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Inaugural Pembroke Respect Forum – 

Open to Veterans, First Responders and their families

When

June 5
🕙 10:00 – 15:00
Doors open at 09:30 for coffee, tea, and a gentle arrival

Where

Algonquin College Pembroke Campus
1 College Way
Pembroke, ON K8A 0C8, Canada

Hosted By

Dr. Alisha Henson, Rebecca Dickson and the team at Pembroke Psychological Services, in collaboration with the Respect Forum. 

Purpose

This forum is designed to support Veterans and their families in:

• Learning about support services available in the Pembroke/Petawawa area 
• Exploring additional supports and opportunities 
• Asking questions in a welcoming, informal environment 

Unlike traditional forums, this is a participant-guided, interactive experience focused on connection, practical information, and shared understanding.

Spouses are warmly welcome to attend.

How It Works

• Opening remarks from the Lead Facilitator 
• Participants move freely through themed breakout sessions 
• Opportunities for discussion around bridging gaps in mental and physical health services for Veterans and their families within the Valley 
• A closing session brings everyone together to reflect and share key takeaways 

Agenda

• 09:30–10:00 – Coffee, tea, and settling in 
• 10:00–10:20 – Welcome, Algonquin College remarks, housekeeping 

Breakout Sessions (25 minutes each):

• 10:30–11:00 – Session 1 
• 11:10–11:40 – Session 2 
• 11:50–12:20 – Session 3 
• 12:30–13:00 – Session 4 
• 13:10–13:40 – Closing reflections 
• 13:40–14:00 – Coffee, tea, and informal conversations (cleanup underway) 
• 15:00 – Departure 

No formal lunch break — please take time as needed.

Breakout Sessions

Participants are invited to move between rooms based on interest.

Room 1: Mental Health

• Mindfulness and acceptance 
• Maintaining healthy boundaries 
• Living with chronic pain 
• Understanding betrayal trauma 

Room 2: Physical Health & Wellness

• Naturopathic care 
• Diet and health 
• Sleep and restoration 
• Audiology, including the impact of PTSD and tinnitus 

Room 3: Education, Employment & Community Opportunities

• Skilled trades pathways (Algonquin College) 
• Mission Entrepreneur 
• Helmets to Hardhats 
• Discussion: Bridging gaps in mental and physical health services within the Valley 

Room 4: Café-Style Information Space

A relaxed, drop-in space to connect and learn about programs, services, and opportunities for Veterans within Renfrew County, including:

• Heroes Mending on the Fly 
• Fire Team K9 
• Forged in Canada 
• Employment Services 
• Support with paperwork and navigating services 

Childcare

On-site childcare will be available for school-aged children, hosted by Pembroke Psychological Services’ Therapists and Child and Youth Counsellors, as the forum takes place on a local school professional development day.

Please let us know if your child will be in attendance so that we can plan accordingly.

Additional Information

Parking
Available on campus or at a nearby park. Attendees are responsible for any associated costs.

Signage
Follow RespectCanada Forum banners and signs to the welcome area. Breakout room assignments will be shared during the opening.

Food & Refreshments

• Coffee, tea, and light snacks provided during arrival and at noon 
• Lunch is self-arranged (campus services, bring your own, or nearby eateries) 

Updates
Please check back for updates and additional details as they become available.

Pembroke Psychological Services

Pembroke Psychological Services is a community-based mental health clinic serving Renfrew County, with a strong commitment to supporting Veterans, First Responders, their partners, and their families. The team provides compassionate, evidence-based care across the lifespan, with particular attention to the unique experiences, stressors, and transitions associated with service roles.

Through advocacy, collaboration, and coordinated care, Pembroke Psychological Services works alongside community partners to strengthen access to mental health supports and improve outcomes for those who serve—and those who support them.

Dr Alisha Henson, PhD, C Psych
Dr Henson supports Veterans, First Responders, and their families through trauma-informed care, assessment, and therapy. She is committed to advocacy and collaboration, working to bridge gaps between mental, physical, and community services in the Ottawa Valley.

Rebecca Dickson, PPS Student, Veteran & Co-Organizer
Rebecca brings lived experience and dedication to supporting Veterans and First Responders. She played a key role in coordinating this forum and advancing its focus on connection, collaboration, and access to services.

Clinical Team
The Pembroke Psychological Services team is made up of highly trained clinicians, with each senior clinician bringing over 10 years of supervised experience. The team includes psychologists, registered psychotherapists, social workers, and child and youth counsellors.

Working collaboratively, the team supports mental health across the lifespan using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT, and trauma-informed therapies (e.g., EMDR, CPT).

Our Approach

The clinic takes a client-centered, collaborative approach, working closely with Veterans, First Responders, their partners, families, schools, and healthcare providers to ensure coordinated and meaningful care. Services include therapy, psychological assessment, and consultation to strengthen support systems across the community.

Clinical Team Includes

Psychologists

• Dr Len Gignac, PhD, C Psych 

Registered Psychotherapists (RP)

• Melissa Oleynik, MA, RP 
• Erin Oakie, MA, RP 
• Janet Cullen, MA, RP 
• Kristy Dahms, MA, RP 
• Amanda Urbanski, MA, RP (Qualifying) 

Registered Social Workers (RSW)

• Marie-Christine Bois, MSW, RSW 
• Abby Doner, MSW, RSW 
• Olivia Richardson, MSW, RSW 
• Debra Woodfine, MSW, RSW 

Child & Youth Counsellors

• Laura Demont, BA, Child & Youth Counsellor 
• Melissa Throop, BA, Child & Youth Counsellor