CIMVHR Forum 2024 – That’s a wrap!

A Powerful Three Days of Connection, Collaboration and Impact

As we reflect back on the extraordinary three-day conference that ran for the first time in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we reflect with pleasure and gratitude on what has been a truly remarkable gathering of minds, collaborations and research. With attendees joining from across the globe, CIMVHR Forum has proven to be more than just a conference — it has been a movement centered on serving those who serve us and advancing health research and well-being for military personnel, Veterans, public safety professionals and their families.

Over the course of the conference, we were inspired by three powerful keynote presentations that sparked deep thought and meaningful dialogue. We celebrated the future of research and leadership with the announcement of three new scholarship recipients, whose dedication to service and scholarship represent the promise of tomorrow.

This year’s academic program was exceptional: 138 oral presentations and 98 poster presentations showcased cutting-edge research, innovative practices and the lived experiences of those who serve, have served and their families. Out of this rich exchange, a powerful theme emerged: Research to Impact. This reflects our shared commitment to turning knowledge into action, evidence into policy, and research into real-world change that directly improves the lives of our military, Veterans, families and public safety communities.

“Forum is the leading conference in the world on military and Veteran health research. Every time that we go to the conference: new relationships are forged, new opportunities are created, and new conversations are started.”

Professor Matt Fossey, FRSA
Professor of Public Services Research
Director, Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research
Co-Director, UKRI Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services
Education Lead, NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborative: Greater Essex
Co-Director, Centre for Military Gambling Research
Social Science Research Advisor, School of Medicine, ARU
Rivermead Gate House
Anglia Ruskin University

Thank you to every presenter, attendee, volunteer and supporter who made CIMVHR Forum a success. You’ve helped build a stronger, more connected global network dedicated to impact through collaboration. We left energized, enlightened and ready to carry forward the momentum of these three days into our daily work and future endeavors.

Until we see you in Ottawa at CIMVHR Forum 2025—stay connected, stay inspired and keep driving impact where it matters most.

Learn what you missed at CIMVHR Forum 2024 at cimvhrforum.ca/about

CIMVHR Fellows

CIMVHR Fellows are leading experts who demonstrate exceptional research advancements in military, Veteran public safety personnel and family health research and well-being. At CIMVHR Forum 2024, we welcomed two new Fellows.

R. Nicholas Carleton, PhD, RD Psych, FCAHS, MCRSC

2024 Fellow

Clinical Psychologist Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Regina

Margaret McKinnon, PhD, C Psych

2024 Fellow

Professor and Associate Chair, Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Research Lead, Mental Health and Addictions, St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

Workshops

On the Tuesday and Wednesday of Forum 2024, a series of workshops were held to allow participants to focus on key topics in smaller groups. The purpose of these workshops is to encourage open conversation to advance the research on these topics. The outcomes of these workshop are highlighted in the workshop reports.

Tuesday, October 22nd

Knowledge to action! Deploying the Veterans’ Well-being Community Health Needs Assessment

For the first time, VAC completed a Veterans’ Well-being Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in 2024. Collecting new and building on existing data, the CHNA engaged with Canadian Veterans to (1) identify their health and well-being strengths and needs; and (2) communicate results in an accessible way. Of particular interest, were the unique needs of equity-deserving and hard to reach Veterans. Results can be used to inform decision-makers in program, policy, and research, and to support equitable allocation of resources for all Veterans. During this workshop, participants from various organizations, sectors, and roles will transform knowledge to action by coming together to brainstorm meaningful ways to address highlighted priorities and to use CHNA results in their day-to-day work with Veterans. By discovering synergies and developing tangible strategies, participation in this workshop will contribute to strengthened partnerships among Veteran stakeholders and organizations. Veterans welcome!

Workshop Hosts:

Margaret Fry, CD, RN, MHS
National Nursing Officer, Veterans Affairs Canada

Lisa Garland Baird, RN, PhD
Veterans Affairs Canada

Supporting Children, Teenagers and Parents: Building International Capacity to Deliver Impact, Knowledge Translation and Digital Systems

Despite the benefits of being part of a service family, children and teenagers face many challenges in these potentially vulnerable families. We know personnel frequently cite ‘family reasons’ when they leave these vocations. Regardless, children and teenagers are often forgotten in policies, or added as an afterthought. This leads to a limited pool of funding and fierce competition to provide research and research translation supports to assist this cohort. In this workshop, participants will identify the facilitators and preventers to supporting these children and teenagers. We will then explore a practical exemplar of a resource to support children with parents who have a moral injury that involved international researchers, stakeholders, service providers and those with lived experience to produce research translation resources and peer reviewed research. Participants will formulate a plan to build international capacity to create impact and produce knowledge translation supports to improve this cohort’s wellbeing.

Workshop Hosts:

Marg Rogers, PhD
Senior Lecturer Education, University of New England

Michèle L. Hébert, PhD
University of Alberta; HiMARC

John VanStone
Chaplain Princess of Wales Own Regiment CFB Kingston

Making exercise/physical activity safe and effective for Veterans with OSI/PTSD and with/without chronic pain

Exercise improves physical fitness, mental health, musculoskeletal health, and heart health. Veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or occupational stress injury (OSI) have unique challenges engaging in exercise since some activities can trigger mental health symptoms—this is even more complicated when living with chronic pain. The team will review findings from experts and Veterans’ consultations on: exercise effects in OSI/PTSD, the types of triggers and specific exercise challenges when living with OSI/PTSD, and potential exercise effects of common drugs used for OSI/PTSD. The challenges when chronic pain and OSI/PTSD occur together will be discussed. We will capture Veterans’ experiences, needed supports, and next step priorities. After open discussion and voting, the team will share the workshop results in a report and use this to support a decision aid for Veterans living with OSI/PTSD with/without chronic pain to optimize their exercise plan.

Workshop Hosts:

Joy MacDermid, PhD
Professor, Western University

Robin Campbell, PhD
Western University and 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Armed Forces

J Don Richardson, MD, FRCPC
Western University

Student Workshop - Building your Career Toolbox Workshop

Are you ready to equip yourself with the skills and tools necessary for a successful career? Join us for an interactive workshop designed specifically for students who are eager to build a robust career toolkit and take proactive steps toward their professional goals.  The workshop will have a World Café format in which participants and researchers will engage in multiple smaller collaborative discussions covering relevant questions and topics related to developing a high-impact research career. Please register using this link: https://events.cimvhr.ca This workshop is free of charge to all students registered for CIMVHR Forum 2024.

Workshop Hosts:

Marshall Gerbrandt
Co-Chair, SPEC

Ashley Williams
Co-Chair, SPEC

Exploring Service Provider Knowledge, Needs, and Perceptions for Disclosures of Military Sexual Misconduct and/or Military Sexual Trauma

Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members experiencing Military Sexual Misconduct (MSM) and or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) may encounter poor military cultural competency (MCC) in the civilian community, e.g. sexual assault centers, or upon leaving service as Veterans, e.g. civilian primary care providers. This participant-guided knowledge exchange workshop will allow participants to share their expertise and contribute toward development of expert consensus guidelines around the provision of MCC training, as well as trauma-informed care (TIC) training for civilian and military healthcare practitioners to enhance their ability to effectively respond to disclosures of MSM MST. Discussions from this workshop will contribute to the development of an e-course to increase MCC and TIC practices in civilian and military care providers working with people with lived experience of MSM MST. Attendance at this workshop will break down professional silos, building a bridge practitioner working with this population in various fields across Canada.

Workshop Hosts:

Margaret McKinnon, PhD
Professor and Associate Chair, Research, McMaster University

Alexandra Heber, MD FRCPC
Veterans Affairs Canada

Linna Tam-Seto, PhD, OT Reg Ont,
University of Toronto

Wednesday, October 23rd

Military personnel, Veterans and their spouses who are making the transition from military life to civilian life for medical reasons; psychosocial issues and reflection workshops for couples

Adapting to change is a demanding process, especially when it involves multiple aspects of daily life, or stems from the presence of an illness or injury, whether physical or psychological. Military personnel, veterans and their spouses leaving the Canadian Armed Forces for medical reasons face major upheavals. The psychosocial issues they face, and their individual, marital and family needs, raise crucial questions. How can we meet these needs and support these individuals in identifying specific issues, while establishing individualized marital and family action plans? Your contribution to this workshop will contribute to the evolution of knowledge, the development of content that meets these needs, and the creation of avenues of improvement for workshops aimed at military personnel, veterans and their spouses undergoing a transition from military to civilian life for medical reasons.

Workshop Hosts:

Audrey Gallant, M.S.S.
Social Worker, Montreal Military Family Resource Centre

Myriam Dutour, B.S.S.
Social Worker, Montreal Military Family Resource Centre

Francine Habel
Executive Director, Montreal Military Family Resource Centre

Inclusion, Diversity and Representative Language in Military and Veteran Health Care, Epidemiology and Research

Our understanding and use of gendered and sex-based language has evolved rapidly over the last decade. To recognize the gender-experience, increase inclusivity, and avoid isolation of marginalized communities, there has been a push to use de-gendered or de-sexed terms that instead describe the process or anatomy of individuals; however, this approach may bring unintended consequences, such as imprecise language, inclusion of unintended personnel, and ineffective communication, which must be considered.  This workshop will review the terminology relating to sex, gender, and gender identity, and the rational for using inclusive language as well as the risks and potential unintended consequences. It will encourage discussion to explore how researchers and health care providers can communicate effectively while employing appropriate language and fostering inclusive environments.

Workshop Hosts:

Col Helen Wright, MD
CAF physician, Canadian Armed Forces

Charlotte Farquharson, CD
Canadian Armed Forces

“Are crisis lines for me?”: Moving from evidence to actionable suicide prevention crisis line recommendations created by and for public safety personnel

This workshop session will highlight research findings from the RESPond study on Public Safety Personnel’s (PSP) use of suicide prevention crisis lines—which form a critical component of Canada's suicide prevention strategy. PSP face unique mental health challenges due to frequent exposure to trauma, heightened distress, and increased suicide risk, compounded by barriers like stigma and organizational culture. Our study is the first national effort to explore PSP's engagement with crisis line services, including how they navigate these resources and the barriers and facilitators impacting access. Using human-centered design principles, workshop participants will build on research findings through dynamic small group discussions and cycles of idea-generation to collaboratively create practical, impactful recommendations to enhance crisis line support for PSP. Together, we will explore opportunities for resource development, policy and practice improvements, and further research, aiming to make crisis services more effective, equitable, and accessible for PSP.

Workshop Hosts:

Chantalle Clarkin, PhD
Staff Scientist, University of Toronto

Gisell Castillo, MA
CAMH

Allison Crawford, MD, PhD
CAMH and University of Toronto

How socio-cultural contexts can inform models for addressing moral injury: two examples

Moral injury is increasingly recognized as an important concept and framework for understanding and responding to veteran mental health. A growing literature confirms its association with critical mental health priorities, including suicide. This workshop will provide an overview of moral injury in order to then explore why and how socio-cultural contexts can inform pathways for veteran recovery from moral injury. We will offer and contrast two specific models – one drawing on an indigenous Maori perspective, the other based on U.S. social and cultural dynamics. Themes of forgiveness and of social responsibility will be emphasized. Participants will have the opportunity to observe and experience some of the existing elements and rituals drawn from the models the workshop will feature. The workshop will include opportunities for discussion, and for considering how cultural dynamics associated with participants’ social environment can inform their own efforts to engage moral injury.

Workshop Hosts:

Peter Yeomans, PhD
Psychologist, US Department of Veteran Affairs

Dan Johnson, BSC
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand

Raharuhi Koia, BCoun
New Zealand Association of Councilors

Advancing a Strategy to Collaboratively Support the Health and Wellbeing of Older Veterans

Using a life course perspective, this workshop will focus on supporting the health and well-being of older Canadian Veterans. The first part of this workshop will focus on reviewing and discussing the results and recommendations of a recent scoping review on the health and well-being of older Canadian Veterans. In the second part, participants will be divided into small groups where they will actively engage in discussions about the gaps and priorities in current research and services for Veterans. The workshop will encourage participants to identify innovative ways to work collaboratively across sectors to improve support for older Veterans health and well-being as they age.

Workshop Host:

Kim Ritchie, PhD
Assistant Professor, Trent University

Forum Awards

2024 award recipients

Each year at Forum, several researchers are recognized for their significant contributions. 2024 award recipients include:

Banting Award

Awarded annually for military health research and sponsored by the True Patriot Love Foundation. The Banting Award honours Major Sir Frederick Banting – a world renowned physician, Nobel Prize winner and researcher who discovered insulin. The award recognizes high quality Canadian research that addresses military health issues.
2024 recipient

Andrea Jones, PhD

Veteran Affairs Canada

For the research Cancer Incidence in Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Enlisted between 1976 and 2016: A retrospective cohort

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 72

Release Point Education Student Award

Release Point Education works to foster the realization of academic excellence by supporting military-connected students through the provision of specialized, relevant, and credible programming. The Release Point Education Student Award was established to continue their support of military-connected students who have a passion for military, Veteran and family research. This award is presented to the best student researcher presentation or poster at CIMVHR Forum 2024.
2024 recipient

Kathryn Reeves, BA

Mount Saint Vincent University

For the research Women Veteran’s Experiences, Perspectives and Mental Health Impacts of Encounters with Children During International Operations

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 99

Mental Health Research Award

Awarded for the best presentation on improving or innovating clinical mental health practice.
2024 recipient

Henry Bowen, PhD

Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA)

For the research Developing and Testing Training for Cultural Competency for Civilians Working with Military Populations in Australia

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 92

Colonel Russell Mann Military, Veteran and Public Safety Families Research Award

The Vanier Institute’s Military and Veteran Family Initiative’s Colonel Russell Mann Military, Veteran and Public Safety Families Research Award recognizes high quality Canadian research that increases our understanding of military and Veteran family health. The award is named after Colonel Russell Mann, a recognized national leader and strong voice for military and Veteran families in Canada and a key supporter of the Military and Veteran Family Initiative.
2024 recipient

Samantha Noyek, PhD

Veterans Affairs Canada

For the research Peer Feedback on the Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program (2013-2018)

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 98

Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) Public Safety Personnel (PSP) Mental Health Research Award

CIPSRT has developed an award dedicated to individuals or research teams that show outstanding progress in advancing PSP mental health research. This award was established to support student researchers presenting on PSP at CIMVHR Forum.
2024 recipient

Jonathan Lieberman, MSc, PhD Student

Atlas Institute for Veterans & Families; McMaster University; Lawson Health Research Institute

For the research Exploring the Impact of Biological Sex on Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A DataDriven Approach

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 79

Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health Editors’ Choice Award, sponsored by JMVFH

Awarded to a researcher whose poster presentation at CIMVHR Forum 2024 made an exceptional contribution to military, Veteran, and family health research
2024 recipient

Julie-Anne McCarthy, MSc, PhD (c)

University of Manitoba

For the research Examining Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Events and Mental Health among RCMP Cadets entering the Depot Training Program

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 22

Student Research Award, sponsored by CIMVHR

Awarded to the best student researcher presentation at CIMVHR Forum 2024.
2024 recipient

Robyn E. Shields, MSc

University of Regina

For the research Mental Health Disorder Symptoms among Royal Canadian Mounted Police

  Forum 2024 Abstract p. 16

Families Round Table

Families Round Table
2024 Forum at a glance