Amherstburg resident hopes to inspire those struggling with new book
Doug Pflug recounts a dark day during his 28-year policing career.
“In 2007 as a police officer in the City of Guelph, I had a post-traumatic stress injury when we had a horrific death of a two-year-old little girl.
Pflug resorted to substance abuse with his use of alcohol spiralling after that episode.
“The drinking wasn't to get drunk. It was actually to feel numb so you could finally fall asleep and I was unable to do that,” he said. “Some thought processes that weren't natural were starting to sound natural, about ending things, and at that point, I realized I needed help.”
Which Pflug reached for.
“I met a phenomenal lady, Mary Margaret, who's my counsellor and in that pit of darkness she helped show me the light,” he said.
A former varsity football player, strength coach and peer mentor for the Guelph Storm, Pflug shares his story with recruits as a teacher at the Ontario Police College. He also mentors executives through his business called Ironwill 360 Leadership.
“I found there was a real need to help people that regards to this fear of influence that we live our lives. A lot of people are suffering,” Pflug said.
During the pandemic, he wrote a book called Finding Your Granite.
“I thought why not write a book and give a roadmap to someone else that might be suffering so they don't have to suffer in silence or darkness like I did,” he said.
Pflug is hosting an event at River Bookshop in Amherstburg Thursday night, owned by former president of Maple Leaf Sports and entertainment Richard Peddie.
“What we had is, we had tremendous resources both in the basketball (and hockey teams),” Peddie said. “We had psychologists. They’ve upped, both teams have really upped their healthcare and so it’s going on today but it’s below the water level.”
Proceeds from the event put on for Bell Let’s Talk, will be donated to the charity Veterans and Everyday Heroes to purchase support dogs for frontline workers. Pflug has sold 300 books and hopes his story can help the conversation.
“I’m hoping my book, at the least, if they read it might give them some answers or plan so that they can get out of that darkness and live to see a brighter day,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NORAD tracking high-altitude surveillance balloon detected over the U.S., Canada says
The Department of National Defence says Canada is working with the United States to protect sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats after a high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected.

Are magic mushroom stores the next pot shops?
Magic mushroom dispensaries are popping up in cities across Canada, with customers ranging from those looking for treatment for depression or PTSD to people wanting to 'micro-dose' a small amount of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms. But while the situation is in some ways reminiscent of when cannabis retailers set up shop before marijuana was legalized in 2018, Health Canada says there are no plans to legalize or decriminalize psilocybin products.
Migrant workers sneak secret menus into Canadian restaurants to expose exploitation
Hundreds of customers who scan QR codes for restaurant menus across Canada are being surprised by secret menus instead, revealing the hidden costs behind the food they eat.
Q & A with a Russian warfare expert: 'This is not a proxy war' with the U.S.
With the anniversary of Ukraine's invasion by Russia around the corner, CTV News sat down with a Russian warfare expert to discuss how he sees the conflict playing out and what happens next.
'Brutally cold': Extreme weather warnings spread across Canada
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, as of Thursday morning there were extreme cold or winter storm warnings active from coast to coast, with the harshest extreme cold warnings stretching from northern Alberta all the way to Nova Scotia.
Video of Sask. hockey rink's 95-year-old staircase grabs national attention online
One of Saskatchewan’s oldest hockey rinks has garnered national attention for its unique features and unusual design.
Ontario paramedic breaks down during emotional final radio call before retirement
A paramedic signing off for duty for the last time got choked up and teary-eyed during his final radio call to colleagues.
Quebec recommends booster only to vulnerable never infected with COVID-19
Quebec is changing its vaccine strategy: public health officials are now recommending booster shots only for vulnerable people who have never had COVID-19.
Would you pay $300 a year for quick access to a nurse? Dealing with demand, Ontario doctors get creative
Paid subscriptions to on-demand care are among the many strategies primary health-care providers in Ontario are adopting in order to meet increased demand for access to doctors in the past year, while also managing staffing shortages.