Voices, Stories, And Support At Vermilion’s Wellness Symposium

The Health and Wellness Symposium Speakers From left, Kerri Lorenson, Mike Cameron, and Chris Ekelson. Photo Sonya Lee

On February 4, 2026, the Vermilion Regional Centre was filled with conversation, reflection, and a shared commitment to mental wellness as community members gathered for the tenth annual Vermilion Mental Health & Wellness Symposium. Running from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the full-day event welcomed participants from across the region for a meaningful exploration of mental health, leadership, and grounded well-being.

The symposium featured three speakers, each offering a deeply personal and practical perspective on mental wellness. Opening the day was Mike Cameron, whose keynote focused on the power of connection in leadership and everyday life. Drawing on decades of experience, Cameron spoke about reclaiming mental wellness through emotional connection to ourselves, to others, and to community. When reflecting on his own journey, he shared that he didn’t initially recognize the work he was doing as mental health. It began simply as an effort to become a better man. Over time, that inward shift redefined how he understood strength, vulnerability, and resilience.

Cameron emphasized that real strength is not rooted in toughness alone. It is found in the balance between being tough and being tender. Vulnerability, he explained, is not weakness; it is ownership. It is the courage to drop the mask, let go of the armour, and show up honestly. That kind of authenticity creates connection, and connection, he noted, changes everything.

In everyday life, that connection is built in small moments. When we slow down, listen fully, and stop performing who we think we’re supposed to be, it is easier to connect authentically. Cameron spoke candidly about how difficult it can be to truly listen, especially when we are focused on projecting an image rather than being present. Listening to understand, rather than listening to respond, requires a pause. And that pause often forces us to confront ourselves, which is why so many of us avoid it.

For many men, mental health remains entangled with stigma. Cameron described how issues are often ignored like a pebble in the shoe; easy to dismiss until they become impossible to walk with. That is why, he stressed, the work must happen before a crisis hits. Practising the pause, taking a breath, and building self-awareness during calm moments prepares us for the storms we know will come. He encouraged starting small, sharing vulnerability in safe spaces with people you trust, and allowing that capacity to grow over time rather than becoming overwhelmed.

True strength, Cameron shared, is having the courage to sit with difficult emotions instead of burying them. Emotions, he noted, drive our decisions, behaviours, and ultimately our outcomes, whether we acknowledge them or not. We may like to think we are purely rational, but emotion is the foundation on which reason is built.

As Carl Jung famously said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.” Cameron stated, “Self-awareness isn’t optional. It’s everything.”

Following Cameron’s keynote, Chris Eskelson delivered a heartfelt presentation titled Shattering the Stigma: A Personal Story. Through an honest account of his experience with depression and anxiety, Eskelson highlighted the real impact of stigma and the power of open conversation. His presentation invited attendees into a space of vulnerability and understanding, while offering practical tools for fostering supportive environments at home and in the workplace. His message reinforced a central theme of the day: mental health affects everyone, and silence only deepens the struggle.

The symposium concluded with Kerri Lorenson of The Nest Project, who guided participants inward with a session on grounded wellness. Her presentation emphasized balance from the inside out, offering gentle, sustainable practices that support everyday well-being without relying on external fixes. Attendees left with tools centered on presence, safety, and self-regulation approaches that felt accessible, empowering, and realistic for daily life.

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Throughout the day, participants shared lunch and nutrition snacks, creating space for informal conversation and meaningful connection beyond the sessions themselves. The event was made possible through the financial support of the Alberta Labour Market Partnership Grant, Town of Vermilion FCSS, County of Vermilion River FCSS, Walking Through Grief, and Lakeland College, and the planning committee partners, including the above as well as Recovery Alberta Mental Health and Addictions, Vermilion & District Chamber of Commerce, VIBE, and Catholic Social Services.

The Vermilion Mental Health & Wellness Symposium served as a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together to talk openly about mental health. Through shared stories, practical tools, and meaningful connections, the event left a lasting impact.