Captain Michel Béliveau

Michel Béliveau joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1993. After finishing his training, he deployed to Bosnia as a medical assistant, twice, during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. He then left the force to work as a paramedic for a number of years before re-enrolling in 2001.

Upon re-enrollment, he was selected for the Canadian Special Operation Forces Command. Since then, he deployed to Afghanistan, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Iraq and Belize. For his service he received The Meritorious Service Medal for providing care to hundreds of soldiers wounded in action in Iraq in 2016 and is a Member of the Order of Military Merit.

“When I left my command I was in a dark place. I didn’t train, I barely ate, and I slept a lot. But with Invictus, I got to get out there and try new things, which was a really positive experience for me.”

After 27 years of service, Michel has been experiencing physical and mental injuries. They led to social distancing, anger, depression, nightmares, and substance abuse, making for a difficult transition to a more civilian lifestyle.

Michel had never heard of the Invictus Games until he received an email looking for volunteers. He did some research and decided to apply, seeing it as a positive opportunity to face his fears and try new things. “When I left my command I was in a dark place. I didn’t train, I barely ate, and I slept a lot. But with Invictus, I got to get out there and try new things, which was a really positive experience for me.” He describes this opportunity as an “up” at a time when he was experiencing a lot of “downs”.

At the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, Michel will compete in archery, wheelchair basketball, discus throw, and shot put. He chose his main sport, archery, because of the level of focus it requires, presenting a way to challenge himself and strive for success. He also chose wheelchair basketball because his son loves basketball, and he wanted to put himself in the shoes of someone who is wheelchair bound full time.

“When you leave your unit you lose that sense of friendship and sense of belonging to something. That’s what I found here—everybody belongs to the team and we connect through all of the challenges that we've faced in our own lives … When someone expresses that they are not doing well the team is there to support them.”

With Team Canada, Michel feels like he has regained a sense of belonging and friendship that he lost after leaving his command. Rather than heading to the games in the pursuit of medals, Michel is excited to be with other people facing struggles similar to his own. “When you leave your unit you lose that sense of friendship and sense of belonging to something,” he said. “That’s what I found here—everybody belongs to the team and we connect through all of the challenges that we've faced in our own lives. It's something that you can't get anywhere else, it's very special. When someone expresses that they are not doing well the team is there to support them. It's a very nice connection.” He intends to be the best version of himself while faced with the stress of competing and being away from his family. He mostly wants to have fun.

Michel’s advice for Veterans struggling with their mental health is to reach out for support—whether that be from family or professionals. He says, although treatment may be difficult, it’s important to stick with it. “There are professionals who can treat whatever physical or mental challenges you’re facing. Take the first step and reach out. Tell your family that you’re struggling so that they can support you, and stick with your treatment even though it may not be easy.”

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Michel Béliveau has left his mark. He is one of our Canadian Veterans. Discover more stories.