Canadian Armed Forces

Coming from a low-income family, he saw the military as an opportunity to improve his lifestyle.

“I wanted to join the army, and when the Korean War broke out, there was a lot of publicity,” WO (ret’d) Cormier says. “They needed thousands of people to form the Canadian Brigade to go to Korea. I said I was going so I joined the Van Doos.”

After leaving the military Zizek moved to Campbell River, BC and volunteered with BC Parks. He met Harry who was former military and also an Invictus Games athlete and he encouraged Zizek to apply to the Soldier On program, for a chance to compete at the Invictus Games. He eventually did, submitting an application in fall 2018, during his last couple of months in the CAF. Zizek’s application was accepted and he was selected to compete with Team Canada at The Hague in May 2020 in rowing, sitting volleyball and swimming.

It was 2009. Yuna Hur thought that after high school, she would pursue her education in fashion management to become a fashion entrepreneur. She had even applied to study fashion management in the United States. Her life took an unexpected turn after joining her friends on a visit to the CAF Recruitment centre. “I’m not going to lie, I followed my friends and I saw the military as a résumé booster,” she says.

Richards joined the Canadian Armed Forces in March 1984. As an Armoured Soldier, he was posted in numerous locations across Eastern Canada as well as to Germany, he deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan.

“When the ice storm hit it was all hands on deck. We wanted to get out there and help people. Petawawa was deployed complete.”

Introduction

For Wenshuang Nie, joining the Naval reserves was a decision she says she made “on a whim.”

She came out of her Regina high school gym class and saw three recruiting tables lined up next to each other, one for each military branch.

But there was one in particular that caught her eye.

“The Navy was giving the best swag. It was literally a triangular highlighter that caught my attention.”

When a recruiter told her stories of adventure, travel and teamwork, Wen made up her mind: she was going to join the Forces.

You’ll often hear Veterans say they joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) because they were drawn to the idea of serving their country or because they were inspired by family members. Vickie Lanthier did it to challenge her little brother.

It is December 1990, more than four months after Iraq first invaded Kuwait. The largest coalition of military forces since the Second World War has assembled in the Middle East to stand up for the Kuwaiti people and their freedom.

Tensions are high.

In the Persian Gulf, Canada’s HMCS Athabaskan is helping to secure the waters off Iraq and occupied Kuwait.

On board, young Naval Electronic Sensor Operator Tony Tremblay has just been handed an envelope.

Introduction

Todd Ross had loved the military since childhood. As an adult, he excelled in his position in the Royal Canadian Navy—until he was dismissed in 1990, through no fault of his own, caught up in the LGBT purge.

Since then, Todd has applied his considerable talents and skills to build an impressive career. He also helped lead the class action that led to an apology and compensation to LGBT members.

“I’ll be releasing with a hockey sock full of stories” says Warner, looking back on his extensive service. Enlisting in the reserve in 1976, at only 16 years of age, Warner was following in his father’s and two older brothers’ footsteps. All of them served in reserve units around Sherbrooke, Quebec.