Graham Bettes served 32 years as a police officer attaining the rank of detective. He is a Chaplain/Ordained Minister for The Valhalla Project of Niagara. He served as a Sergeant with the Canadian Armed Forces, including an overseas deployment. Graham also served as a firefighter for the Niagara-On-The-Lake Fire Department.
He is an active public speaker for Mental Health Advocacy. Graham has completed his Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and has a Bachelor of Applied Arts - Justice Studies from Guelph University. Graham was diagnosed with PTSD in 2012.
Graham Bettes was awarded the Canadian Decoration Medal, the Canadian Peacekeeping Medal, the Queen's Jubilee Medal, United Nations for Cyprus Medal and the Police Exemplary Service Medal.
Shawn Bennett is currently with the St. Catharines Fire Department with 31 years of experience in fire suppression. Shawn retired from the Canadian Armed Forces as a Sergeant. For more than 25 years Shawn has been a dog trainer and breeder. He is a Chaplain for the Valhalla Project of Niagara. Shawn was diagnosed with complex PTSD in 2006.
Shawn Bennett was awarded the Canadian Decoration with bar for his service with the Canadian Armed Forces, Federal Exemplary Fire Service Medal with bar for 20 plus 5 years, Provincial Fire Service Medal for 25 years, Queens Jubilee Medal, Scouting Youth Service Award and the City of St. Catharines Volunteer Award. He was also nominated for Firefighter Medal for Bravery in 2006.
Ken Beaudette, is 44 years old, and has been married for over 20 years with two kids, a 20 year old son and a 17 year old daughter. Ken was a Primary Care Paramedic for 22 years. Ken also served as a medic in the Canadian Forces and was stationed in CFB Borden and CFB Petawawa, with emergency deployments to the Manitoba Red River Flood and to Ottawa Ice Storm. Ken also served as a member of the DART Team (Disaster Area Response Team).
Lyle Renaud has served as an Advanced Care Paramedic, and Operation Supervisor with Niagara EMS for nearly two decades. He serves with the Niagara on the Lake Fire Department for the past thirteen years as a firefighter. Lyle is a paramedic educator since 2011, and a base hospital educator with the Centre for Paramedic Education and Research (CPER) since 2014.
Over the course of his career, Lyle has faced numerous personal challenges and tragedies, including the loss of both colleagues and friends to suicide. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2018, which lead to his involvement with The Oathtakers, where he has consistently and passionately supported his fellow first responders, so that no one may ever feel truly alone. He is currently a member of the peer support team within his service and an instructor for the R2MR program. Lyle has recently received a Base Hospital Quality of Care award for his dedication to both patient care and to the support of his colleagues and students. He is a welcome addition to the Valhalla Board of Directors.
"Every member on the team is under going their own personal journey living with PTSD. The program aims to pass forward this hard fought experience in a supportive, compassionate,
and judgement free environment."