A picture taken last year of Daniel Delisle at Kinsmen Park. (Submitted/ Daniel Delisle)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community events

Prince Albert veteran says annual walk provides sense of pride

Sep 21, 2023 | 5:22 PM

The sixth annual Canadian Walk for Veterans takes place this weekend in cities across the country, and for Prince Albert’s Daniel Delisle the event provides a sense of pride.

The former naval communications officer will be among the participants in the local event at Kinsmen Park.

“For me, it’s more about bringing awareness to people that are military members that suffer with PTSI or any type of trauma,” he said.

In 2000, Delisle began his military career with the infantry division of the Royal Canadian Regiment, and by 2002, transferred to the HMCS Athabascan. In 2018, Delisle, who suffered from anger and addiction issues, was diagnosed with an operational stress injury.

“I didn’t know what was wrong with me, I just knew I was a very angry man. I was always fighting and drinking. All it took was for someone to bump into my friends and I would snap on the person,” he said.

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Noting the awareness that walks like the one on Sunday help serve, Delisle recalled there was a time when mental health was simply not talked about, and was swept under the rug. For him, one of the root causes of his own personal pain was the loss of a close friend while serving.

“I felt like I couldn’t save him and it stuck with me ever since,” he said.

The event on Sunday in Prince Albert will once again be hosted by River Valley Resilience Retreat, which sits in the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert. Reflecting on the peacefulness and tranquility of the area surrounded by nature, Delisle said it’s a wonderful place that allows him to re-set and recharge.

“It’s become a second home for me like a family, you know people that understand me and get me,” he said.

Net proceeds from the event in Prince Albert will go towards supporting the valuable work done at the retreat. In a statement posted to social media, co-founder Michelle McKeaveney said when a member serves in the military, the entire family also serves.

“Families are critical in enhancing military personnel’s and veterans’ well-being, particularly those with service-related health conditions. Important as they are to the well-being of military members and veterans, the families face challenges too,” she said, adding the potential dangers their serving parent, spouse, or child faces, caring for members or veterans with service-related conditions, geographic moves, and transitioning out of military life all present challenges and require sacrifices by members of military families.

Patrons at the retreat will include responders, veterans, active armed forces, RCMP, police, EMS & firefighters, volunteer firefighters, corrections, social workers, doctors, nurses, emergency dispatch, 911, tow operators, funeral assistants, First Nations crisis/response, and all public safety personnel.

Registration on Sunday is scheduled to begin at noon, followed by the walk at 1 p.m.

Everyone who registers at the event will receive the 2023 CWFV challenge coin produced by veteran-owned Sharkz Coins of Esquimalt, B.C. The front of the coin depicts the iconic image from the Second World War entitled “Wait for me Daddy”, and on the back is this year’s theme, “Heroes of the Homefront”.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell