Forging Ahead: How blacksmithing is helping first responders and veterans with healing
A unique blacksmith workshop in St. Adolphe, Man., is helping veterans and first responders cope with their emotions.
At the workshop, those experiencing stress, anger or pain learn to name their feelings, and then hammer them out while also learning artistic metalwork.
“You’re pounding away on metal, and you can think about how you are feeling, and just kind of let it out flow through the movements you are doing here,” said Winnipeg firefighter Laura Duncan.
Canadian Armed Forces veteran Cameron Bennett created Forging Ahead in 2018 after he was medically released from the military. He built a shop just a few steps from his door.
He said blacksmithing helped turn things around for him.
“I realized how much blacksmithing helped me with my PTSD and [operational stress injury] that I was diagnosed with. And figured that if it worked for me, then I could do it for other people.”.
First, Bennett was offering his program to veterans, and now it’s for anyone on the frontlines.
“This is an art therapy that helps anyone. I’m not going to close the door to anyone who has any type of PTSD, OSI or is just feeling down. It’s for them to feel a bit of pride for themselves,” he said.
All the rookie blacksmiths are closely mentored, with Bennett hoping to move the program to expand in a bigger space.
“I can work for hours on this, lose track of time and feel great because I accomplish something, and pour out my aggression in a productive way,” he said.
- With files from CTV’s Nicole Dube.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
DEVELOPING Alberta's request for federal assistance approved after fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
A slight temperature drop makes Tuesday the world's second-hottest day
Global temperatures dropped a minuscule amount after two days of record highs, making Tuesday only the world's second-hottest day ever.
U.K. police officer suspended after video appears to show a man being kicked in head
A British police officer was suspended from all duties Thursday after a video was posted on social media that appeared to show an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying on the floor of a terminal at Manchester Airport.