How did you work your way to the job you love? Did you land it as soon as you finished school? Or did you take a few detours along the way? Detours is an understatement when describing Tammy Reynolds’s career path.
I’ve known Tammy for the better part of 30 years, and when we got together to talk about her accomplishments, I realized I had no idea about the full journey she has been on.
Tammy was born and raised in Thunder Bay and has always been a creator, and it was only natural as she had been surrounded with the influence of her mother and grandmother, both of whom were artists. She was very close to her father who encouraged her to play hockey and have fun and even built a hockey rink in the backyard to encourage her. When Tammy said she wanted to play hockey on a team her dad took her to get registered in boys hockey as there were no offerings for girls hockey teams. They told her there wasn’t a place on the team for her, and she could play ringette. Throughout high school, she was pleased to have found that she could play intramural hockey.
She was working in the fry booth at the Fort William Gardens in 1992 when she saw a poster for Thunder Bay Women’s Hockey. She finally had a chance to play in a hockey league. Tammy held various positions with the organization and later got involved with coaching, eventually becoming president of Thunder Bay Women’s Hockey League. She was also involved with the National Master Women’s Certification Program to promote women coaches and then became a National Women’s Coaching facilitator. Tammy has run 62 coaching clinics online for women’s hockey. She can also evaluate and certify coaches. Tammy was also a coach for the Ontario Winter Games in 2014 and the Summer Games in 2023.
Outside of hockey, her artistic calling drew her to university to become an art teacher. During this time, she served in the reserves with the 736 Communication Squadron and later took a position as a meter maid with Apex. Her career path included roles as a private investigator and security guard, all while remaining in the military. Then one day, a call from a Thunder Bay Police Sergeant, familiar with her military communications training said they were hiring dispatchers. What Tammy didn’t realize was that this would be the beginning of her career in law enforcement.
Tammy’s work as a dispatcher included gathering information and answers for officers, helping them to sort out what was right and wrong in what they were being told and helping wrap up their calls and move on to the next challenge. The investigative aspects of policing seemed to be her calling so she applied to be an officer. When she completed her training, she specialized in breathalyzer technology, later becoming a training officer. Throughout her career, she was involved in numerous facets of policing, including training and working as a youth officer focused on missing persons cases. One case she was called to was a homicide, the scene and details of which had such a profound impact on Tammy that she needed to take time off to meet with a psychiatrist.
That psychiatrist was Dr. Diane Whitney, who passed away last year. Dr. Whitney specialized in dealing with first responders, and one of the first questions she asked Tammy was, “What are you doing for yourself?”. Tammy felt she needed to stay home in order for people to believe she was indeed suffering. Imagine staying home so others are ok with your healing. Tammy felt if she left the house that people would judge her because she was off work for PTSD. Dr. Whitney told her, “My prescription is to go out and play hockey.” While out of the house she ran into a fellow police officer who gave her a supportive hug and said, “It’s good to see you out.”
After working together a while, Dr. Whitney asked her what she would do when she retired. This was nothing Tammy had even considered. This led to the next suggestion from Dr. Whitney—that Tammy become an art therapist. This was a pivotal moment for Tammy as she realized she could use her talents to help other people who are suffering. She was accepted into a 16-month art therapy course at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute.
Tammy has used her training in art therapy to help others. “Art therapy isn’t teaching to be an artist; it’s the process of creativity; it doesn’t matter what the end result is. It’s a mindful activity that allows you to calm the fight-or-flight response so that you can engage your cognitive brain, and it is soothing.”
Her final task art project during the course was called, “Your Mom Made Chocolate Chip Cookies: How Art Therapy has helped me heal through my PTSD symptoms as a First Responder”. The title was inspired by a visit home to her parents after that homicide case. Her parents hugged and chatted with her when she arrived. Her mother was off making her a tea when her father came out of the kitchen with a plate of cookies. He said, “Your mom made chocolate chip cookies”. This brought her so much comfort.
When Tammy’s father passed away, the weight of the pain of her loss along with the tragedies at work, meant she was only getting 2 or 3 hours of sleep each night. She described her mind as “ping pong brain”. Overreacting, yelling at people, her brain was in a constant hyperarousal state. Until she started to draw. She said she picked up a pencil and drew for days, and it helped her to process this dark time and to be present. She says things become clearer after she draws; she can think again.
Often if people have depression, low self-esteem, they have a really harsh inner critic. Tammy explains further, saying “We weren’t born with it. We developed it through caregivers, peers, school, and our talents or lack thereof. And we listen to these things. Instead of concentrating on WHAT we’re doing right. When someone tells us something negative, we start to believe it. It kills me to think that kids stop playing hockey or stop doing something because someone told them they’re bad at it. Kids are influenced by everything”, said Tammy.
A phrase Tammy tells people to write down is “I am doing the best I can for today.” You don’t have to be perfect. What we need to do is remember what WE think we do well, regardless of what others think.
A lot of positive affirmations and gratitude are used in Tammy’s work. These are techniques and tools to move forward, helping people work through their issues and getting back on their feet saying I think I’m good. I can go back to work, or I can go out in the world, Tammy relayed with a smile.
I asked Tammy if she’s ever had anyone tell her she made a difference in their life. She shared that a little girl she coached was a goalie, and her parents couldn’t accompany her on tournaments, so she would travel with her. She saw Tammy as a role model and developed a respect for policing as a profession, inspired by Tammy’s role as an officer. When she graduated as an RCMP officer, she asked for special permission for Tammy to present her with her badge. She also continues to play hockey.
What’s next, Tammy? “I think the message is don’t stop. Do what you want to do, do what you enjoy doing. Your whole life, you worry about stuff. It should be about enjoying life”, says Tammy.
