They proudly served
Hailing from coast to coast to coast they proudly served our country, at home and abroad, helping maintain peace and freedom and allowing us to lead the lives we do today.
Learn about their service, experiences and contributions to peace, security, and humanitarian efforts in the profiles below.
Canadians Around the World
The Middle East
From early United Nations peace support missions to reduce tensions in the region to more recent efforts, Canadians have served there for decades.
Warrant Officer Terry Warner
After an exceptional career spanning over 40 years with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Warrant Officer Terry Warner will be retiring just in time for the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War. This is a happy coincidence as it was Warner’s first overseas deployment.
Corporal (Ret’d) Francine Beaudry
For more than 40 years, Francine Beaudry has been both a woman of action and a woman with a big heart. She has never been afraid to volunteer her time and to get involved, and she served in the military with dedication for 18 years. Daughter of two Indigenous parents, she has remained in spirit with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as she is the current President of the “Association des Vétérans Autochtones du Québec ”.
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Theresa “Terri” Lynn Orser
She travelled the world and the seven seas. Theresa “Terri” Lynn Orser saw action and witnessed horrors over many fronts during her 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). In 2007, she transitioned to life after service, after being medically released for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Master Corporal (Ret’d) Richard Delve
Richard Delve was born in Hamilton, Ontario. A cook by trade, Richard Delve served with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for 19 and a half years. He served on the home front in Esquimalt, Kingston, Petawawa, and overseas in Germany. He also did two tours in Bosnia, in 1992 and 1996. In October 1990, he deployed to Qatar to assist with the Gulf War – he returned in March 1991.
Major (Ret’d) Lynn Doucette
During her 35-year career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lynn Doucette was a woman of many firsts. She excelled in her role as an Air Weapons Controller, and while serving in the Persian Gulf, she was a Mission Crew Commander onboard AWACS aircraft, monitoring the enemy below and in the air.
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Robert McDougall
Robert McDougall’s plan was to work in radio and television. But his life took an unexpected turn shortly after he was accepted into a broadcasting program at Centennial College. A car ride with a friend to the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Recruiting Centre turned into a 25-year career in the military.
Europe
Starting at the end of the Second World War and through to today, Canadians in uniform have served in a variety of countries, missions and roles in this region.
Sergeant (Ret’d) Wendy Jocko
Wendy Jocko, Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, always knew she wanted to join the military. Born in Pembroke ON, she comes from a long line of Indigenous Warriors who fought to defend Canada and restore peace. After serving 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, Wendy is now Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, leading them through the COVID-19 pandemic and on to a Treaty and Self-Government.
Sergeant (Ret’d) Joan Buchanan
Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Joan Buchanan emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, when she was 17 years old. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) 16 years later for what would become both a rewarding and challenging career path.
Asia
Canada’s military efforts in the continent beyond the Middle East region have included, among others, our mission in Afghanistan and peacekeeping in Cambodia.
Captain (Ret’d) Hélène Le Scelleur
Hélène Le Scelleur understands the difficulties some soldiers have to overcome both during and after their military service. She wore the uniform for 26 years and lost two comrades in Afghanistan. She is currently finishing her doctoral studies in social work, which involve examining members’ experiences with identity transition as they return to civilian life.
Sergeant Stephen Thomas
Stephen Thomas was born in Scarborough, Ontario. As a child, he had a passion for athletics and competition. Thomas joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on his 18th birthday, and went on to serve two tours in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his actions in Kandahar.
Africa
Canadian Armed Forces members have often taken part in multinational missions on the continent, serving as peacekeepers and providing humanitarian aid.
The Americas
Canadian Armed Forces members have responded to natural disasters, both at home and abroad, and provide security and support to Canada and other countries in the region.
Corporal (Ret’d) Kate MacEachern
Being audacious and bold is something that Kate MacEachern strived for from a very young age. When she enrolled to serve her country in 2005, it had been brewing in her mind since she was a little girl. When she decided to walk decked in full uniform to raise money to help struggling Veterans, no one had done it before. This is her story of determination and resilience.
Do you want to learn about the Canadians who served in the First and Second World Wars, or the Korean War? You can read their stories, as told to us, on our Faces of Freedom page.
- Date modified: