Bend Don't Break

On this episode of  Bend Don't Break , host Chief Neil Dubord speaks to the founder of the Vancouver chapter of  Beyond the Blue  about the need for more peer support for family members of police officers.   As the spouse of a Vancouver Police officer, Erica McKeddie founded  Beyond the Blue  after tragedy touched her family and her extended police family. Erica shares her story about how  Beyond...

Metro Vancouver Transit Police Constable (Cst.) Josh Harms joins the podcast to discuss his recovery after he was shot while on duty in early 2019. After going through this traumatic event, Cst. Harms returned to work, concentrating not on the number of days it took to return, but the work he put into his recovery, resiliency, and mindset.

A 20 year RCMP officer, Rob Farrer recognized the need for more awareness associated with post-traumatic stress disorder amongst first responders. Rob took it upon himself to hike 1 kilometer for every fallen officer of the RCMP -  239 kilometers in 56.5 hours, over the course of three straight days.   Rob shares his process of why he decided to do the walk, what the walk was like, and what happen...

After a 21-year career with B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Cst. Julien Ponsioen joined the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, serving Vancouver's Downtown Community area as a Neighbourhood Police Officer. In this episode, Julien speaks about the adversities he's faced on and off the job, including trauma while with EHS, as well as coming to terms, and coming out as gay to family and colleagu...

Edmonton Police Service 20 year veteran, Gary Benoit shares a common story that most first responders can relate to - the impact that day-to-day stress can play on one's health and wellness. Gary shares lessons on facing these challenges head-on, and how to discover your 'why' and pave your path to recovery and self-improvement.     Mentioned in this Episode: Edmonton Police Service The 5 Love Lan...

In 2015, Sgt John Musicco, a 14 year veteran with the Victoria Police Department, took what started out as a fairly standard break-and-enter call. The events following were anything further from standard. In the 3 ½ years that followed, John went through a process that, to this day, remains a big part of his life. His story is incredibly invaluable to hear and learn from. He shares the significant...

Today's story is an incredible one — but even more incredible is the resiliency today's guest shows through his journey over the last several years.    Ryan (Chopper) Masales started as a police officer in 2001 at the Vancouver Police Department. He worked there for 11 years before he transferred to Abby PD in 2010. He spent the major part of his career working as a undercover operator and is well...

Today on Bend Don't Break , your host Chief Neil Dubord is interviewing someone from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — a first for the podcast! Cathleen Falebrinza is an RCMP officer who first was trained at the RCMP training academy, 'Depot', in 2004. When she graduated in 2005, she was posted to Quesnel, British Columbia where she met her future husband, Stuart, who she now has been mar...

Today's guest is Lane Douglas Hunt. Lane has been a member with the Victoria Police Department since 2008. She has spent most of her career on the front lines in patrol where she was on the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team for 6 years. Currently, she serves as the Explosives Technician, a Detective in the Special Victims Unit, and a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. O...

In this week's episode of Bend, Don't Break another firefighter joins the podcast! Erik Bjarnason is a career firefighter with the North Vancouver City Fire Department, who has recently retired. He is also a long-time member of North Shore Rescue and an avid mountaineer. Erik has climbed mountains in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America; completed a month-long dogsled trip in the...

Joining the Bend, Don't Break Podcast today is Geoff Young. Geoff is 42 years old and has been with the Delta Police Department for 12 years. Prior to joining Delta Police, he served in the infantry in the Canadian Armed Forces in New Brunswick with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was also a Corrections Officer at Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre, as well as a commercial pilot for both land and se...

On this week's episode, Bend, Don't Break is welcoming on their first guest from the Vancouver Police Department — Constable Craig Look!   Constable Craig Look is a 16-year member with the Vancouver Police Department and has worked in various sections within the department, with a focus on taking a proactive approach toward policing. Away from work, Constable Look spends his time with his family a...

This week, John Jasmins joins Chief Neil Dubord to discuss the challenges he has been through throughout his career.   John Jasmins started with the Delta Police Department as a Reserve Constable, and has been a regular member with the department for over 13 years. He has worked in Patrol, Street Crime Unit, Uniform Gang Task Force, CFSEU, Youth Section, and Community Policing. Currently, John is...

This week, Bob Rich joins the podcast! Bob was the Chief of the Abbotsford Police for 10 years, retiring in 2018. Prior to that, he was with the Vancouver Police for 28 years, finishing his time as the Deputy Chief of Operations.   Bob's story begins just before 2015. During his time in Abbotsford, the Department faced a number of difficult events — both in the community and within the Department....

In this week's episode, Retired Sergeant Chris Borgstede joins the podcast to speak with Chief Neil Dubord about the impactful experiences in his life — both personally and professionally.   Chris has been a longtime member of the Delta Police Department, starting his career back in 1992. Previously, Chris was a lawyer, but decided to make the career switch and found his true passion in policing....

Sergeant Ray Athwal joins Chief Neil Dubord on this week's episode of Bend Don't Break. Ray Athwal is 49, married for 23 years, and has two teenage boys. Professionally, he has spent 19 years with DBD. Ray enjoys spending his days motorcycling, socializing with friends and family, and accompanying his children to their hockey and lacrosse games.   On the fateful day of May 8th, 2016; mother's day,...

On this episode of Bend Don't Break , your host, Chief Neil Dubord, is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Jordan MacWilliams once again, to continue his story from last week's episode.   Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field.   His story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful ni...

Today on Bend Don't Break , your host, Chief Neil Dubord, is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Jordan MacWilliams.   Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field. He's happily married with two young daughters. Currently, he's seconded, working at The Lower Mainland District Emergency R...

Welcome to Bend Don't Break — a Delta Police podcast on police officers using the power of storytelling to strengthen their resiliency — with your host, Chief Neil Dubord. In this episode, Chief Dubord is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Aaron Hill, to bravely share his story in its entirety.     Aaron's story greatly reflects the themes of this podcast: resiliency and overcoming incredib...