Today, we have Theo Fleury with us. Theo, who hoisted the Cup with the Flames in 1989, won a gold medal for Canada in 2002 and amassed 455 goals, 633 assists and 1,840 penalty minutes during his career – is not here for those reasons. Today he is here with us as a victor over trauma and addiction, and facilitator to those still trying to find their way.Theo's best-selling books, Playing with Fire and Conversations with a Rattlesnake, encourage open sharing and provide practical tools that people seeking help can personally use. These tools are also useful to those who want to lead a productive conversation with anybody else experiencing trauma. Theo Fleury is the author of Playing With Fire and Conversations with a Rattlesnake. Theo has been awarded the Canadian Humanitarian Award and The Queen’s Jubilee Medallion. He is a Siksika Nation Honorary Chief and recipient of the Aboriginal Indspire Award. He also holds two honorary doctorates – one in Science from the University of Guelph-Humber for outstanding contributions to the mental health of Canadians, and another in Laws from Brandon University for his work in combating child sexual abuse and promoting healing and recovery.
Today, Theo is a healthy, inspirational, successful agent of change. His highly-acclaimed speaking engagements on the subjects of trauma and abuse invite audience self-reflection and create a safe environment where others can share their own “Me Too” experiences.
Six days after he started writing Playing With Fire Theo’s life changed completely and his catharsis began. He believes that trauma is the largest epidemic in the world and can be intertwined with or lead to mental health and addictions.
He asks for us to be more compassionate, he asks for us to be helpers, he asks for us to connect.
The Breaking Free Foundation was founded by Fleury in 2013 with a mission to provide survivors of traumatic life events with the treatment and support needed to reclaim their lives.
Fleury says that the more he helps others is how he heals and helps himself. The more compassion he feels for others, the more he can love himself.
Howie Shikaze thanked Theo for his time with us and suggested that his was a journey of true enlightenment.