Brad Hutchinson with Krista Cowan, Content Coordinator BVM
Nestled in the tranquil embrace of south Mississauga, Brad Hutchinson and his wife, Kristie Ross’s home became more than just a dwelling; it morphed into a haven where dreams found fertile ground. In the beatitude of mature trees lining hushed streets, they settled in a timeless beauty that beckoned them to build their lives together. Acquiring a home in 2001, this family-centric enclave magically mingled the allure of a peaceful sanctuary with the vitality for nurturing aspirations. The proximity to many parks and Lake Ontario provided ample opportunities for active living, bike riding, dog walking, rollerblading, and jogging.
The neighbourhood was an idyllic spot where the duo embraced the warmth of a close-knit community and set the stage to take their careers to the next level. Kristie, a nurse with an impressive portfolio that includes Critical Care and Air Ambulance positions, embarked on a journey into the realm of the corporate world of medical compression stockings, followed by the medical aesthetics industry. Her strong work ethic helped her ascend the corporate ladder to top-tier positions and recently venture into entrepreneurship. In 2022, she co-founded a Staffing Solutions and Healthcare Consulting services business named The Medical Aesthetics Group.
As for Brad, whose roots intertwined deeply with Mississauga, the community became the basin of spiritual flow that fueled his aspirations in writing, teaching, and personal and social transformation work. His impetus into this transformative realm stemmed back to a pivotal time when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease at 15 years old. "It was scary and overwhelming," remembers Brad, "I was diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve." The subsequent nine months of intensive treatment at Sick Kids Hospital informed a hostile world outlook for Brad. For years following his recovery, he played it safe, marginalizing his creative yearnings.
At thirty years old, single and longing for deeper meaning and purpose, Brad stepped onto the martial arts mat, initiating a pursuit of mastery. "It helped me to overcome my fears," explains Brad, "and to step into adversity with confidence." He achieved a Black Sash in Shaolin Kung Fu, marking the culmination of a decade dedicated to personal growth.
In 2004, Brad married his soulmate Kristie. Around this time, he also wrote and published a novel as well as a chapter book and sought to share his transformative wisdom with those experiencing significant life challenges. Two amazing children would grace Brad's and Kristie's lives and further populate the community of Lorne Park: Isaac in 2008 and Adam in 2011. The world was again auspicious. Brad's creative energy was flowing, and he wanted to show others how to realize their life's potential.
Brad's community commitment burgeoned. He secured a board position with Leadership Peel, mentored a child for Peel Children's Centre, taught Kung Fu to children in care, facilitated Restorative Justice circles for youth entangled with the law for Associated Youth Justice Services of Peel, chaired the Mississauga Library Board and fostered puppies for Dog Guides Canada.
Brad was bringing mindfulness practices to front-line mental health workers susceptible to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. In 2011, after a few years of renting school gyms after hours to teach Kung Fu to Peel Children's Aid's children, he became part owner of the Kung Fu club where his personal transformation was forged. The club became a central hub to impart the Eastern self-esteem-boosting wisdom that helped him align with his creative vision and transform his life.
Brad's vocation continued to delve deeper into complex social problems that adversely affect healthy, strong communities. In 2013, he assumed the role of Executive Director at The Gatehouse Child Abuse Investigation & Support Site. There, he infused transformative wisdom into stigmatized areas of our culture.
Then, at the pinnacle of his career, he was met with a daunting challenge. In 2016, he received a dream-crushing diagnosis of stage 4 Laryngeal cancer, a consequence of his childhood cancer radiation treatments. His only option for survival was a last-line radical surgery called a Total Laryngectomy. One of his specialized surgeons informed him that he would never speak publicly again.
Yet, true to his indomitable spirit, Brad defied that prognosis. Equipped with an amplification device, he tentatively returned to the facilitation stage in 2017. Though his powerful martial voice was a whisper of its former self, his moving messages came across loud and clear as he co-delivered a successful, highly-rated training for caregivers in the mental health field. Since then, Brad has facilitated 37 LivingWorks workshops and empowered over 600 Caregivers to help people facing their darkest moments come to greater places of safety.
Brad has spoken in dozens of classrooms to hundreds of students in high schools, colleges, and universities, spreading messages of resilience, overcoming adversity, finding purpose and passion, and providing tools to live a potentialized life. "Adversity is an element of every life," Brad contends. "For life to be more luminous and joyful, an increased capacity in mindfulness practices is paramount." Mindfulness practices support finding moments of profound clarity and understanding amid the challenges and difficulties in life. "In the crucible of adversity, strength and courage are not just honed through mindfulness," asserts Brad, "they shine like light through the radiant facets of a diamond, casting brilliant light in a myriad of directions and acting as a lighthouse to help others find their way through dark and difficult times." Brad has made it his mission to help people discover that inner clarity.
In November 2023, Brad, alongside his good friend Arthur Lockhart, launched Dynamic Balance, The Tao of Forging Individual and Social Transformation, a book synergizing their combined 77 years of engagement in the fields of individual and social transformation. On November 27th, 2023, Brad felt honoured to attend Arthur's 'Order of Ontario' Award Ceremony for his work of destigmatizing the narrative around child abuse through The Gatehouse, a community organization he founded in 1998.
Brad and Arthur presented Dynamic Balance concepts at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect at the 2023 Edinburgh Congress in Scotland. There they networked with people from around the world and provided mindfulness strategies to strengthen their caregiver resilience to stay healthy as they go about their difficult work of safeguarding our children. A highlight of the trip for Brad was having his son Isaac tag along with him, who turned 15 while there.
Brad attributes his rise back into the world of service following his laryngectomy to Kristie. A compassionate, loving caregiver, Kristie saw Brad through his darkest moments. Brad feels immense gratitude for his family, his continuing capacity to serve in meaningful ways and the community he calls home.
Living in South Mississauga isn't just a geographical choice for Brad and Kristie; it's a lifestyle in a sweet spot of tranquillity between the vibrant pulses of Port Credit and Clarkson. In this enclave, Brad, Kristie, Isaac, and Adam savour the best of two worlds—a serene haven for family wellness and growth and the dynamic energy of nearby entertainment hubs. It is fertile ground for their creative energy to grow, expand, and surface into service.
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