CX Solid Foundation

Animals teach us more than we realize, often without us even knowing it.

Yesterday we lost one of the first neighbours to come and check us out when we moved to the farm.

Kilroy was a scruffy old feral cat who had been here long before we were. He was the first on the block to peer through our window and inspect the new people.

Of course, I started feeding him whenever I saw him.

It took at least three years before he wouldn’t run like hell the second I opened the door. I spent the next three trying to earn enough trust that I could finally catch him and take away his babymakers.

He was far too clever for that.

Over the last year, though, something changed.

He started coming to the back step when he wanted food. Eventually, he was content to lie there while I came and went.

I thought I was finally getting somewhere.

Dammit, this cat was going to get my help whether he wanted it or not!

Last week he started sneaking into the pump house where my barn kitties spend their nights and helping himself to some cushy snoozes.

Then, three days ago, after six years of trying, I finally got to lightly pet him.

I was thrilled.

Two nights ago, he started sleeping in the pump house with the barn kitties.

And my heart sank.

When an animal’s behaviour changes that dramatically, you know something isn’t right.

Yesterday I found Kilroy unresponsive in his cozy heated bed. He passed shortly afterward.

Now you may be wondering why the hell I’m telling you about a scruffy old feral cat of unknown age.

Because of what Kilroy reminded me.

For six years I wanted to help that old codger. I fed him. I worried about him. I tried to make life a little easier for him. And I would have done almost anything to help him more.

But I couldn’t force him to accept it.

He had to decide when he was ready to trust me enough to let me in.

People aren't so different.

As helpers, we see someone struggling and our instinct is to jump in. We want to fix things. We want to make it better. Sometimes we KNOW they would feel better if they would just let us help.

But we don't get to decide when someone is ready.

We can leave the door open.

We can keep showing up.

We can make sure they know there is food on the back step, a warm bed in the pump house, and a safe place to land when they decide they are ready.

But the trust has to be theirs to give.

I am incredibly honoured that, after six years of keeping me at arm’s length, Kilroy chose to trust me when he needed somewhere safe.

For a feral cat, that was huge.

And I feel exactly the same way every time a person trusts me enough to sit down, talk, ask for help, or simply admit that things aren't okay.

Never underestimate what it means when someone who has spent a long time surviving on their own finally decides you're safe enough to let in.

Thanks for the lesson, you scruffy old bu**er.

And thanks for finally letting me pet you. ❤️

It is with broken hearts, that we regretfully inform you all that our founder and best friend, Mark Long, passed away yesterday from a sudden medical condition. We know he has touched more lives than anyone will ever know, and will be missed by many. Please continue to support each other, lean on your peers. That’s how Mark thought we all needed to heal. ❤️

As Global Su***de Prevention Month Comes to an End: Let Us Remember the Person Behind the Pain

As we come to the end of Global Su***de Prevention Month, perhaps one of the most important things we can do is move beyond the question, “Why would someone want to die?” and begin asking a more compassionate question: “What pain has become so overwhelming that this person can no longer see a way through it?”

Most people do not wake up one morning simply deciding that they no longer want to live. Suicidal thoughts are often an expression of profound psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, hopelessness, trauma, loneliness, grief, mental illness, or circumstances that have become unbearable. The wish is not always for death itself; sometimes, it is a desperate wish for the pain to stop.

This is why su***de prevention cannot be reduced to telling someone to “be strong,” “think positively,” or “remember your family”… When a person's mind is overwhelmed by pain, ordinary solutions may become invisible. They don't need judgment, but connection; not condemnation, but understanding; not silence, but a safe space to speak.

A suicidal person may still laugh, work, pray, care for others and appear perfectly composed. Behind that outward appearance, however, there may be an internal battle that nobody sees. This reminds us that su***de prevention is everyone's responsibility—not only psychologists, psychiatrists and healthcare professionals, but families, teachers, religious leaders, employers, friends, communities and society itself.

Sometimes prevention begins with something remarkably simple: “I have noticed that you are not yourself lately. I am here. You don't have to carry this alone.”

As this month ends, let su***de prevention not end with the calendar. Let us continue building communities where seeking psychological help is not a sign of weakness, where mental health services are accessible and affordable, and where people can speak about their darkest moments without being labelled, shamed or dismissed.

Every life carries a story that may not yet be finished.

Sometimes, saving a life begins with being willing to sit beside someone in their darkest chapter until they can imagine another page.

Yesterday was another great day. Isn’t it amazing when we get to have so many of those in our lives?

I attribute it to the horses and Miss Bella. But I digress. 😂

CX Solid Foundation was invited to attend the Friends & Family Day at Edmonton Institution to introduce families to who we are and what we offer.

Because families are part of the mending process for so many of us, and they need to be included too.

Our entire team was able to attend, and our Karlina even managed to jump on a tour of the institution so she can now put a place to some of the stories she hears!

We didn’t take many pictures, even though there were lots of people visiting. There were quite a few kids involved and, for this particular visit, taking photos just didn’t feel right.

Besides, we were far too busy talking—which is the important part after all.

As horses tend to do, Molly and Halley drew people in. And sometimes, when people stop beside a horse for a few minutes, emotions surface and stories come out.

Thank you to each and every person who felt safe enough to share some of those stories with us. We never take that trust lightly.

It was great meeting new people, introducing families to Molly, Halley and Bella, and renewing some old friendships along the way.

And a huge thank you to Jynel for reaching out and inviting us to be part of the day.

Families serve alongside our first responders in ways that aren't always obvious. It was pretty special to have the opportunity to include them in what we do too.

Thank you to the Prince Albert Daily Herald for taking the time to join us on Saturday's 2026 CANADIAN WALK FOR VETERANS with RIVER VALLEY RESILIENCE RETREAT!

The link to the article is posted on our website at https://rvrrsk.ca/thatsus

Calling First Responders in the Edmonton area — or anyone willing to travel to Leduc!

CX Solid is planning a photoshoot ahead of Remembrance Day to create a tribute to those who served and those we have lost.

We actually tried to do this last year, but Mother Nature had other plans for us and travelling became an issue. So, we're trying again, just earlier

If you are a first responder or veteran and would like to attend in uniform and be part of the shoot, please message me directly. I don't always manage to keep up with comments in time, and I don't want to miss anyone.

Unfortunately, it's a bit of short notice, but here are the details:

📅 October 15
📍 Fred Johns Park, Leduc — under the flag and jet
⏰ Arrive for 1300
📸 The shoot should take no more than an hour.

Our horses Max and Halley will, of course, be there representing CX Solid alongside everyone.

We would love to have as many services represented as possible.

Please stand with us in remembrance of those who served.

Lest we forget.

The global agreement was created because the standard collective agreement with the Treasury Board simply wasn't built for the realities of running a prison.

A standard union contract sets up the big-picture stuff like salaries, benefits, and general rules for all federal workers. But in correctional facilities, managers and officers are dealing with 24/7 high-stakes environments, constant staffing shortages, and unpredictable safety risks.

The UCCO-SACC-CSN Global Agreement was developed to bridge that gap. It gives Correctional Service Canada (CSC) and the union a way to hash out the messy, everyday operational details without having to wait years for the next round of formal contract negotiations.

CSC’s motivations:

Balancing the Budget on Our Backs: The federal government is forcing millions in budget cuts down CSC’s throat. Management sees our hard-fought vacation quotas as an expensive headache because they have to pay overtime to keep the shifts safe. If they kill the global agreement, they can slash staffing levels, deny our leave, and leave the floor unsafely short-staffed just to fix their bottom line.

Eroding the Professional Scope of CX Work: CSC is actively looking for ways to cut corners, like replacing highly trained Correctional Officers (CX) with civilian positions or virtual training. The global agreement protects our professional scope. Without it, management has a green light to dilute our roles, weakening institutional security and putting our safety at risk.

Silencing Union Representation: CSC recently proposed ending fixed paid leave days for elected union officials—days we use to handle labour relations and participate in mandated employer meetings. Getting rid of the global agreement is part of a broader effort to undermine the union’s capacity to defend members directly on the institutional floor.

Dodging Fast Accountability: The global agreement forces CSC to settle disputes through a dedicated, rapid-track resolution process rather than letting issues rot in the broken, slow-moving Treasury Board grievance system. Management would prefer to push everything back into that massive bureaucratic backlog, where a violation of our rights takes years to resolve.

It is late in the day, but I wanted to make sure we wished a very Happy 7th Birthday to one of our most attentive team members! 🐾💙

Bella came to me from a rescue in northern BC with her big brother Gus five years ago. And while we sadly lost our Gus Gus this spring, Bella has stepped forward and somehow managed to fill an even bigger role in our adventures supporting first responders.

Very rarely does someone get past her—or leave without a smile—when this little girl is in the room. Whether she’s making her rounds, looking for someone who needs a little extra attention, or simply supervising from the nearest chair, Bella takes her job very seriously.

Here’s hoping we get another dozen years or more with this amazing little girl.

Happy Birthday, little Bells! 🎂🐾

Seven looks pretty darn good on you. 💙