Tammy O’Quinn Reid

For nearly two decades, Tammy O’Quinn Reid has been a powerful voice for connection, compassion, and healing in the Wood Buffalo region. As a Mental Health Promotions Facilitator with Recovery Alberta, she’s dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and helping people find their way to wellness. Whether she’s delivering Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), teaching Mental Health First Aid, or strumming her guitar for a room full of seniors, Tammy’s message is simple but profound: we all have mental health, and we all need support.

Originally from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Tammy moved to Fort McMurray 19 years ago to work in her field after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Community Studies. Over the years, she’s witnessed a remarkable shift in how mental health is perceived. “When I first started, people would avoid the Addiction & Mental Health table at health fairs,” she recalls. “Now people come up and openly chat about stress and anxiety. We all have it, so it’s great that stigma is being reduced and people can talk about it and receive support.”

Tammy’s work doesn’t stop when her workday does. A lifelong musician, she uses music as a bridge to connect with others, bringing joy and comfort to some of the community’s most vulnerable members. She regularly performs at The Salvation Army MAT Program, the Centre of Hope, Legion Manor, Willow Square, and Rotary House, often with her friends and fellow musicians by her side. “Music reduces stress, connects us with our emotions, and brings us together,” she says. “It’s healing in every sense.”

Her deep sense of service is rooted in her small-town Newfoundland upbringing, where community meant everything. “We didn’t have a lot of resources or things to do,” she remembers, “so you learned to get creative and contribute your time and talents to make something good for others.” That same community spirit followed her to Fort McMurray, where she has become a cornerstone of kindness and creativity.

One of Tammy’s proudest contributions is The Grand Ol’ YMM Opry—an event she co-founded more than a decade ago to celebrate and honour the region’s senior community. “When I moved my mom here in 2012, I learned more about our seniors and wanted to give back,” she says. “The Grand Ol’ YMM Opry was born out of that desire to show respect and offer them a night of music and connection.” Now in its 11th year, the event continues to be a highlight for seniors across Wood Buffalo.

Tammy’s involvement extends to a wide range of causes—she’s volunteered with Unity House (Waypoints), Nistawoyou Friendship Centre, Athabasca Tribal Council, and sits on the Homeless Connect Committee. She’s especially passionate about supporting Indigenous and Métis communities, having spent years working in Janvier and Conklin. “I believe wholeheartedly in Truth and Reconciliation,” she says. “Whenever there’s a call-out to play for the Elders, I’m honoured to provide.”

Her compassion also extends to those experiencing homelessness. “My first winter here was an eye-opener,” she remembers. “I couldn’t imagine how people survived outside in that cold. Obviously, there’s a reason someone is in that situation that no one can comprehend. So, I volunteer with organizations that help our homeless population and do what I can to make a difference.”

When she’s not facilitating training, volunteering, or playing music, Tammy can often be found spreading cheer, quite literally. Every Christmas, she and her friends dress as Newfoundland Mummers and greet seniors as their buses drive by her fully lit home during the Seniors Christmas Lights Tour. “We jump on the bus for a quick sing-along,” she laughs. “If the Golden Years Society ever needs mummers to crash their Christmas party, I’m their girl!”

Looking ahead, Tammy’s goals are as heart-centred as ever. She hopes to host an Old Classic Country Night for Elders in Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan, and continue helping people understand that recovery and support are for everyone. Professionally, she aims to expand training in Psychological First Aid and Emergency Preparedness, empowering more people to step up and support others in times of crisis. “It takes an army,” she says. “We can all play a part in prevention and help people thrive and recover.”

Tammy believes that addiction and mental health remain among the community’s greatest challenges, and that more services, especially for youth and seniors, are needed. “I’d love to see a center solely for youth struggling with addiction or mental illness,” she says. “And as our senior population grows, we need more age-appropriate resources, housing, and community spaces. They built this place; they deserve the best.”

At the heart of all she does is a deep gratitude for the community she now calls home. “I’m so thankful to be part of Wood Buffalo,” Tammy says. “It has provided so much for me and my family. I’m forever grateful for this place.”

Caregiver, connector, and community champion, Tammy O’Quinn Reid continues to prove that healing happens in many forms—sometimes through a conversation, sometimes through a song, and always through compassion.