The lowest point

The journey to life after service is rarely straightforward and often includes pitfalls, but when you are offered a hand or two so you can climb out of the hole, you can find your footing again.

When Sergeant (Retired) Guillaume Durand medically released from the army in 2021, he felt that everything had been taken from him, including his purpose and identity. Struggling with chronic pain and PTSD, Durand turned to alcohol and drugs to cope. He was even homeless for a time, feeling so alone.

This was not where he thought he would be when he joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2005.

Every journey begins with the first step

At age 17, Durand joined the Reserves as a trumpeter in the 62^nd Field Artillery Regiment, becoming the first member of his family to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Two years later, he moved over to the Regular Forces and switched trades to an infantryman with the Royal 22^nd Regiment.

Haunted

In 2009 he deployed to Afghanistan for the first time. He was part of the protection detail, which also provided security to the inhabitants of the nearby villages. However, it was his second Afghanistan deployment from 2010 to 2011 that would haunt Durand in the years to follow.

“The first mission was long because of the patrols, which caused fatigue. The second mission of eight months was also long, but I saw many things I never want to see again.”

He had one more deployment in 2019, to Latvia. While it was different from his Afghanistan deployments, Durand says that it was in Latvia that his PTSD flashbacks started. Additionally, three weeks after his return from Latvia to Québec, he was posted to Winnipeg, taking him out of the familiar environment of Canadian Forces Base Valcartier.

Hands outstretched

In 2021, Durand was medically released, which began the rocky road to post-service life. He says he didn’t have the tools he needed to deal with the military injuries he suffered during his service. For a time, he fell into using alcohol and drugs. But his journey would not end there. On Remembrance Day of that year, Durand found himself at his lowest; homeless and cold wandering around near the local Royal Canadian Legion in Quebec. The barman noticed Durand outside on the security camera. He brought him inside, made sure Durand had a meal, and then his colleagues took Durand to a hotel.

With the Legion members’ support, Durand checked into a detox centre in Montréal, where he spent 10 weeks getting clean.

A new friend and a new purpose

After leaving the centre, he applied for services offered by Veterans Affairs Canada. He says that’s where he received the support he needed to get back on his feet. Part of that support network is with his therapy horse, Millie. She is wonderful, not only for the equine-assisted therapy, but also for her presence on the farm where he volunteers. Millie gives him purpose and a way to get out of his head.

In addition to the support he receives from his family, he’s also stayed in contact with the Legion members he met that Remembrance Day—as well as his psychotherapist at the detox centre. Durand still provides advice to the detox program about the supports other military members may need when they’ve detoxed and are leaving the centre.

Team Canada

Another small moment would lead to a big step in Durand’s recovery. While watching TV with his partner, he saw the Invictus Games. Intrigued, he turned to her and said, “I’m going to apply, I’m going to try.”

After submitting his name, Durand began training at the gym, finding friendship and comradery there. He was at the gym when he received the email saying he had earned a spot on Team Canada.

He says that one of the biggest benefits of training for Invictus is the return to the gym. “It’s more personal. I’ve lost many friends, I’ve lost many friends on missions, so I was very solitary. [Now] I’ve started going to the gym again, I’ve started playing sports again.”

Team Canada has also given him another gift: travel, team spirit, and a second family.

“Everything that I had in the army, that I lost in the in-between, I’ve recovered with the Invictus Games.”

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Guillaume Durand is leaving his mark. He is one of our Canadian Armed Forces Veterans. Discover more stories.