In March of 2007 Jamie left his hometown of Vancouver, BC and came north to fulfil the role of Community Wellness Worker in Tsiigehtchic, NT. Since this time Jamie has lived and worked in Aklavik, Ulukhaktok, Inuvik and then back to Ulukhaktok once again, where he is currently serving as the Community Counsellor. He has also provided regularly scheduled fly-in counselling services to the communities of Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. During this same period Jamie traveled throughout all eight communities of the Beaufort Delta region, co-facilitating the two-day ASIST Suicide Intervention Workshop. He became a lead trainer, acted as a mentor to newer trainers, and attained “Master Trainer” status.

Over the last 18 years Jamie has continued to build his community practice in direct connection with the people he is serving. It has evolved into a strength-based approach that recognizes and embodies the inherent healing power of the land, cultural traditions, and intergenerational stories.

 Another key aspect of his therapeutic approach is the ongoing exploration around the transformative potential that fuels our creativity and moves through our expressions.
 While living in the North, Jamie attended the European Graduate School. He received his Master’s Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy. His thesis is an arts-based examination of how the guiding principles and practices of Expressive Arts Therapy might help to deepen, personalize, and fortify an ASIST suicide intervention.

Jamie is currently a visiting instructor at Vancouver Expressive Arts, where he leads workshops on Dramatic Play Therapy and Creatively Sensitized Suicide Intervention.

Before moving to Tsiigehtchic, Jamie worked professionally as an award-winning playwright, actor, and director in theaters throughout Western Canada. Indeed, it was the theatre that initially brought Jamie to Canada’s North; first to Whitehorse, and then to Dawson City, Yukon.

In the fall of 2024, Jamie was made an Honorary Member of the Community of Ulukhaktok.
 
Jamie’s favorite coping skills: The land – especially Three Hills! (Three Hills is an area just on the outskirts of Ulukhaktok) Jamie makes it a priority to run/walk up Three Hills at least three times per week – weather permitting…  He also enjoys singing loudly while doing the dishes, as well as the ongoing love and support of his wife, and fellow Expressive Arts Therapist, Sara Dickhout.