Five Comox Valley residents will be competing September in Toronto at the multi-sport Invictus Games — an adaptive sport event for injured, ill or wounded veterans.
Among them is Dale Robillard, a retired master warrant officer with the Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue team, who will be competing in golf — a sport he thought injuries took away from him forever when he was injured more than 10 years ago. After a career of helping people survive disaster, Robillard is proud to be part of the Canadian team attending the Sept. 23 to 30 event.
“I’m humbled and honoured to represent both the Invictus Games and Soldier On (Program), as these organizations have literally saved my life,” he said.
Retired firefighter and clearance diver Harry Reddin can see the parallels between his career and his sports’ competitions.
“‘The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war’ translates to sport as well,” says the retired corporal who is training in cycling and swimming.
After competing at Invictus Games 2016 in Orlando, Fla., the Comox native is looking forward to racing once again.
An adaptive snowboarding instructor in her spare time, Cpl. Mimi Poulin is looking forward to the camaraderie that she knows will be part of the Games. She too participated in last year’s event.
“This is one more chance to make my country proud,” said Poulin, a Search and Rescue Technician with the Royal Canadian Air Force who is training in swimming and cycling.
Warrant officer Stephane Roy of Comox, also an RCAF SAR Tech, sees Soldier On and the Invictus Games as the much-needed fuel for his passion for sports.
“I have a goal now,” said Roy, who is training in wheelchair basketball.
Retired corporal Tracy Howlett-Cooney has been a determined athlete since her youth, organizing and motivating peers to improve their skills and meet goals — which has helped in her own injury recovery.
“The Invictus Games will be an excellent place to inspire and motivate me,” says the Comox resident. “These will be my very first competitions in rowing, cycling and wheelchair basketball.”
Using the transformative power of sport, the Canadian Armed Forces’ Soldier On Program has supported more than 3,200 members since its inception over 10 years ago. It remains committed to supporting veterans and serving members with a permanent mental health or physical injury to adapt to their new normal, to overcome their challenges, and to ‘Soldier On’ in life. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, Soldier On has disbursed more than $5.4 million to ill and injured members to support their recovery.
