Speaker 

Maria Vilas graduated from the University of Montreal with a degree in sociology, criminology, drug addiction and law. She joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2000. Convinced that the health of employees is at the core of successful police operations, she coordinates the RCMP's Health and Wellness Program in Quebec. This new challenge came at a time when her mother's health was deteriorating due to Alzheimer's disease. Maria's interest in mental health grew and she completed the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Mental Health First Aid Trainer's course. As she approached retirement from the police force, her desire to educate the public on mental health first aid was put on hold by the Covid-19 pandemic. She will choose to continue to serve and protect, in other ways, by dedicating herself to her mother and educating us all to be good care givers of our mental health through her professional Facebook page.