OSI-CAN founder remembered as ‘mentor’ and ‘hero’

A founding member of OSI-CAN, a group that provides mental health supports for first responders and veterans, has passed away.

“Since hearing about him and hearing how open he has been about his journey, it has really broken a lot of the stigma and I think made people feel more comfortable about coming forward and talking about it as a result of the work he has done and the exposure he has brought to operational stress injuries,” Rennie said.

Siddons who served over a decade with the British Army and did tours in Northern Ireland and the Gulf War, moved to Canada in 2005, with the hope of getting a fresh start. Unfortunately his feelings of anxiety, depression and hyper-vigilance would continue to haunt him.

“Because he has physically left us, it doesn’t necessarily mean that his spirit isn’t with us and I think that’s a very important message because I don’t want this to ever be perceived as a viable option for people struggling,” he said.

Prior to his death, Siddons was involved with was the planning of a first of its kind rest and recovery centre southeast of Prince Albert. The facility spread over 300 acres, would provide a retreat for people struggling with operational stress injuries and would include cabins, equine therapy and counselling services. Rennie said the only current option offered is a stay at a mental health unit.

“The crisis was there yesterday, the crisis is there today, and it was there last week also so I’m just done talking about it. I just want to do this now because we need it, and I can’t go through any more [funerals],” she said.

McKeaveney said she feels blessed to be a part of something that has changed lives, and said Siddons will forever be her mentor. She added that the people are first on scene after an accident or working at the correctional need all our support.

“[Chris] created an entire service and he had all the support in the world, yet stigma still maks people feel isolated and alone,” she said.