Canadian Armed Forces

Going beyond the box

When Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Mike Nelson left the Canadian Armed Forces, he left with the drive to have an impact on the military from the private sector instead of from within the service.

"I was working on this really great project, and I was taking a little initiative that was outside my day-to-day responsibilities. My supervisor told me to get back in my box and stay in my box. It just rubbed me the wrong way."

Introduction

When Colonel Eric Andresen walked into a Montreal recruiting office at 19 years old, it was mostly to prove a point. His older brother, a cadet, had dared him to do it—and Andresen bit.

“Six months later I was in the Regular Force,” he says with a grin.

What started as a dare became a 35-year career spanning continents, conflicts and command positions—a life of military service shaped by grit, intellect and serendipity.

Donald Stewart Ethell was born in July 1937 and was raised in Victoria, BC. His father was a Veteran of both the First and Second World Wars and his mother was a nurse. He and his sister attended boarding school because of his parents' jobs and he was only home at Christmas and during the summer. His mother passed away when Mr. Ethell was 10 years old.

Final Act of Remembrance

At the tail end of his illustrious 35-year military career, Major-General Paul Peyton is honoured to help shepherd the remains of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier home from Northern France.

"The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have a strong sense of community and a culture of contributing to the greater good. Bringing this soldier home honours all of the soldiers who never made it home. I am so happy to be given this opportunity."

Introduction

While exact statistics are difficult to determine, the rate of Indigenous participation in Canada's military efforts over the years has been impressive. These determined volunteers were often forced to overcome many challenges to serve in uniform, from learning a new language and adapting to cultural differences, to having to travel great distances from their remote communities just to enlist. The challenges they faced often extended to their post-service life. Many Indigenous war Veterans would not receive equal treatment compared to other Canadian Veterans.

Carey’s passion for sport relates back to his time growing up and playing football. “In my younger days I was very lucky to play football for a long time, so I was always part of a team.” He played as part of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league, now known as U SPORTS, starting as a defensive back at Acadia University. After a successful few years with Acadia, Carey moved on to the Canadian Football League, more commonly known as the CFL. Carey’s CFL career lasted from 1994 to 1998 and included stints with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Gordon graduated high school and enlisted shortly afterwards, starting his basic training on 4 January 2004. After beginning his career as an infantryman, he switched paths and became an Armoured crewman. He later joined the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in Edmonton, Alberta, where he trained as a heavy armour tank driver and tank gunner.

“I always wanted to be a soldier, my whole life, it was something I always wanted to be a part of.”

Captain (N) Harold (Hal) Richard Tilley' (Ret’d) began his service to Canada at the age of 17 and it lasted until the day he died. Born in New York City in 1923, Harold Richard Tilley received his second name from a naval officer, a family hero of the First World War. He spent his first summers in Canada swimming, canoeing and sailing. He then attended Lakefield College School in Ontario, and after earning the Governor General’s Medal for Academic Excellence, he decided in 1941 to join the Royal Canadian Navy.