Tim O’Loan

Tim O’Loan

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Ottawa, Ontario

Military & Indigenous Survivor - First Nation's Expert

Tim O’Loan comes from 2 wounded communities: one as a proud indigenous (Sahtu Dene) & other as Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, having served 10 years (1983-1993) in the military. Tim O’Loan is committed to supporting veterans & serving members to adapt & overcome permanent physical, mental health & has worked as an Intergovernmental Relations Advisor.

TIM O’LOAN BIOGRAPHY

Tim O’Loan comes from two wounded communities: one military, and one Indigenous. A is a proud indigenous (Sahtu Dene) Veteran, having served 10 years (1983-1993) in the military. Throughout Tims’s life, he experienced massive amounts of racism and trauma. The racism and his search for his identity was something Tim struggled with until his mid 40’s when he started working at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). While he was at the TRC his mental health started to decline as he realized how his story was similar to the survivors of residential schools story, one of a lifetime of trauma.

Tim O’Loan joined the army at 17 — partly to escape an adoptive father who was physically and emotionally abusive, his father named him “Dim Tim”. Tim’s 10 years of service included a time when the military was called out during the Oka Crisis. “Soldiers had no qualms,” he says, about sharing their feelings about Indigenous people. Anxious to avoid confrontations with fellow soldiers, he endured taunting, bullying and other abuse while trying to fit into the brotherhood, he struggled with issues of identity and self-worth. Tim O’Loan served at military bases in Winnipeg, Petawawa and Baden, Germany. At 27, O’Loan decided to leave the only career he had ever known: “I couldn’t do it anymore. I left the military physically and spiritually wounded.”

Like many survivors of physical and sexual abuse, Tim “packed away” his trauma and pondered the next steps in his life. He had promised his mother he would go back to school if he ever left the military, but he never thought he’d actually have to act on the vow. His only non-military job had been pumping gas as a teenager. Despite the struggles, Tim enrolled as a special student at Carleton University. Tim studied political sciences and received failing grades on his first four essays. He persisted and celebrated when he received his first ‘D.’ It took him four years to earn a three-year bachelor’s degree, even then he was very proud of his accomplishments as he never saw a future of college, let alone university.

Tim O’loans healing journey takes a shift to a new path to rediscovery himself, his identity and connect with his birth family.  In 1997, Tim O’Loan moved to the Northwest Territories, where members of his Dené family, including his grandfather, still lived. His grandfather was a trapper who had moved to Yellowknife to gift his children a modern education and modern healthcare, sadly to have all his children taken off to residential schools. From 1998-2006, he was a Land Claims and Self Government Negotiator and Intergovernmental Relations for the Government of the NWT. In 2006 Tim felt his BA was a good start but needed to hone his writing skills, so in 2006 Tim and his family moved to Ottawa for his MA in Canadian Studies at Carleton University. In 2010, he was asked to join the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) as the Advisor to the TRC Chair, the Hon. Murray Sinclair.

Given his unique history, Tim O’Loan now identifies as a knowledge keeper and continues to share this unique perspective across Canada and beyond, particularly through the Indigenous Veterans’ lens, mental health and Reconciliation.  He is also a proud volunteer of the Veterans Ombuds Advisory Council, the Aboriginal Veterans Association (AVA) and the Assembly of First Nations Veterans Council. Tim is the co-founder of an Ottawa-based community reconciliation initiative called “Mamawi Together”.  Its intent is to engage and educate parents, students and community members in putting Reconciliation into action.

While Tim O’Loan was with the TRC he made several presentations on Reconciliation to a range of institutions and a number of stakeholders. He continues to share this unique perspective with all levels of government, educational institutions and the private sector across Canada and the United States.

Videos

Podcasts

Coming Soon!

Tim O’Loan Topic Presentations

journey towards truth and reconciliation: insights from experience

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • In this compelling and inspiring presentation, Tim O’Loan takes participants on a profound journey toward understanding truth and reconciliation. With his unique blend of personal stories, experiences, and challenges, Tim shares insights gleaned from his four years with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). Tim’s presentation is tailored to those who are eager to move forward on their journey toward truth and reconciliation through the 94 Calls to Action for individuals and organizations. Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity on the next steps, and an enriched understanding of the vital importance of reconciliation in today’s world.

    This interactive and experience session includes but is not limited to:

    • Life-Changing Videos: Through three short but impactful videos, Tim brings to life critical themes of Indigenous issues, mental health, and reconciliation.
    • Personal Narratives: Drawing from his own life and experiences with the TRC, Tim humanizes the concepts and challenges of reconciliation, connecting with his audience on an emotional level.
    • Inspiration for Action: This presentation is more than an educational experience; it’s a call to action. Tim aims to educate, enlighten, and inspire a greater understanding of Indigenous issues and motivate his audience to take meaningful steps toward reconciliation.
    • Ceremony & Land Acknowledgement: For an additional cost, this session will be enriched by the presence of an Elder who may offer teaching, prayer, or a smudge ceremony, depending on the location of the event

community healing and restoration: a pathway to reconciliation

the wounded warrior: tim o'loan on trauma, ptsd, identity, crisis prevention, and healing pathways

navigating the storm: tim o'loan's insights into healing, identity, and community support

unraveling injustice: an insightful journey through systematic oppression and the path to racial inclusion

authenticity in healing and inclusion: creating safe spaces for acceptance and being one's self

bridging two worlds: partnership between western and indigenous institutions and nations

Testimonials

Your presentation was absolutely amazing. I have been to several workshops where we learned about the trauma caused by residential schools but I have never heard testimonies from survivors. This had quite an impact on me as I know it did the same for my colleagues. It is clear that as a staff, we are not all at the same place with regard to information on indigenous affairs and reconciliation. Your workshop gave us a good foundation on which to build on.        

Claire

At a personal level, I wasn’t expecting to face deep questions about my relationship with my mother…but I did and I thank you for that because I think it is a part of reconciliation. I am also certain that everybody in the room had their own view positive experience of the presentation and took something of great value from the things that you shared. I hope you know that you also are a hero to share, educate, honour and encourage reconciliation.

Ariane

May you continue to move hearts and open minds with the power of your message and know that your contributions to Reconciliation through sessions like the one we had are making a difference.

Grace

Articles & Media

Coming Soon!

Books

Coming Soon!

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Please contact Speakers Bureau of Canada and provide us with your event details so that we can contact Tim O’Loan to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Tim O’Loan for your event. As Tim O’Loan's agent and as a Canadian top speaker bureau and talent agency for speakers, we are able to propose each event opportunity from each host organization's behalf to try to help you get in touch with Tim O’Loan and confirm them for your in person or online meeting/event. We can also provide and advise on the booking process and potentially negotiate their fee. Speakers Canada is a client focused speaker agency, and we work for you in finding good speakers for your team meetings and booking processes.

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