while working with nonprofits?
Speaker 2 00:10:33 Oh man, one thing that is a hard question. Just one thing. Um, I would say the one thing that I've learned about working with people is you need to come into any environment with humility and openness and a willingness to just listen and meet people where they're at, no matter what the work you're doing, you might think that, you know, what's best and you don't know what's best because you don't know the people that you're working with. And I always say that you are the expert of your life and your story. And, um, that is true in any environment that we're working in. So it's just, yeah, I would say the most important thing, biggest thing I've learned is just to, to show up, be present for people and, uh, and allow them to, to communicate what their needs are and find out how you're able to support them in that
Speaker 3 00:11:29 Question. Number two, what is your biggest shock about getting to Fort McMurray for the,
Speaker 2 00:11:36 Oh my goodness. Biggest shock. Well, actually I was just saying this to my partner the other day, but I remember when I first moved to Fort McMurray, I went to, I'm pretty sure it was extra foods at the time up in, in Timperley. And I guess they were like reorganizing the, like the whole store. And there was like bird's flight, like a ton of birds flying around in the store. And it was like the most disorganized, chaotic space. And it was like, whoa, like where on earth have I moved to, like, I did not expect this at all. Um, so it was just really, yeah, very kind of off putting in shocking. Um, and definitely it was like, okay, well, I I'm hoping I'm trusting the other stores in town are not like this as well. And then obviously I found out that they were not, but I was just, yeah, a bit of a shock. I'm also not personally a fan of birds. I always end up being pooped on. So yeah. Yeah. Which apparently that's lucky, but I, I think people might say that just to help you not feel so bad. Um, so, um, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. That's a whole other crisis.
Speaker 3 00:12:41 Yeah. It sounds like some crap luck question number three. What is something that the nonprofit nonprofits in Fort McMurray do that is unique to the community?
Speaker 2 00:12:56 Um, unique to the community? Um, well, I will say me and obviously, like I said, I have, um, pretty much since graduating university have been exclusively working in S community. So I can't really comment on comparison to other communities, but something I've seen that this community does, um, quite well is there is diversity in the types of organizations that are present and the work that's done. And I've seen a lot, especially over the last few years, a lot of emphasis and focus to avoid duplication, um, and to be much more responsible with resources. And, uh, I think that's, that's so important if people are supporting something, they want to know that it is actually supporting the cause that they are intending it to. Right. And, uh, and that, yeah, that the money is going where it should be and it's not being duplicated or there's more not yeah. Multiple people doing the same work. Um, yeah, I think that's probably the best thing I can say about that
Speaker 3 00:14:01 Question. Number four. What is your biggest drive behind working in a career path that is helping so many people?
Speaker 2 00:14:10 Um, I think for me, it just comes down to the fact that, um, we're all human. We all just want to be met where we're at for who we are. And, uh, and we need people that genuinely just love other people and, and want to support them doing the work. Obviously, you know, we all have different seasons of our life where we're more passionate about things than others, but I think especially right now, I know my passion has kind of been, um, reignited over the last few months with a lot of changes that have been happening. And, um, yeah, I, I guess I just am really passionate about making sure that people know that, um, that people care that there are resources, that there are supports to help people. Um, and I know that the holiday season can be, you know, a really triggering time for a lot of people. It's, it's not necessarily happy holidays. I was actually just reading something yesterday, um, about framing it from a standpoint of wishing people, a gentle holiday, um, and just meeting them where they're at again and, and just honoring that space for them. So,
Speaker 3 00:15:18 All right. And your final question, what is one way you go out to have fun within this community that might surprise people?
Speaker 2 00:15:27 What do I do to go out to have fun? Well, obviously the going out part in the community has changed a lot over the last two years. Um, but in general I was going to say, I'm gonna talk in normal times. Um, yeah, I, like I mentioned before, um, I love getting out to volunteer at various community events or just attending as a participant. I don't know if I'd do anything. That's shocking though. Uh, I, I wouldn't describe myself as doing any shocking behavior, but, uh, but yeah, I was going to say, just, just being involved in the community, seeing what events or activities are coming up, um, getting involved, however, I can encouraging other people to do that. I know one of the big things that people always say about me and my Facebook page is that I share a lot of community events and people find out about different things that are happening, um, from my Facebook, which is wonderful because we know that there's tons of negativity on there. So if you can be spreading positive information for people, that's a really great thing.
Speaker 3 00:16:31 And those have been your five questions. There we go.
Speaker 0 00:16:35 Yeah. One of the shocking things, and I don't think it's shocking though, but I like to snowshoe how old nice. I like snowshoeing. It's a lot of fun. Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:16:42 It is. It's a really good workout. I actually have a pair of kids. No shoes, of course. Um, but I've only been a few times because I can't find anybody else that actually is willing to brave the cold weather to go out. Which to be fair, I'm not really a fan of going out if it's colder than minus 20 either. So sometimes that means that you don't get out much,
Speaker 3 00:17:04 No shoes or a lie. I feel lied to. I always thought like, you'd put on snow shoes and you get to just like walk across the top of the snow. Yeah. I put, yeah, put a pair on in school one time and then I was like, I'm still going just as deep. It's just wider now what's the point?
Speaker 0 00:17:19 Just as deep. You're not going just as deep. Yeah. But tell your friends to go into the woods when you go snowshoeing, like a little minus 20 or something it's miserable. There's no doubt about that. Yes. Dress appropriately when you're in the woods, like it catches a lot of that warmer notion in the woods. For sure. I don't think it's like shock, like mind blown, but when you tell people you snow shoe, they're like, huh. Oh,
Speaker 2 00:17:43 It's a really good workout though. Absolutely. But like you said, absolutely deceiving at yeah, yeah. Yeah. You're not hovering. Yeah. You still sell. It's just not an absolute,
Speaker 0 00:17:55 You are originally from Brazil. Have you ever had the opportunity to go back?
Speaker 2 00:18:00 I have not. Um, it is something that is very much on my list of things to do. Um, when my parents adopted me at the time, there was, um, a bunch of different scenarios and situations where children that had been adopted, um, had gone back to Brazil and then there was issues with the government essentially, um, trying to take them back as theirs. Um, and my parents were just like, no, we're not gonna even open that can of worms. So they, um, yeah, they were like, wait until you're over legal age. And you know that I went away to university here and whatever. So it just hasn't had the opportunity to happen yet, but it's definitely something I would love to go back for a decent amount of time, even like a month or something. I'd love to see if I'm able to pick up Portuguese again, learn the culture and, and go back. And I'd really love to do, um, just some volunteer work in, uh, an orphanage or orphanages there. Um, just to really get some perspective on like, this is where I came from and I can see my life is so different now. Right. So
Speaker 0 00:19:08 Absolutely. We have different reasons for wanting to go to Brazil.
Speaker 2 00:19:11 Yes. Well, tell me what your reasons are.
Speaker 0 00:19:14 Like my parents, like I've, I've had a layover in Brazil. My parents were from Guyana, so it's like, yeah, sure. It's a border. Um, so like, yeah, so I've been in the airport twice. I've never been able to venture out. So yeah. Brazil, hotspot, beaches, carnival, like, yeah, the culture seems cool, but yeah, I like yourself. I don't want to go for like a day or two, but I want to spend some time
Speaker 2 00:19:39 Real experience. Absolutely. Carnival looks amazing. Absolutely.
Speaker 0 00:19:43 Well, if there's anything like in Alberta, we have something called a Cary west. It's like a carnival. And then in Toronto you have like the big, the big throw-down,
Speaker 3 00:19:57 Um, I'll show you some places that are quite like carnival. Yeah. I'll take you
Speaker 0 00:20:03 To a couple of places. You go into a visa,
Speaker 3 00:20:06 Some big graves that will rival that. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:20:09 So yeah. Anyways, Tanner hit me with, uh, the watch a few minutes ago. So our 20 minutes is up. Oh, wow. I know it flies. Oh my gosh. I know. So before everybody leaves though, they get a shameless shout out or plugs the lights around you, the camera's on you. You got the mic.
Speaker 2 00:20:24 All right. Um, well, I just want to ask specifically highlight today, um, from a CISM perspective, um, that we have a brand new website. Um, so please check it out. I just double checked before I came in today. Um, so you can look on Google. Um, it is critical incident, stress management for communities. Um, so that will bring up our website there's information there about upcoming training, um, for the, uh, critical incident, stress management for individuals. So assisting individuals that are in crisis, uh, we do have an upcoming mental health event that is taking place at the end of January as well, a as well as we do have a mental health gala, that's taking place that weekend as well. Um, and, uh, yeah, are looking for people to get involved in any way that they would like to as well as tickets are on sale. Um, specifically early bird tickets for, um, the training as well as the mental wellness event and the mental health gala are all currently on sale and early bird tickets are available up until the 29th.
Speaker 0 00:21:30 Oh, awesome. Sweet. Well, thank you for coming on the show and I know you'll be back again and again, and again, maybe next time you can tell us about your sweet new
Speaker 2 00:21:37 Job. No problem.
Speaker 0 00:21:41 All right. For McMurray wood, Buffalo in the rest of the world, that's been another episode of the Mac city morning show from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much for tuning in. It does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note. Hope you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow base.
Speaker 1 00:21:55 I just dies that desk. Another Mac city morning, show Dawn.
Speaker 5 00:22:12 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
