Healthcare Conference Halifax- October 11-14, 2023

The Unifor Health Care Conference took advantage of the seaside location in Halifax, N.S. to give health care workers some time to breathe, share experiences, and discuss common challenges. More than 160 people gathered from health care units across Ontario and Nova Scotia representing nurses, paramedics, long-term care Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) and Personal Support Workers (PSWs), medical laboratory technologists, administrative and maintenance, food services, sanitation workers and more.

This is what inspired Unifor Local 302 members and active paramedics Shaun Taylor and Jill Foster to create a social media campaign nine years ago that has since developed into a worldwide movement to support first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“We began by sharing pictures of us holding a sign that said, ‘I’ve Got Your Back 911’ to show other first responders they weren’t alone,” said Taylor. “It started taking off and before we knew it, we were getting photos from all over the world – from police, paramedics, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, military, you name it.”

Now, I’ve Got Your Back 911 has a retail storefront in London, Ont., that ships merchandise all over the world and welcomes people into a safe space.