'WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, MAY WE BRING HOPE'
ABOUT GROWING TOGETHER CANADA
Growing Together Canada is a volunteer information service and awareness organization that advocates, through our lived experiences, for those that face challenges with Mental Health Illnesses, Suicidality and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Growing Together Canada does not solicit funds nor market any products for purchase, we are solely an information and awareness organization. Growing Together Canada will at times participate in fundraising efforts for organizations and causes that we are passionate about and together we can make a positive impact on those that may be struggling today.
We’re not all in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. Together, through our Faith (actions & trust), Hope (beliefs), and Love (acceptance), acknowledge and include others in our journey so that in the end we all make it through the storm together.
Our vision is to support the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health needs of all individuals we connect with, at work, within our community and in our personal life's. We are dedicated to maintaining a healthy living environment and will demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of others and ourselves through our actions.
Andy & Robin
If you can be anything....'Be Kind'
Growing Together Canada
Where there is Despair, may we bring Hope
ABOUT ANDY AND ROBIN
Andy Sytsema, Speaker & Mentor
Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, & Suicide Prevention Advocates
Robin Schmidt, B.Ed. M.Ed. (Counselling, Psychology)
I have spent 37 years working in the Oil & Gas industry on pipeline transmission projects across Canada. My educational background is in land surveying and I graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1983.
We’re not all actually in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. Let us through Faith (action) Hope (belie
I have spent 37 years working in the Oil & Gas industry on pipeline transmission projects across Canada. My educational background is in land surveying and I graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1983.
We’re not all actually in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. Let us through Faith (action) Hope (beliefs) and Love (acceptance) acknowledge and include others in our journey so that in the end we all make it through the storm.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Hope is the belief things will work, especially when it seems otherwise. It helps you stay calm and peaceful when something less than desirable emerges. Hope believes you will get through it. Hope remembers the times you made it through. Hope teams with faith, and believes in the impossible.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
After being diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), Generalized Anxiety and Major Depressive Disorder in 2015 a lot of hard work was required to find a new path forward for me to learn to live my life. For me my recovery started with hope, it took hope, (belief) faith, (action) and love (acceptance) to move my recovery from my mental health challenges from hopefully to knowing I am going to be OK, I am not alone and I still have a choice. Sometimes it feels hard to reach out for help, checkup on your friends, they may be struggling to reach out. Take time to listen with empathy and compassion, acknowledge and hear what it is they are saying, you can make a difference in your friend's life today, it's time to Buddy Up!
Robin Schmidt, B.Ed. M.Ed. (Counselling, Psychology)
Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, & Suicide Prevention Advocates
Robin Schmidt, B.Ed. M.Ed. (Counselling, Psychology)
Resiliency and relationships form the basis of both my teaching and counselling.
Every child, tween, teen, and young adult needs to recognize that they have the ability to conquer anything life can throw at them. I strive to increase self-awareness and one’s ability to-sustain a positive emotional response to stressful situations.
As I writ
Resiliency and relationships form the basis of both my teaching and counselling.
Every child, tween, teen, and young adult needs to recognize that they have the ability to conquer anything life can throw at them. I strive to increase self-awareness and one’s ability to-sustain a positive emotional response to stressful situations.
As I write this summary, I am realizing that the song "You Will Be Found" summarizes much of what I believe. I just hope that today's youth never feel that they are lost and need to be found. One of the main focuses of resiliency is that every person, especially children and youth, needs at least one person that gives them fortitude and the knowledge that they matter.
I have the experience and education to assist in the development and sustainability of resiliency traits and coping skills.
According to some students, whom I have counselled in the past, I seem to do best with students who are "in at-risk" situations. They are those that were academically, socially, or economically disadvantaged. They can, and will, overcome!
I don't like saying students are at-risk. I prefer that they are in an “at-risk” situation that they are able to overcome and thrive despite what life has given them.
I want them to believe that their identity is not defined by a label. It is defined by who they are.
Humor is a huge part of both my teaching and my counselling. If life can be laughed at, it is much more manageable🤪. I have had many students, and those that I counselled, comment on how my humor has helped them.
Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, & Suicide Prevention Advocates
Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, & Suicide Prevention Advocates
Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, & Suicide Prevention Advocates
Our Vision:
Our vision is to support the physical, spiritual and mental health needs of all individuals we connect with, at work, within our community and in our personal life's. We are dedicated to maintaining a healthy living environment and will demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of others and ourselves through our actions.
Ou
Our Vision:
Our vision is to support the physical, spiritual and mental health needs of all individuals we connect with, at work, within our community and in our personal life's. We are dedicated to maintaining a healthy living environment and will demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of others and ourselves through our actions.
Our Values:
Integrity:
- We value the honesty of our words and the consistency of our actions.
- We are committed to the highest ethical standard in achieving our vision.
Respect:
- We believe that every person deserves respect, dignity and compassion.
- We value the dedication of individuals and others working together as a team.
- We value the expertise of others and opportunities to form alliances to maintain a sustainable healthy environment.
Commitment:
- We are committed to the pursuit of being the best we can be as individuals.
- We are committed to helping people develop both in the community and at home.
- We value learning and sharing knowledge with others.
Growth:
- We are committed to being the leader and innovator in our physical and emotional needs both in the community and at home.