As the Founder and Executive Director of The Tema Conter Memorial Trust, Vincent Savoia is an expert in work-related mental health and wellness. Vince has served as a paramedic and emergency medical dispatcher. In 1988, he became a member of the first ever Critical Incident Stress Management team at Toronto Emergency Medical Services. He has an extensive background in crisis intervention and peer support.

In 1988, Vincent Savoia became a member of the first-ever Critical Incident Stress Management team at Toronto Emergency Medical Services. That same year, following a particularly difficult call, Vince found himself experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Reaching out for support was challenging, but after fighting his way to a healthier place, Vincent Savoia is now using his personal experience to become a champion for mental health awareness in the public safety sector. Dealing with feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration, Savoia began his battle with PTSD. Flashbacks, nightmares, isolation, and hyper-vigilance were some of the symptoms that he needed to deal with.

 The Tema Conter Memorial Trust began in 2001 as a modest charity offering scholarships to paramedic students. Today, it has grown to become a hub for research, education and training, as well as a peer and psychological support resource for the men and women serving in Canada’s public safety organizations. In 2011, the Trust welcomed Canadian actor, Enrico Colantoni as its national spokesperson. With Enrico’s help, and the simple yet powerful slogan, “Heroes Are Human”, the charity has been able to spread awareness across the country and beyond. In the summer of 2014, volunteers of the Trust and various speakers and celebrities embarked on a cross-Canada PTSD-awareness tour that reached thousands of people in 47 towns and cities from Newfoundland to British Columbia.  Tema is has won multiple awards for their work with first responders and has become a main resource for PTSD and Mental Health training across Canada. 

Vincent Savoia is a graduate of Royal Roads University and Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology. He is a Certified Executive Coach, an alumni member of the York Region Critical Incident Stress Management Team, has served as an advisor to Peer Support Accreditation Certification (Canada), is a qualified Mental Health Works trainer, a certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training instructor, and he was a professor at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology teaching in the School of Public Safety, Emergency Communications Services program.

In 2015, Vincent Savoia was nominated for the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Ontario College Graduates. In 2016, he received an Honourary Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Studies from Humber College Institute of Technology and Applied Learning, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada. In 2017, Vincent Savoia was recognized by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as a Difference Maker, one of the 150 leading Canadians for Mental Health. Vince constantly finds new ways to broaden the reach of the Trust’s work, engaging partners to enter the important dialogue of providing mental health support for the public safety community, while also keeping the memory of Tema Conter associated with personal change.