FEATURE
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL With dedicated provincial funding and a facility for first responders coming to Toronto’s west end, first responders’ mental health is finally being recognized as a priority in Ontario By Lauren Alpern
D
on’t be fooled by Connie Dejak’s warm smile and her sparkling blue eyes. While her smile is genuine, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Runnymede Healthcare Centre in Toronto is relentless. She doesn’t give up when she truly believes in something. In March, when the announcement came that the Runnymede Healthcare Centre was opening a facility dedicated to the mental health of first responders, it came after four years of Connie’s vision, passion, education and dedication. “First responders’ jobs are so different than anyone else can truly understand,” said Connie, whose husband is a 33-year veteran firefighter with the City of Mississauga and whose sister is an inspec-
28
THE DISPATCH
tor with the Toronto Police Service. “I’ve been trying to get a level of understanding that first responders have unique requirements that need to be addressed in their own facility. I’ve literally been at this now for over four years to get the message out. It hasn’t been over night and it’s been through sheer determination.” That determination has worked because the message got out to Premier Doug Ford, who called up Connie’s cell phone one night to ask her about her vision for the dedicated facility. “He said, ‘how do we get this done?’ Everything changed in my world from that phone call,” said Connie, who has been the CEO at Runnymede for 15 years. Now, the provincial and federal governments are each
Connie Dejak has been the President and CEO of the Runnymede Healthcare Centre for 15 years.
SUMMER 2022
