Our Mission
Providing hope for heroes, support for workplace mental trauma and illness, and a path toward recovery.
Hope 4 Heroes Canada is a registered non-profit organization in Rothesay New Brunswick, founded in 2018 by Michael Johnston, a former paramedic. While not an exhaustive list, the organization’s target clientele includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, funeral directors, health care providers, and various workers who have experienced dangerous or otherwise traumatic events in the workplace.
H4H Announces Crisis Text Line
Hope 4 Heroes Canada and Kids Help Phone partner to provide Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone to First Responders in a New Brunswick pilot program.
New Brunswickers’ are fortunate, we have First Responders who are highly trained, incredibly skilled, caring and compassionate; they are ready at a moments notice to come to our aid. These men and women, who dedicate their lives to protecting our families, our communities and our province, are Heroes to us all. No matter what uniform they wear we have great comfort in the fact that they are highly trained and will be there to help us, in any situation.
"You are here for us everyday, now it's our turn to be here for you"
How We Help
With a vision inclusive of accessible and standardized mental health services across Canada and immediate access to mental support 24-hours a day, Hope 4 Heroes seeks to offer three distinct services
Formalized Training
Peer Support Network
Conferences and School Presentations
Reaching Broader Audiences
Although mental injury has become more recognized recently, much of the focus has been on emergency
responders only, and even then, available training is highly variable. Hope 4 Heroes Canada includes
occupations who have traditionally been omitted, but who are at-risk for mental trauma, and it provides
support for traumatic events like industrial accidents or injurious circumstances. Professional training,
including comprehensive coursework, animation, and scenario videos will be offered to organizations across
Canada, with the content being standardized, yet industry-tailored.
Here For Each Other
Support for mental injury and illness currently includes therapy and employee assistance programs. While
these are necessary services, lacking industry knowledge and limited availability make room for a formal
peer support network. Peer volunteers will be trained in inclusive, compassionate support and will partner
in treatment and recovery. Each peer support volunteer will also be industry participants, ensuring utmost
understanding and empathy.
Engaging With The Community
Hope 4 Heroes will be highly visible within the community and relevant industries. Activities include
participating in symposiums and trade shows, presenting at summits and conferences related to mental
health, speaking at secondary and post-secondary schools, and being active on social media. Being seen as
a leader in the occupational mental health industry requires expertise, which is why ongoing research, trend
analysis, and constant communication with professionals and industry stakeholders will be undertaken.
Meet The Founder
Michael Johnston - CRSP, D-ABMDI
Michael is the founder of Hope 4 Heroes Canada and brings 20 years of public safety experience. Currently a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) Michael is very passionate about ensuring that people work and play safe every day.
Having struggled with PTSD himself Michael noticed a lack of resources available for others affected by mental health issues. For this reason, he gathered a group of friends and colleagues to form Hope 4 Heroes Canada.
Meet The Rest of The Executive Team
Shawna-Raye Endresen
Manager, OHS Business Development - UFred
Shawna-Raye Endresen, has been part of the University of Fredericton (UFred) team since 2009. Working solely in the School of Occupational Health and Safety, she has had the privilege of working with OHS professionals from around the globe. Hearing first hand stories of loss and trauma; the lasting affect on family, co-workers and friends has left an impression.
Shawna-Raye has great empathy for first responders and the impact their profession has on their mental health. She was honored when asked to join Hope 4 Heroes Canada.
Bobbi Simmons-Beauchamp
Police Officer - Fredericton Police Force
Bobbi has been a police officer for over two decades and is a member of the Fredericton Police Force. She is a Master Trainer for The Working Mind for First Responders with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and her lived experience with mental illness has led her to be a mental health champion in her policing community. She is also a graduate student in Counselling Psychology, with plans to work with first responders when she retires.
Mike Boyle
Division Chief
Mike has worked in EMS and the fire service for 23 years and is now a division chief with a career fire department. He is a peer assessor with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and sits on two national committees for the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. He also is the chair of the joint mental health committee for his fire department and is working on managing the challenges of mental health for firefighters. Mike believes in serving his community and has worked on the Age Friendly Initiative for the Town of Rothesay and is currently the Vice Chair of the CNIB New Brunswick Board. Mike lives in Rothesay with his wife and three children.
Our Community Support Team
Jason Crouse
Fitness Representative
Dr. Robert Cannon
Safety Representative
Billy Tyler
Funeral Service Representative
Ryan Scoville
Paramedic Representative
Mark Richardson
Volunteer Fire Service Representative
JOIN THE TEAM
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Our Community Partners
As a registered non-profit organization, Hope 4 Heroes Canada depends on funding from
partnerships with corporations, associations, unions, and other organizations who believe
in its mission.
Funding partners are vital to success and allow for the programs that will help those in need.
Financial support of any amount is tremendously appreciated and accepted with gratitude.
Connect with Us
Whether you are seeking services, hoping to partner or want more information about Hope 4 Heroes we are happy to hear from you.
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