Natalie Harris

Natalie Harris is a retired advanced care paramedic who has become Ward Six Councillor of Barrie, ON. She found her way into the world of politics after advocating for Ontario’s Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act in 2017 and Canada’s Act Respecting the Federal Framework On Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2018.

Natalie has spoken at countless events across Canada about her own battles with mental illnesses such as addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2017, she founded Wings of Change, an organization that offers peer support meetings to first responders and their families across Canada. Natalie is the co-founder and president of BrainStorm Revolution, a not-for-profit organization that provides platforms for individuals to share their mental wellness stories. She is also the creator of Addiction Get-Well Cards.

She is an educator with institutes such as the Georgian College and the Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine. She also shared her experiences on a blog for the Huffington Post and written several books including Save-My-Life School: A first responder’s mental health journey.

Named one of Barrie’s leading women, she is the recipient of many awards and accolades, including the Ontario Paramedic Association’s Exemplary Service Award, the John Graves Simcoe Medal of Honour, the Tema Conter Memorial Resiliency Award, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the University of Victoria. Above all, her proudest accomplishment is being a mom to Caroline and Adam, and a “grammy” to Beckham.

“Masking your true feelings for most of life never works – truth is the only path to healing.”