Soldier On

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History

Soldier On was created in 2006 with the aim of supporting ill and injured military personnel with a permanent or chronic disability, both still serving and retired, and their families to attain an active and healthy lifestyle. It supports these personnel in increasing their independence, in developing new skills, in achieving goals and opening the door to other life opportunities. It furnishes an opportunity for them to socialize and explore common interests, and share learning experiences.

Further, Soldier On emphasizes the potential residing in all Canadians, injured or non-injured. It investigates partnerships with other disability organizations, in Canada and abroad. It shows health-care professionals, other service providers, CF leadership and the general public how physical activity, sport and recreation can make all of this possible.

Soldier On partners in many initiatives with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), a non-profit, charitable, private organization, recognized by the International Paralympic Committee, which aims to empower Canadians with physical disabilities through sport. The partnership makes sense: the Paralympic movement began after WWII as a way of reintegrating injured soldiers into their communities and speeding their recovery1.

Soldier On is a grassroots idea that grew. It was co-founded in 2006 by WO Andrew McLean, a CF Search and Rescue Technician and ultra-marathon runner, and Greg Lagacé, Paralympic Development Manager with the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The initiative expanded along with the needs of ill and injured military personnel, the interest and support of military leadership, and the promotion of health and physical fitness within the CF. In 2007, responsibility for Soldier On was transferred to the agency now known as Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services (CFPFSS), and in November of that year the Soldier On program was complemented by the creation of the Soldier On Fund.

1For more information on the CPC, please visit www.paralympic.ca.