About us
Background
Gerry is a trained mediator who has gained mediation experience through actively mediating various disputes, particularly disputes arising from financial difficulties in agriculture. The various ripple effects of financial difficulties has seen Gerry involved in various conflicts such as marital issues, family succession plans, disputes between neighbors, and other relational situations.
Gerry began his training in conflict resolution training in 2000 with the Canadian Dispute Resolution Corporation. Since that time he has taken courses in Conflict Resolution at the University of Winnipeg in 2002, received a certificate in Conflict Resolution from Mediation Services in Winnipeg, and completed a Professionalism and Ethics course offered by the Agricultural Institute of Canada. Further to this, in 2007, Gerry completed an intensive counseling course offered by Klinic Community Health. In 2008 he completed the requirements for ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).
Experience
As an agricultural producer, Gerry was involved in agricultural politics with Manitoba Pork Est., Manitoba Pork Marketing, Canadian Pork Council and Keystone Agricultural Producers. These positions gave Gerry the opportunity to gain experience in negotiations and facilitation, make invaluable contacts in government and industry, as well as seeing agriculture across Canada and through out the World.
Since 2000 Gerry, as a mediator for the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board and Farm Debt Mediation Services, has dealt with over 450 farm families experiencing financial challenges
Since 2007 Gerry has been involved, as a counselor, with The Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line, The Manitoba Crisis Line and the Manitoba Suicide Line. In the winter of 2010, he was project coordinator for Farmer to Farmer, a project dealing with men and depression.
Over the course of the last ten years, Gerry has presented to many different groups on the topic of mediation, stress, and depression.
Since 2006, Gerry has dealt with various people and organizations as a coach, a mediator, or a facilitator under the umbrella of his own private practice.
In 2010, Gerry was the recipient of the Manitoba Pork Council Friend of the Industry Award for “providing emotional support and expertise to help farmers cope with financial and emotional stress in their darkest days”.
Articles
Professional and Community Involvement
In the past, Gerry has volunteered for Westman Mediation Services (John Howard Society), the Assiniboine Community Justice Committee, the Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line, and the Manitoba Suicide Line.
Gerry is a member of CAFA (Canadian Association of Farm Advisors) and Family Mediation Manitoba.