Mental Health Champion: North Bay Detective Honored

Detective Const. Zach Dagg of the North Bay Police Service has received the prestigious Canada Beyond the Blue Agent of Change Award for his dedicated efforts to destigmatize mental health within the policing community.

Dagg's initiative stems from his personal experiences, including the loss of a colleague and his own mental health leave. He has since developed and implemented comprehensive mental health and wellness training for all police service members. This training is designed to normalize discussions around operational stress injuries and mental well-being.

Beyond formal training, Dagg actively contributes as a peer supporter and a member of the wellness committee. He successfully advocated for the inclusion of his late colleague, Const. Andrew Keating, on the Beyond the Blue Ontario Police Suicide Memorial, further honoring those affected by duty-related trauma.

His ongoing work focuses on embedding mental health prioritization into the core of the policing profession, akin to use-of-force training. Dagg's efforts aim to create a culture where officers feel supported and empowered to seek help without fear of stigma, ultimately benefiting the entire policing community and their families.