<p>Support & Advocacy Committee:</p><p>Over the winter and spring months, the Committee continued to provide support and assistance to the Membership with personal visits, and through email exchanges and phone calls. During the month of May, representatives from the Committee joined the travelling Divisional team on the Annual Regional Meetings in Kentville, Bridgetown, Yarmouth, Bridgewater, Truro and Antigonish. </p><p>Information Workshop – Port Hawkesbury May 31, 2016 </p><p>The final event for the spring was the full day Information Workshop held in Port Hawkesbury on May 31st. This day drew an attendance of 55 persons; over a third of that number was comprised of spouses. There was also representation from serving RCMP members as well. The guest presenters were: RCMP Veteran Don Clarke and medical service dog Dexter, Trev Bungay CD (VP Trauma Healing Centre), Dr. Dion Goodland (Goodland Psychology)and the Drs. David and Mary Lyon (Audiological & Tinnitus Consultants).</p><p>The day began with a thought-provoking video YOU ARE NOT ALONE produced in 2015 by the Families of the RCMP for PTSD Awareness. This organization raises awareness of the issues surrounding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the RCMP and provides many useful links to information. For more information, please see: Website – beyondtheredserge.ca and on Facebook – Families of the RCMP for PTSD Awareness</p><p>The morning continued with presentations by Don Clarke (and introducing his medical service dog Dexter), Trev Bungay (describing his own history with PTSD and the function of the Trauma Healing Center), and psychologist Dr Dion Goodland (presenting an over view of the nature of PTSD and the path to treatment).</p><p>The afternoon saw an informative presentation on hearing loss and tinnitus with linkages to PTSD by Dr David Lyon and Dr Mary Lyon. The final segment of the day was presented by members of the Support & Advocacy Committee and related to the completion of forms and applications for Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) disability pensions, requests for RCMP medical, service and personal files, and discussed in brief, the work of the Committee.</p><p>NOTE: NEXT INFORMATION WORKSHOP: Tuesday October 18th, at the Kingston NS Fire Hall – notice for registration will be sent to all NS RCMP Veterans’ Association members in September. </p><p>WEBSITE news: Please note that the NS RCMP Veterans’ Association website, Support and Advocacy portion is kept current with the Survivor and Executors packages (as of January 2016), with information on obtaining RCMP files, with linkages to pertinent government sites and with copies of the various presentations from the Workshops. The May 2016 presentations will be up- loaded soon. Many other topics are found in this section and should guide the Membership through their application process and benefits questions. http://www.nsrcmpvets.ca/SupportandAdvocacy Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre Workshop </p><p>The Guest Presenters </p><p>(photos courtesy Rick Wadden)</p>