The Maine Wellness Conference has grown from the inaugural Western Maine Wellness Conference hosted by Rumford PD in 2025. Based on feedback at the conference, it was obvious that many attendees wanted to see more wellness content in a conference-style format, giving them options to be exposed to varying topics. Sgt Brad Gallant partnered with Dr. Wally Fraser and Dr. Emily Genever of Toned Out Project and Dirigo Safety, LLC to bring the idea to reality.

Toned Out Project is a Nonprofit organization that exists to “help raise funds for first responders throughout our community with a focus on wellness”. 

As the Toned Out Project is based in the greater Bangor area, we quickly settled on that being the target location for the 2026 conference. The plan is to move the conference annually to other areas throughout Maine.

The goal of the conference is to bring together first responders, family members of first responders, and clinicians with a focus on first responder care for effective and varied presentations and training opportunities. Along with the presenters, the team is focused on bringing together non-profit and for-profit vendors with a specific focus on first responder and family wellness.

Topics in the past included presenters from around the State of Maine, as well as nationally known Presenters. Previous topics included an array of personal wellness-focused topics, wellness upon retirement, Substance Use, Stress First Aid, Financial Wellness, Suicide in Law Enforcement, Chaplaincy, work-life balance, Building Resilient First Responder Families, Spouse Peer Support, and more. Presenters have included current and retired law enforcement officers from Maine and New Hampshire, Clinicians from Maine, a retired federal agent, and nationally recognized presenters on physical and mental wellness.