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Tom Regehr
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Founder of CAST Canada
Tom Regehr has been offering speeches, workshops, high school visits and conferences with a goal of reducing the suffering of mental health and addictions, and increasing the quality of life for individuals since 2004.
His experiential and educational workshops are regularly requested and serve to better prepare front line workers in their movement to support their clients. He talks about trauma and suffering, processes and activities towards bringing about positive change, progressive healing and the opportunity to embrace life with all its ups and downs.
Regehr is the founder of CAST Canada and has engaged professionals and corporations to better understand the roles of trauma and unresolved grief in, addictions, homelessness, chronic unemployment, mental illness and other concerns through the coordination of workshops, trainings and keynote speaking.
Early Life -
Regehr was born in Windsor, Ontario and spend most of his childhood in Brampton, a small town about an hour west of Toronto with his parents, brother and sister. After attending Ryerson Polytechnic University he worked in landscape design and construction and by age 30 worked as a consultant and project manager.
Throughout this time, however, Tom was simultaneously struggling with severe alcoholism, drug use, underlying issues of childhood trauma and subsequent depression. After losing his job during a recession, Regehr effectively gave up and became homeless for a number of years sleeping on couches and in stairwells, with no food, heat or companionship.
Recovery –
In approximately 1994 Regehr found that the drugs and chaos no longer worked to hold in or distract him from his inner pain and demons.
" No amount of alcohol or percs ( opiates ) would take away the screaming, crying in me."
After 8 months of contemplative counseling he entered detox and a 28 day residential program.
" I needed that time indoors with food and a bed to be able to be self aware enough to make change. But I was not able to learn much there"
Back home in Peel County he engaged with an addiction psychotherapist and enrolled in a 3 week day program with ongoing support. These 2 things combined with 12 step groups and family support helped him face the work.
With 4 years of good traditional clean time and holding certificates from 2 addiction agencies life was still a struggle. He could not keep friends or jobs, he kept a roof over his head with help from family. The solution was robust therapy that focused on past trauma and day-to-day coping skills.
"It was hard work, much harder than the substance work, but it was after the trauma work I started to get near the planet again, started to get 'well'. Note - not sane or normal, but more able to cope and be happy!"
At this time Regehr also started the process of 'consumer panels' with other individuals in recovery. These panels garnered all of the material and is the substance of CAST Canada today.
Winner of the prestigious Courage To Come Back award from The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH ) 2007. Along with 4 other winners the process raised more than $800,000.
Speaking -
Sought after speaker for Annual General Meetings, staff retreats, motivational events in corporate, health care and university settings. Speeches are known to be moving, humourous, motivating and infused with practical tips for each individual audience.
Associate professor - McMaster University - Ongoing
Curriculum based segments for first and second year masters level occupational therapy students. Material includes stigma and internal stigma, the role of trauma and loss in addiction, homelessness, employment and relationship issues. Regehr also shares his personal story and ‘acts out’ difficult role play scenarios.
Ministers Advisory Group on Addictions and Mental Health ( Ontario )
Regehr sat on the main body of the group for its 2 year duration. Though originally invited due to his personal addiction and trauma experience and his large knowledge of dealing with 'consumers', during the process, his role evolved in to that of champion of the frontline workers voice and how to more effectively benefit their own experiences with their clients.
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment - 2010
In January 2010 Regehr was diagnosed with throat cancer.
"You have cancer, it is 2 inches above your career."
The cancer was caught early and treated immediately with a combination of chemo and radiation at the Juravinsky Cancer Centre in Hamilton ON. A circle of friends and family as well as fabulous drivers from Cancer Assist Halton helped Regehr through the ordeal. Not able to eat by mouth with his body rejecting the food via stomach tube, not being able to lay down at all for months; fatigue, pain and by some definition starving ( losing more than a pound a day for more than a month ) it was a traumatic ordeal.
"I lost about 60 pounds, a lot of body hair, a year of my life and my savings ... but I have my life. I received a refreshed view the value of life and the deep knowledge of the power of the love of people around me."
Regehr is now cancer free with an excellent prognosis. He continues to work tirelessly from his office in Peterborough, ON to promote change and reduce suffering in the lives of everyone struggling with issues of trauma and addictions, and those around them.
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CAST Canada helps professionals and corporations better understand the role of trauma and unresolved grief in addictions, homelessness, chronic unemployment, mental illness and other concerns through the coordination of workshops, trainings and keynote speaking throughout Ontario and across Canada.
CAST is an acronym which stands for Come And Sit Together
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CAST Canada helps professionals and corporations better understand the role of trauma and unresolved grief in addictions, homelessness, chronic unemployment, mental illness and other concerns through the coordination of workshops, trainings and keynote speaking throughout Ontario and across Canada.
CAST is an acronym which stands for Come And Sit Together
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