Re: A Veterans Journey

by **Forcell** Thu 30 Jun 2022, 11:32 am

Veterans Affairs Canada June 30. 2022

"I've served my country, and now it's time to serve my community. It's a different type of service," says Corporal (Ret’d) Raymond Goodchild.

Today, he’s a family support worker and Councillor in Pawgwasheeng Pays Plat First Nation.

Read his story: Raymond Goodchild

by **Forcell** Fri 29 Jul 2022, 11:16 am

Veterans Affairs Canada July 29. 2022

From monitoring radio transmissions to serving on ships and on land, Royal Canadian Navy Veteran Dave Berry’s life and career have changed direction a few times.

Sometimes, the shifts were surprising—even to him.

Read his story: David Berry

by **Rockarm** Thu 18 Aug 2022, 4:28 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada Aug 18. 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Canada

The waves splash hard against the boat as it approaches land.
My heart is pounding, and so is my head. I’m not sure if it is the rocking of the deck or the adrenalin rushing through my veins that is tightening my stomach. I feel sick, but I am alert. I am ready to go.
I hear a loud command to charge the shore, and I jump into waist-high water. Almost at the sound of the splash, other soldiers begin to fall down around me.
The screams.
The blood.
It is a summer day in August 1942. I have landed in Dieppe.

Continue reading the story of John Counsell: Spinal Cord Injury Canada's history.

by **Forcell** Fri 26 Aug 2022, 12:25 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada Aug 26. 2022

In the 1960s, Corporal Dave MacDonald was a loadmaster at CFB Trenton, and flew on CC 106 Yukon that often took peacekeepers to and from tours in Cyprus.

Read Dave’s story: David MacDonald

by **OutlawSoldier** Wed 21 Sep 2022, 4:13 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada Sept 21. 2022

Sergeant (Retired) Christopher William Banks knows how it feels to walk through a mall and see other shoppers as a threat to your life.

The Veteran, with almost two decades in the Canadian Army, felt this hypervigilance in crowds (a symptom of PTSD) when he returned from his third tour of duty to Brampton, Ontario.

“Coming home was a culture shock. I was always on guard. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, I knew something was wrong,” he explained.

Banks is on a mission to help other Veterans quickly identify signs of PTSD and access help.

Read his story: Christopher Banks

by Looper Thu 29 Sep 2022, 1:50 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada Sept 29. 2022

A police and peacekeeping career took John Scott around the world.

Born in New Zealand, Scott served as a RCMP member across western Canada, and as a peacekeeper in global missions.

Read his story: John Scott

by **Starman** Fri 14 Oct 2022, 11:24 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Oct 14. 2022

Know your true calling. Sgt (ret) Geneviève Gauthier joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 as an Engineer. After a 14 year long career in Canada and overseas, she broke the glass ceiling and became the first female engineer Sergeant.

Geneviève Gauthier

by **Silversun** Fri 21 Oct 2022, 11:26 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Oct 21. 2022

The son of two military parents, Julianno Scaglione wanted to join the Army, even as a child.

But more than that, his lifelong desire has been to serve his community and help others.

This desire guided him throughout his military career and in his life after service.

Julianno Scaglione

by Marshall Fri 25 Nov 2022, 11:24 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Nov 25. 2022

Major (Ret’d) Kristin Topping describes her Canadian military career as charmed, until her last concussion led her to take a new direction in business.

She shares her experience and advice for all CAF members, from new recruits to those about to release from service.

Kristin Topping Veteran story

by Jeremiah Wed 14 Dec 2022, 11:22 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Dec 14. 2022

Growing up, Sergeant (Ret’d) Geneviève Gauthier preferred war movies, while her friends watched films like “Dirty Dancing.”
At age 17, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces and became the first female engineer sergeant in the Regular Forces.

Gauthier served during the relief efforts that followed the 1998 Great Ice storm here in Canada, as well as in overseas military missions to the Central African Republic and Afghanistan.

Thank you for your service, Sergeant Gauthier.

Geneviève Gauthier

by **Riverway** Fri 10 Feb 2023, 11:25 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Feb 10. 2023

In his 19-year Royal Canadian Navy career, Jeff Casey learned about the abilities of CAF members.

He now uses what he learned through his journey to help other Veterans make their transition to life after service.

Jeff Casey

by Scout Fri 14 Apr 2023, 11:24 am

Veterans Affairs Canada April 14, 2023

Born in Iran, Farid Yaghini fled with his family from religious persecution in 1987. Two years later, they arrived in Canada as refugees.

After earning a diploma in telecommunications, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2004, Farid deployed in the Royal 22nd Regiment in Afghanistan.

Despite the trauma he witness, Farid says the work he did was therapeutic.

He used his military experiences to develop Camp Aftermath, a program that helps fellow Veterans find new purpose in life after service.

Farid Yaghini

by Firefox Fri 12 May 2023, 5:27 pm

Veterans Affairs Canada May 12, 2023

Bombardier (Ret’d) Naomi Fong always knew she was headed for a life of service.

As a paramedic in training, she decided to join the Canadian Army Reserves. She became the top candidate in one of her artillery courses, and later served in the Arctic during Operation Nanook.

In 2016, injuries forced her to change her plans.

Two years later, she would compete – and win two medals – at the 2018 Invictus Games.

Bombardier (Ret’d) Naomi Fong has certainly left her mark.

Naomi Fong

by Covert Fri 09 Jun 2023, 11:21 am

Veterans Affairs Canada June 09, 2023

A foot injury on a peacekeeping tour in the Golan Heights led to the loss of Warrant Officer Jerry Rideout’s right leg.

Today, his quality of life has drastically improved with three new specially designed and medically advanced prosthetic legs (including a waterproof one) to choose from.

Jerry Rideout

by Lionfield Mon 21 Aug 2023, 11:08 am

Veterans Affairs Canada Aug 21, 2023

Meet Sergeant Stephen Thomas.

After joining the army on a dare, he went on to serve two tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his actions in Kandahar.

Sergeant Stephen Thomas

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