Private Sarah Mizzi

From a very young age, Ontario native Sarah Mizzi has always enjoyed seeking out new adventures. With a love of the outdoors and a passion for travel, she joined the military in 2019 at the age of 25 after attending a local recruiting fair. “I had always wanted to travel and help my community. Whether it’s helping out abroad or domestically, that was something that I was always passionate about.”

Without hesitating, she committed to her new adventure. First up, basic training, where the five a.m. wakeup calls, hospital corners and thirty centimeter folds on her bed were an adjustment. “Your inspections have to set out a certain way. It’s very regimented… it was definitely a bit of a culture shock.”

After completing basic training, she began her Developmental Period 1 - Infantry (DP1-Inf) at Canadian Forces Base Meaford and was posted to the 3^rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI) in March 2021. Shortly after, she was deployed on her first domestic operation.

It was personally and professionally rewarding. I signed up to help my community and it was something that I would totally go back and do again.

With rising spring temperatures causing significant flooding in the Yukon, 100 members of the 3PPCLI were sent to assist with the flood mitigation efforts. Mizzi was the only woman infanteer.

Well-prepared for the mission, she laced up her boots and got to work. “It was a bit of a shock when we got there to see some of the flooding … but we put in the correct infrastructure, filled sandbags and made walls to save these people’s homes.” She spent 10-12 hours a day filling, distributing and placing sandbags to protect critical infrastructure, and conducting welfare checks on residents. She also worked alongside civilian contractors and the Yukon First Nations Wildfire, emphasizing their hard work and dedication to their community as she explains the work they did.

For Mizzi, her experience to date is exactly what she was looking for when she enlisted. “It was personally and professionally rewarding. I signed up to help my community and it was something that I would totally go back and do again.”

I want to be a confident female and a good role model for other women who want to take on this career.

An admittedly shy but determined young woman in the CAF, Mizzi is still finding her footing in life and in her career. With basic training, her DP1- Inf and a domestic deployment behind her, she’s eager to see what’s next. She credits her new found confidence and her willingness to speak up to her time in the military. “I just find myself more outspoken. I was always the quiet person but now I feel like I’m able to speak up for myself… I want to be a confident female and a good role model for other women who want to take on this career.”

Like many trailblazing women before her, Mizzi is dedicated and determined to create a safe and equal work environment for women in the military.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Sarah Mizzi is leaving her mark. She is one of our Canadian Armed Forces members. Discover more stories.