Co-Lead of the Peer Support Team
M.O.M., O.O.O
Peer Support Specialist

Syd Gravel is a former staff sergeant with thirty-one years of experience with the Ottawa Police Service, retired in 2009.

He is one of the founding fathers of Robin’s Blue Circle, a post-shooting trauma team of peers, established in 1988, and co-founder of Badge of Life Canada, and is still actively involved with them. Syd was the first Canadian representative on the executive committee for the Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN) from 2018 to 2021, and is now a mentor to this Global Organization.

He was awarded the twenty-year Police Exemplary Service Medal, the twenty-five-year Police Exemplary Service Bar, the Order of Merit in Policing, Canada and the Order of Ottawa and was nominated by the Mental Health Commission of Canada as a Canadian Champion of Mental Health.

He is the author of “56 Seconds”, “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support”, and co-author of “Walk the Talk – First Responder Peer Support” and “Slay the Toxic Dragon, Police Leadership Impacting Member Wellness”.

He co-developed the 4-day train the trainer curriculum for Oscar-Kilo, the National Police Wellness Group for the United Kingdom, and is currently co-leading the Peer and Trauma Support Systems (P.A.T.S.S.) Team for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.

Syd continues to volunteer for a number of trauma and community oriented organizations such as Renfrew Community Living, The Haven and the OPS Peer Support Team.

On a personal level, Syd, along with his spouse Judy, have two sons and three grandchildren. Judy and Syd are Masters 4, are holders of several medals in the sport of Powerlifting.