The eighth annual PTSD Awareness Hockey Tournament was held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Keeler Centre in Colborne.
The annual tournament is in support of Boots On The Ground and the Cramahe Firefighters Association.
Boots On the Ground is a peer support for first responders which was founded a retired police officer..
All teams competing were Northumberland County Fire Departments and the goal was to bring awareness to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder said co-organizer Jamie Briggs.
Money from the event goes to Boots On The Ground along with the Cramahe Township Firefighters Association.
“Over the eight years we’ve approximately raised $35,000 to be split,” said Briggs.
“Boots On The Ground” is a 24/7 peer support so any first responder can pick up the phone and call them any time of day and they will have somebody there to talk with them.”
Briggs said that they will also bring in teams to do critical incident debriefs after a major incident.
“You just have to make a phone call and they are there for you.”
Any first responder deals with tragic incidents during the course of their career and Briggs said that Boots On The Ground is a only a call away for help.
Briggs said the call doesn’t necessarily end when the emergency is over.
“It’s good we’re getting more awareness. It might not bug you a week later, it might bother you a year later. It’s about bringing the awareness and letting people know they are not alone.”
The Cramahe Firefighters Association also gives back in numerous ways to the community throughout the year.
Teams competing in the tournament were Brighton Fire Department, Cramahe Fire Department, Alnwick/Haldimand Township Fire Department, Trent Hills Fire Department, Hamilton Township Fire Department and Cobourg Fire Department.
This years tournament raised $5,000 with it being split to both organizations.
The Cramahe Township Firefighters Association Committee consists of Jamie Briggs, Colton Jones, Laura Stacey, Owen Robinson and Kyle Hartley.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
