VĪV Mental Health

06/05/2026

First of all, congratulations to all of the speakers who spoke at DisruptHR 15.0, you were amazing!! You made us laugh, you inspired us, you shared your insights with passion and conviction, and it was truly a privilege to be there to support and share the stage with all of you.

Thank you to Ashley McKarney and the entire team for hosting another world-class event and for bringing together this amazing community. You know I'm a fan and I can't wait for the next one.

And a huge thanks to everyone who came out in support of all the speakers, the business community, and for bringing so much energy, encouragement, grace, and support. You were amazing, what a vibe!

So, I do want to touch on what happened with my own Disrupt presentation. Sadly, I was unable to deliver the talk that I had hoped to, and about halfway through I realized that I wasn't going to be able to continue. So, I made the decision to step aside, cheer on my friends, and support the spirit of why we were all there.

It was unfortunate and disappointing, for sure, but when you're lucky enough to do something you love so many times, there will inevitably be moments when you're not at your best and that's okay. We're human, after all.

Thank you for all the love, grace, respect, and compassion that you shared, and for reaching out and checking in. Truly. I'm very grateful to have amazing people in my orbit.

I also believe that while it's very important to show yourself grace and love in those moments (always), it's also important to be accountable, reflect on how you can improve for next time, and heal from the things that maybe prevented you from bringing your best. Learn from it, earn the next opportunity, and forever be a student of yourself and everything you do.

Anyway, I'm feeling good, much more rested, I understand what happened and why, and I'm very excited for reVĪVal next weekend and the opportunity to show you all a great time and express my gratitude. That'll be followed by a week of wilderness, rest, recovery, and adventures with Carson. 🐾🐕

Much love, friends. You're awesome. ❤️

- K.

05/04/2026

04/27/2026

You know what they say - if your calendar is full, make sure your heart is as well.

Last week was incredibly rewarding, full of connection, conversations, and yes - even karaoke (more on that in a sec).

I am truly grateful for each and every opportunity to contribute to these spaces and for the people and organizations who invite me into them. What a privilege.

Thank you to the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association for inviting VĪV Mental Health to present our "Mental Health Essentials For Leaders" workshop at this year's Aspire Conference! The hospitality industry is in good hands as leaders continue to embrace psychological safety and workplace mental health with intention and curiosity. Thank you for the laughs, connection, the great conversations, and for really leaning in. It was a blast!

Thank you to Nucor-Vulcraft Canada for inviting me to speak during their Safety Week event earlier this month. It speaks volumes when companies lean into supporting workplace mental health and psychological safety, and Vulcraft even took it one step further as they invited me to facilitate a pair of on-site, half-day mental health training sessions for their leadership group. Thank you for leaning in and diving deep into these topics - your candidness, curiosity, and willingness to get hands-on with the content was impressive. Full marks for working to create a strong culture of support - really well done.

Saturday night I returned to one of my favourite YEG hangouts (The Duck, just across from NAIT) as a "celebrity judge" for a karaoke contest in support of ACES (Association of a Community Engaged in Sharing)! Fantastic night, amazing singers, and a packed house - love to see it!

And one last thing (if you've read this far, bless your heart).

VĪV Mental Health is hosting our very first event on June 13th called reVĪVal. I've been so humbled by the response so far - thank you to everyone who has purchased tickets already (they are limited, so get yours soon!)

The event is a celebration of the incredible community we've grown to be a part of over the past five years - because the support, opportunities, wisdom, and friendship that you've shared means more to me than you'll ever know. Yes, it's also VĪV's five-year anniversary so we're having some fancy cupcakes made...but truly, I just want us all to celebrate each other because y'all are amazing.

reVĪVal is a two-part event - a family-friendly expo during the day with workshops, keynotes, community resources, activities, and so much more! The evening portion is an intimate mixer (grown-ups only) with live music, food, drinks, networking, and a few surprises. Come to one or come to both - tickets and info can be found here:

https://VIVrevival.eventbrite.ca

I would love to see you there - it would mean the world to me. Many of you have seen me through more than a few seasons of my life and I would love to catch up, show you a great time, and thank you for all of your support!

There are a few sponsorship and vendor opportunities still available as well, and we would be so grateful for your support in hosting the event - message me for details!

Thank you for being amazing, you little rock star you. We have some big announcements coming for May as well - stay tuned!

~ Kristopher

04/25/2026

Sometimes group therapy looks like a room full of people experiencing the same things you are - with the occasional f-bomb thrown in.

We've got some stories to share. Limited tickets available so get 'em soon!

Can't wait for this one.

~ K.

04/04/2026

On my 12th birthday, I was gifted this guitar. Dark green, sticker-free, glossy and beautiful.

My family and I were in the midst of some significant and challenging life changes, and we were all doing our best to navigate the new family dynamic. That guitar quickly became my reprieve and escape from all the complexity and uncertainty. I had found a new outlet: music.

My cousin (who was like an older brother to me) had just started taking guitar lessons. I followed suit, and soon we were learning our favourite songs together. We'd practice constantly, play for family, friends, and neighbours, and dream about forming a band one day.

Growing up, I always loved reading, writing, and being creative. My mom even kept some of the short stories I wrote in elementary school. In junior high, I fell in love with performance and being on stage. I always loved writing poetry as well - I must have written hundreds of poems over the years.

As far back as I can remember, I was obsessed with music. I spent every dollar I earned on concerts, magazines, and CD's. I especially loved studying and reading song lyrics. I remember realizing at some point that songs...were just poems put to music.

As my guitar skills improved, I began writing my own songs. I'd come up with a guitar riff and a vocal melody, and then I'd write the lyrics. I couldn't sing well, but I could hear how I wanted it to sound in my head. I filled up binder after binder full of song lyrics. Some of them didn't even have music to them yet - I just imagined how the music would sound and then practiced on guitar until I could play what I was hearing in my head. It felt amazing being able to create things that were truly my own.

The lyrics that I wrote often reflected the things that I was feeling and experiencing. I loved using wordplay, metaphors, and double-meanings to express things that I felt like I couldn't explicitly say. It felt like I'd found a secret code that let me share my secrets authentically - yet safely - all under the guise of "art".

When I performed my songs at school or for friends and family, I felt validated. I felt encouraged. "Play another song!" meant "Share more of Kris!". What a gift this was for a sensitive kid who felt so many things, kept them inside, and now had a way to release them.

This gift - this empowering means of self-expression - is the heart of the InstruMental Health Music Program. It even goes beyond self-expression, exploring how we can appreciate how others express themselves. When we can't find our own words but a song can say it for us...that. When we go to a concert and stand arm-in-arm with strangers who feel those songs in the same way that we do...THAT.

InstruMental Health is so fulfilling and rewarding...seeing how it can heal, validate, and unite people the way that it does is incredible.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to be bringing InstruMental Health to the youth of Stony Plain this month. Email [email protected] to register or just drop-in to check it out!

"Play your heart out."

~ Kris

03/25/2026

March has been incredibly fulfilling to say the least - filled with heart, connection, and community. Feeling very grateful for how "full" our calendar has been! Here are a few highlights from over the past few weeks:

BEx Summit in Kananaskis (March 1-3)
An inspiring event filled with leaders and wonderful colleagues focused on ex*****on, leadership, and connection. A huge shout-out and heartfelt thanks to Jeff Tetz and the Results team for hosting such an amazing event! 10/10 - can't wait for next year!

University of Alberta - Team-Building Retreat (Feb. 26 & Mar. 5)
We had the privilege of facilitating two half-day retreats for the University of Alberta's Utilities department - focusing on psychological safety, workplace mental health, and effective communication. An amazing group to work with - thank you for inviting me to support your team!

Business Mastery Summit (March 6th)
Kat Halushka and Thomas Stenson hosted a fantastic event, bringing together an incredible community of business minds to share their insights and journeys. It was a privilege to share the stage with some true pillars of our business community. Can't wait for the next event!

InstruMental Health - Holy Family Catholic School (March 11th)
I was thrilled to present to Grade 3-12 students across two sessions at Holy Family Catholic School in Waskatenau, Alberta - blending mental health literacy with music and self-expression. Thank you to all of the students and staff who participated - what an awesome day!

Heavy Hockey Showdown in support of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) - March 14
One of my favourite annual traditions is being the game day co-host for this incredible community fundraiser in support of our friends at SACE. Great game as well - what a finish! Thank you to Michael Hebert, all the players, and all of the volunteers for an amazing event!

Founders After Hours - ScaleIQ Entrepreneurs Growth Network (Mar. 19)
A candid and connected cohort (love me some alliteration) featuring Lori-Ann Muenzer and hosted by ScaleIQ founders Jeff Eschak and Kari Enns. Heartfelt conversations exploring the true nature of business, success, and resilience. ScaleIQ is doing some great things - check them out!

Chrysalis Connects feat. Cam Tait (Mar. 20)
A heart-filled and inspiring evening centred on inclusion, lived experience, and perseverance. Thank you to Robert Helm, Fiona Wilson, and the Chrysalis team for bringing together so many wonderful people and resources.

Stay tuned for our next announcement - we've got some VERY exciting things to share with you!