October 2023

Correction:

Due to a technical error, the September issue of Salute! was not distributed by email as it should have. You can read that edition here.

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Programs and services

Learn about substance use, gambling, and mental health

Talking about substance use or gambling can be difficult. It can help to increase our understanding of these topics so that we can reduce stigma and recognize the connection between these behaviors and mental health.

Watch the videos in the LifeSpeak Inc. Fall awareness campaign on mental health, sub stance use and gambling from October 2 to November 10.

As part of the campaign, LifeSpeak’s experts touch on topics such as:

• Understanding Habits and Breaking Down Stigma
• Unravelling the Connection Between Substance Use, Gambling, and Mental Health
• Small Changes Can Make an Impact: The Harm Reduction Approach
• Building Bridges of Support

Also, tune in to the next Ask the Expert web chat on October 25 at noon (Eastern time), Strategies to Protect Your Mental Health, with Dr. Jonah Paquette, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, author and speaker.

Log in to Lifespeak at: veterans.lifespeak.com, Access ID: Canada.

Remember that if you need psychological support, you can always contact the VAC Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708 or use the chat service (select “I am an employee or current or former RCMP / CAF member,” in the organization field choose “Veterans Affairs Canada – former RCMP and CAF members,” and enter password: canada).

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing: TTY 1-800-567-5803. The VAC Assistance Service is available by telephone 24 hours a day / 365 days a year anywhere in Canada.

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Growth after a PTSD diagnosis: Interview with RCMP Veteran Jason Anderson

“When we try to hide our diagnosis, it’s shame-based,” says Jason Anderson. After 17 years as an RCMP officer, he sent out an email to his close friends and family, even posting in social media, to say that he had been diagnosed with PTSD. Three years later, he left the RCMP. “I had a diagnosis; I can’t feel the shame of it because that diagnosis reflects things that I did and saw in my career that nobody else did or saw.”

In an interview for an Atlas Institute podcast, Mind Beyond the Mission, Jason Anderson talks about what happened after he was diagnosed with PTSD. In discussion with podcast hosts Laryssa Lamrock and Brian McKenna, he describes the process that has led to an increase in PTSD.

“Probably the biggest and hardest lesson I learned was self-acceptance.”

How has he learned to live with PTSD?

“You have to understand that you can’t struggle with PTSD, you have to dance with it.”

Now a registered social worker, Anderson has changed his way of thinking.

“Growth is learning about yourself, pure and simple. If you want to experience posttraumatic growth, start by noticing what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, or what your emotions are in any moment … because that’s an awareness that you didn’t have before, and you start building on that awareness.”

Listen to Episode 10, “Posttraumatic growth with RCMP Veteran Jason Anderson” of the Atlas Institute’s podcast.

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Veterans’ stories

Natalie Chafe-Yuan competes for Canada

Second Lieutenant (Retd) Natalie Chafe-Yuan was an infantry officer before being released due to a physical injury during her service. A survivor of military sexual trauma, she spent the next 15 years avoiding any connection to the Veteran community.

During the pandemic, she moved to Ottawa with her spouse and three children. There, she heard about the Pepper Pod: a retreat centre for women in the Canadian Veteran community. Her experience there set her on a path to wellness—and to the Invictus Games.

It was a Pepper Pod member and former Invictus competitor who encouraged Natalie to apply for the Invictus Games Team Canada. She took a leap of faith, applied, and made the team. She competed in Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 from September 9 to 17.

“As a female in combat arms, I often felt alone, powerless, and under constant pressure to prove myself,” she said. “I sincerely hope that my story may resonate with others so that they feel comforted, empowered and encouraged to find their own voices as well as their own path to healing.”

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Natalie Chafe-Yuan has left her mark. She is one of our Canadian Veterans.

Read her story, and check out some of Team Canada’s results.

Learn more about the Pepper Pod.

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Women’s History Month

An inspiring, challenging, rewarding and heartbreaking career

Master Warrant Officer (Retd) Guylaine Lamoureux

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate women’s outstanding achievements throughout Canadian history. Canada’s military has been greatly shaped by the contributions of women—from the Nursing Sisters of the First World War to the first Canadian women to serve in combat roles during the Gulf War. Those contributions continue today.

The efforts of many women serving in the military during this period were critical to Canada’s military operations. Yet, they still faced significant challenges. Master Warrant Officer (Retd) Guylaine Lamoureux is one of these women.  

Guylaine—Gee for short—joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1997 when she was 26 years old. A dental technician by trade, she saw military service as a chance to use her training in new ways. The next 21 years in uniform were at times inspiring, challenging, rewarding and heartbreaking.

Finding her place in the military proved to be the biggest challenge she faced. Gender often played a role during her career.

This is her story.

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Commemoration

Honouring Indigenous soldiers in the Netherlands

In September, a group of individuals from Indigenous communities across Canada visited gravesites of 13 recently identified Indigenous soldiers in the Netherlands, as part of a Canadian delegation supported by Veterans Affairs Canada. The group included family members and representatives of the recently identified Indigenous soldiers (listed below), Elders and representatives from Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones. This was an opportunity for those connected to the Indigenous soldiers to honour their ancestors and reconnect with their shared history.

The Liberation of the Netherlands was Canada’s last major role in helping the Allies to victory during the Second World War. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served during the war; over 3,000 of them were Indigenous.

Earlier this year, a group of Canadian, Indigenous and Dutch individuals created the Indigenous Legacy Project, a research and remembrance-based program to identify and mark the graves of Indigenous soldiers buried in cemeteries across the Netherlands.

The full story of Canada’s long military history includes many contributions from First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. They sacrificed so much to safeguard our peace and freedom. We owe it to them to ensure they get the recognition they earned through their service. 

The visited graves included:

Rifleman Joseph Chalifaux, from Kinuso, Alberta, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 7 April 1945 at 28 years old.

Private Daniel Cheer, from Brackendale, British Columbia, member of Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, died on 12 April 1945 at 24 years old.

Sapper John Culbertson, from Oshawa, Ontario, member of 8^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers, died on 30 April 1945 at 33 years old.

Private John Decoine, from Wabasca, Alberta, member of Royal Canadian Regiment, died on 1 May 1945 at 33 years old.

Private George Irons, from Curve Lake, Ontario, member of 48^th Highlanders of Canada, died on 13 April 1945 at 35 years old.

Private John Laforce, from Sahanatien, Ontario, member of Royal Regiment of Canada, died on 4 April 1945 at 26 years old.

Rifleman Philip Laforte, from Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 7 April 1945 at 33 years old.

Rifleman Gabriel Lamirande, from Saint-Vital, Manitoba, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 14 April 1945 at 31 years old.

Private Norman Joseph Letendre, from Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, member of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, died on 12 April 1945 at 24 years old.

Private Robert Odjick, from Maniwaki, Quebec, member of Royal Regiment of Canada, died on 17 April 1945 at 26 years old.

Corporal Welby Patterson, from Ohsweken, Ontario, member of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), died on 14 April 1945 at 22 years old.

Sapper Sanford Saulis, from Maliseet, New Brunswick, member of 1^st Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, died on 10 August 1945 at 33 years old.

Private Edward Underwood, from Saanichton, British Columbia, member of 1^st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment, died on 17 November 1945 at 27 years old.

The Indigenous Legacy Project is a partnership between The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 005, located in the Netherlands, and Aboriginal Veterans Autochtone, with support from Faces to Graves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Veterans Affairs Canada.

So far, 22 graves at Holten Canadian War Cemetery, 41 at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and 18 at Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery have been identified as Indigenous. Research is ongoing as the project continues.

Explore the long and proud tradition of Indigenous Peoples’ service in Canadian military history.

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2023 Invictus Games: That’s a wrap!

The 2023 Invictus Games held in Düsseldorf, Germany have officially come to a close. Team Canada’s showing at the Games was nothing short of inspirational. To the competitors: challenging your minds and bodies, you not only met but exceeded the goals you set for yourselves.

Congratulations to each of Canada’s competitors. We are so proud of your courage and perseverance. Team Canda’s strength and spirit will continue to inspire all Canadians.

With the close of the 2023 Invictus Games, we now look to 2025, as the Games return to Canada in first edition to include winter sports. In Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, from 6 to 17 February 2025, the Games will bring together over 500 competitors from 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports. The new adaptive winter sports include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and curling.

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler 2025 will work with local Indigenous communities in the planning and execution of the Games and will respect Indigenous territorial practices.

We look forward to hosting the world, and are excited that Canadians will be able to witness the Invictus spirit firsthand.

See you in 2025.

Photos: Sans Limites Soldier on.

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Canada remembers peacekeeping in East Timor

This month, we salute the Canadian Armed Forces members who served in East Timor. Few of our military personnel have served as far away from home as those who deployed between 1999-2001 to this Southeast Asian country, a few hundred kilometres north of Australia.  Approximately 650 Canadian Armed Forces members and a group of more than 15 Canadian civilian police officers served there. Master Corporal (Retd) Vicki Lanthier was one of them.

After a long history of violence and unrest in East Timor, the international community moved to help. Canadian personnel first took part in an Australian-led, United Nations (UN)-sanctioned multinational peace mission. They then were part of a UN-led effort to help restore peace and security in the country.

Canadian peacekeepers patrolled large areas, built camps, repaired local facilities and kept the multinational naval task force supplied. They also helped with humanitarian aid and nation-building projects.

By 2001, the presence of international peacekeepers had improved the situation in East Timor. The following year, East Timor held democratic elections and finally became an independent country. UN forces remained until May 2005, to help maintain the country's security as it made the hard-won move to full nationhood. However, more unrest followed in 2006 and UN peacekeepers returned to East Timor for a mission that ran until December 2012.

Learn more about this mission and the Canadians who served in East Timor by exploring our CAF Operations remembrance page.

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Commemoration calendar

October 1-31:

Women’s History Month

October 2:

Battle of the Scheldt began in earnest during Second World War, 1944

October 2:

HMCS Iroquois hit by enemy fire during Korean War, killing 3 Canadian sailors, 1952

October 7:

Operation Apollo began for Canada’s response to international terrorism, 2001

October 14:

SS Caribou ferry sunk off the coast of Newfoundland during Second World War, 1942

October 23-24:

Royal Canadian Regiment saw heavy action at Hill 355 during Korean War, 1952

October 26:

Canadians launch their first major attack at Passchendaele, 1917

October 30:

First Canadian contingent set sail for service in South African War, 1899

November 2:

Canadian Navy began anti-terrorism duties in Arabian Sea, 2001

November 3:

Liberation of Belgium, 1944

November 5-11:

Veterans’ Week

November 8:

Indigenous Veterans Day

November 10:

Battle of Passchendaele came to an end during the First World War, 1917

November 11:

Remembrance Day and 105^th anniversary of the end of First World War, 1918

November 21:

17 Canadian soldiers died in BC train crash enroute to serve in Korean War, 1950

November 23-25:

Royal 22e Régiment saw heavy action near Hill 355 during the Korean War, 1951

November 24:

First Canadian peacekeepers arrived for UNEF mission in Egypt, 1956

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