EXPERIENCE SPEAKERS

Hello everyone! My name is Sarah Purcell, I’m currently a first-year family medicine resident in Fredericton. I’m a proud UNB Fredericton alumni, graduating in 2019 with a  BA/BSc in psychology and biology. After graduating I started medical school through

Dalhousie NB. In my first year of med school, COVID hit and changed everything about our program. After starting with one graduating class, I finished with another in 2024.

Through the ups and downs of doing school through COVID, I learned a lot about myself and am even more passionate than I ever was and speaking openly about mental health and sharing my own personal journey.

 Founder & CEO of We're Here For You Canada

Sarah Sherman, felt compelled to help other women, children

and men - who find themselves seeking help after a physical and sexual assault. From personal experience, Sarah knows the trauma of having to get help from the RCMP, going to emergency and the devastating experience of having to

undergo a forensic exam with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) which can take several hours. The nurses are amazing, but nothing makes it feel any better. At the end of the exam, Sarah recalled what it was like to put on clothing that did not fit right, was inappropriate for herself and to walk out of the room with nothing. She wanted to do something that would make this recovery a little bit less intimidating for the next person. She has now provided ongoing services to 30 locations in Canada and continues to expand the program. As a result of this work, Sarah was asked to share her story of how she ended up in this space. As she did so, she divulged a history of childhood trauma, mental health issues and feeling

completely alone, without any hope.

Sarah has shared her story for the past three years and continues to do so, knowing that when we see and hear our

experiences, we can identify with them. When we understand we are not alone, that there is hope, we can see hope, gain courage and become resilient during our recovery. 

We’re Here For You Canada – the charity she founded has been awarded as a top charity in Canada and in Fredericton. On March 7, 2025, Sarah Sherman was personally awarded the

New Brunswick Women’s Equality VIVE Award as a Community Champion for recognizing gender equality and for

being a trailblazer in the province.