Mr. Joseph Haywood served in the Canadian Army for 17 years, including overseas missions with NATO and in the Congo with the United Nations. From 1973 to the mid 1990's, he counselled Veterans, ex-Military and serving members suffering from the effect of PTSD, alcoholism, drugs, family breakdown, etc.
Mr. Haywood worked with the Main Street Skid Row Health Service, the Centre for Alcoholic Treatment Centre and Deer Lodge Veterans Hospital in Winnipeg. He also co-founded Addictions Recovery Inc., which developed two half-way houses that have assisted many Veterans on their way to recovery. Mr. Haywood assisted these Veterans and ex-Military in becoming productive members of our society again.
Between 1979 and 1981, Mr. Haywood made three cross Canada speaking trips visiting Veterans and ex-Military personnel at half-way houses, in their homes and at hospitals where he discussed recovery and how individuals could make their lives productive again. He also provided volunteer counselling at provincial prisons in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
During the 1970s and into the 1990s, Mr. Haywood lectured troops at Canadian bases in Kingston, ON, Shilo, MB and at Command Headquarters in Winnipeg, MB. He also spoke to Veterans in American hospitals. Mr. Haywood has been featured many times on Peter Warren's national radio program regarding the plight of Peacekeepers and PTSD. He has been effective in helping others because his history is similar to the people that he tries to help. Mr. Haywood has served on peacekeeping missions, suffered the effects of PTSD and alcoholism, and served time in prison. He is living proof that with God's help, a strong sense of self worth, and the assistance of others, you can turn your life around and become a productive and caring person in your community and in his case, in your country.
Mr. Haywood is now preparing for a documentary film of his life titled "No Ordinary Joe". He has written a book, co-authored by Peter Warren, called "Please Mr. God, Forgive Me."