Janet Wiszowaty never realized how deeply the weight of her experiences as a civilian RCMP dispatcher affected her life. “I had no idea I stopped laughing. I was always busy. It was avoidance,” she reflects, illustrating the silent struggles many first responders face.

Over her remarkable 30-year career, Wiszowaty received countless emergency calls that increasingly took a toll on her mental and physical health. Cases involving children particularly struck a chord within her, leaving her with feelings of helplessness. Moreover, living in Vancouver, she endured four significant vehicle accidents over a decade, further compounding her sense of isolation.

After years of carrying this emotional burden, a pivotal moment came one sleepless night when she finally let her guard down and shed tears for the trauma she had been holding in. “The trauma to the body was accidental; the trauma to the brain was work," she articulated poignant details about her struggle. This moment of vulnerability was heightened by the tragic suicide of a young RCMP officer she knew, whose experience with a particularly horrific call proved too overwhelming.

Now residing in Edmonton, Wiszowaty is finding solace in her passion for writing, becoming an integral part of "The Power of Our Story." This website champions the experiences of first responders, offering a platform where they can share their narratives of trauma and recovery. The culmination of these efforts is the book "Wounds to Wisdom," which showcases the stories of 29 courageous first responders and veterans who have faced and navigated profound emotional wounds.

Wiszowaty's contribution, titled "When the Mask Cracked Everything Changed," is more than a personal account; it's a call to action for others to recognize that they are not alone in their struggles. She is set to host a book reading and signing event at The Bookstore on Perron on December 21, which doubles as a charity initiative for the Veterans Association Food Bank.

“The book was written so people don’t suffer alone,” she emphasizes. “This isn’t about selling books; it’s about fostering understanding and promoting healing.” With heartfelt sincerity, she expresses how vital it is for loved ones—partners, children, friends—to understand what those who suffer in silence may be experiencing.

Wiszowaty hails from Winnipeg but moved frequently throughout her childhood due to her father's work as a conservation officer. Her own journey began with her marriage to an RCMP member, leading her across British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. She began working in the RCMP in 1982, but by 1991, health struggles emerged, culminating in a fibromyalgia diagnosis and a severe car accident that sidelined her from work for a year.

But her story does not end there. With the help of a psychologist and the transformative self-help book "The Magic of Thinking" by David Schwartz, Wiszowaty began to reshape her outlook on life. Today, she serves as a life coach and an author with her own venture, Worldly ConneKtions.

“Wounds to Wisdom is about first responders' journeys and how they came out the other end,” Wiszowaty asserts with hope. “It’s not a death sentence. We don’t have to stay there.” With determination, she advocates that if just one person can find solace or change through their shared stories, then every moment of hardship was worthwhile.

Join Wiszowaty on this enlightening journey to healing, discover the power of human connection, and remember—no one has to suffer alone.