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Soldier On Sports Recovery/Rehabilitation Fund

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/617009
Troops score big with Leafs
Diehard Habs fan is latest Canadian soldier to be honoured by team for work in Afghanistan

Apr 11, 2009 07:28 AM
Jason Miller
Staff Reporter

Canadian soldier Simon Dauphinais will set aside his allegiance to the Montreal Canadiens for just a moment while he receives a standing ovation from Leafs Nation tonight.

Dauphinais will be honoured as Hero of the Game for his service in Afghanistan at the Leafs' last home game of the season.
"I'm a Habs fan," said Bombardier Dauphinais before bursting into laughter in an interview from Petawawa, Ont., where he's stationed. "I'm really honoured to see both Ottawa and Toronto."

Dauphinais' trip to watch a rival team will be nothing compared to the routine trips he made behind enemy lines during his eight months of service in Kandahar. His tour met tragedy when an ambush claimed the lives of three fellow soldiers and left Dauphinais critically injured last Sept. 3, two days before his birthday.
The 27-year-old made a surprising four-month recovery and stepped right back into full duty in December. He's already signed up to make his second trip to Afghanistan next March.

Dauphinais said despite the price he paid he still wants to help the Afghani people.
"I really believe in the mission," he said.
"The first day I stepped back here on the ground there was no doubt in my mind that if I was fully recovered to return I would go."

The Quebec native will be seeing the game with his father, Pierre, who will be attending his first NHL game inside the house of the Habs' bitter rivals.
"He's going to enjoy that time, for sure," Dauphinais said.
"By showing myself there fit and ready to work again, it's a good reflection of the army today."

The idea to honour soldiers who have served in Afghanistan came to life when Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment was called to arms by Leafs rookie defenceman Luke Schenn who gave $10,000 to kick-start Luke's Troops. Schenn said it's important for the soldiers to know that their services don't go unnoticed.

"When they get the standing ovation, I think that's the best part," he said yesterday at the Leafs' practice at Lakeshore Lions Arena.
"They have served overseas so it's good that the fans show their appreciation."
So far, 15 veterans have been honoured as a Hero of the Game at Leafs home showdowns since January.

The lucky soldier is awarded a pair of tickets and given Leafs memorabilia.
Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Tom Anselmi said the program coincides with the Leafs' other initiatives to support the troops including the annual Canadian Forces night in January.
"They represent Canada so well," Anselmi said.
"We enjoy a lifestyle and a freedom because of their work. So you can't not support them."
 
Air Force Run racing towards Mach Speed
Mar. 26, 2009



By OCdt Jennifer Doornink
Wing Public Affairs

17 Wing Winnipeg, Man. – We’ve got the routes, we’ve got the date and the time, we’ve now got registration, and so what are we missing - YOU ! That’s right; we need you to help us reach 'Mach Speed' by running May 31st at the Inaugural Air Force Run.

The Air Force Run committee has been working tirelessly on getting registration up online so you can register. Now with registration up there’s no stopping this run from zooming full speed ahead. Registration does however come with a price, so if you want the early bird special race off to www.airforcerun.ca before April 7th.

All four routes; the family fun run, the 5km race, 10km race and ½ marathon, run across the ramp that will highlight many of our present Air Force aircraft. You will also run off the wing through the air park displaying aircraft of past eras. To view a map that details the whole route for all three races visit the official Air Force Run website.

For more information on the Air Force Run, and to register , please visit: www.airforcerun.ca

For more information on the Soldier On program, please visit: http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/soldieron/index.asp

For more information on the Military Families Fund, please visit: http://www.cfpsa.com/mfamily/

More Articles
 
CANFORGEN 056/09 CDS 011/09 301655Z MAR 09
CAREER MANAGEMENT OF THE ILL AND INJURED
UNCLASSIFIED


REF: CANFORGEN 104/08 CDS 013/08 051327Z JUN 08



THE MND RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT PERSONNEL SUPPORT UNIT (JPSU) THAT WILL BE COMPRISED OF INTEGRATED PERSONNEL SUPPORT CENTRES (IPSC) IN SELECTED LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE JPSU/IPSC CONSTRUCT WILL ENSURE IMPROVED, ACCESSIBLE AND COORDINATED MEDICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IS DELIVERED TO CF ILL AND INJURED PERSONNEL THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE COMMAND AND CONTROL OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK


AS PART OF THE INTEGRATED SUPPORT APPROACH, A NEW CAREER MANAGEMENT (CM) SECTION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY CAREERS AND WILL PROVIDE DEDICATED CM SERVICES THROUGH THE JPSU TO ILL AND INJURED REGULAR FORCE CF MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF THE OVERALL CARE OF THE ILL AND INJURED PROGRAM


ILL AND INJURED PERSONNEL WILL BE POSTED TO THE JPSU AND AT THAT TIME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL S CAREER MANAGEMENT WILL SHIFT FROM THEIR OCCUPATION CM TO THE NEW CM SECTION, DMILC 6-1. IT WILL THEN BE THE NEW CM S RESPONSIBILITY, IN COOPERATION WITH THE MEMBER S JPSU COC, OCCUPATION CM, AND THE VARIOUS SERVICE SUPPORT PROVIDERS REPRESENTED IN THE IPSC TO ENSURE THAT THESE MEMBERS ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND THAT THEIR CAREERS CONTINUE TO PROGRESS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE GIVEN THE LIMITATIONS OF THEIR MEDICAL CONDITIONS


THE ACTUAL PROCESS FOR SHIFTING THE CM FUNCTION FROM OCCUPATIONAL CM TO THE CM FOR THE ILL AND INJURED WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:


PERSONNEL ON THE SPHL WILL BE POSTED TO THE JPSU/IPSC WITHIN THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL REGION. THIS POSTING DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A PHYSICAL MOVE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL. SUCH A MOVE WILL TAKE PLACE WHERE IT AFFORDS THE MEMBER THE CONVALESCENCE REQUESTED/REQUIRED. THE CM WILL ENSURE THAT MEMBERS ARE LOCATED WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE THE BEST TREATMENT AND BE MOST ADVANTAGEOUSLY EMPLOYED GIVEN THE UNIQUE CONDITIONS OF THEIR SITUATION. THE CM FOR THE ILL AND INJURED WILL LIAISE WITH THE OTHER CAREER MANAGERS WITHIN DMILC TO ENSURE THAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE INDIVIDUALS ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN THEIR RANK/OCCUPATION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THEIR CAREERS, AND USE THEIR EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO THE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE CF WHILE FACILITATING THEIR RETURN TO WORK PROGRAM


THERE MAY BE OCCASIONS WHERE ILL AND INJURED PERSONNEL WHO ARE NOT YET ON THE SPHL REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF AN IPSC. IN SUCH CASES, TO ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL S SPECIAL NEEDS ARE MET WITHOUT DELAY, ON REQUEST FROM THE COC THE OCCUPATION CM WILL POST THE INDIVIDUAL DIRECTLY TO THE JPSU. CM RESPONSIBILITY WILL THEN SUBSEQUENTLY SHIFT TO THE CM FOR THE ILL AND INJURED


THERE WILL BE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE SEVERITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL S MEDICAL CONDITION WILL NOT ALLOW A CONTINUED MILITARY CAREER, BUT RATHER DICTATE A MEDICAL RELEASE FROM THE CF. IN SUCH A SITUATION, OR SHOULD AN ILL OR INJURED CF MEMBER ELECT TO RELEASE FROM THE CF, THE CM EFFORT WILL THEN SHIFT FROM CAREER MANAGEMENT TO ASSISTING THE INDIVIDUAL IN HIS OR HER TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE


THE ABOVE NEW CAREER MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY IS BUT ONE ASPECT OF A JOINT CF CAPABILITY TO COORDINATE SEAMLESS AND INTEGRATED CARE FOR ILL AND INJURED PERSONNEL AS THEY RECOVER, REHABILITATE AND REINTEGRATE INTO MILITARY SERVICE OR TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE


SIGNED BY GEN W.J. NATYNCZYK, CDS
 
IRONMAN3 said:
Good Day to all;

For the past few months there has been a Teddy Bear going around some of our military communities. Cpl Smiles (pics attached) is the brain child of Anna Lopes. (www.milliondollarsmiles.ca) I first read about her bears in the Toronto Sun and thought that it would be a good idea to raise some happiness and funds for one of our CF families. So I called her and Cpl Smiles was enlisted into the CF. He skipped basic and went straight into operational action visiting various CFB Trenton units including Health Services,CMED, Fire Department, 424 Sqn, Air Force Museum and the local MFRC. As well he spent many nights at home with both civilian and CF members. His mission was to get 100 hugs along with a few donations. He brought along a journal for those to write in and add pictures. He made it to Ottawa where he spent some time with Chief of Air Staff personal, DFIT and many DGPFSS staff and families. Late November he received his 100th huge and had received with it a total of $645 dollars. Anna Lopes employer DST Output Canada Markham Ontario matched those funds to bring the total to $1300 dollars. ( Anna rounded it up with a final 10 dollar donation) Now Cpl Smiles along with his journal (filled with pictures,stories and special notes) and the $1300 dollars will be off to a CF family with a special needs child. Sandy from the Military Families Funds is making the arrangements now so that Cpl Smiles makes it to his new home and family before Christmass.
I have attached a few photo's of many that we have in the journal.

Have a safe journey home Cpl Smiles.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :salute: :cdn:

Would like to post an update on Cpl Smiles and his retirement from the CF, below you will read an email sent from his new family;

Dear readers, please let me introduce myself and my son, my name is Rhonda Evans, my son is Damien Evans we currently reside in Oromocto. I am a single mother of a little boy who was born with severe to profound hearing loss (deaf). My 5 year old son is a very intelligent little boy who has had a ruff start at life. We struggled with the system to get his first implant, which was done at fourteen month. With this implant comes great expense and the government doesn't want to acknowledge that it is a disability. We have struggled financially since his implant and have fought to have the other ear done. It's unfair that money has to be the issue for my son to receive what every child deserves. Which is a fair chance at a proper education that will eventually effect his entire life. I thank you from the bottom of my heart on the kind gesture with the donation that you have sent. This money has been put away so that Damien will have a bit of money for his secondary education. As you can see in the pictures Damien had a million dollar smile when he received your generous gift.

Thank You Again Rhonda Evans


Thank you Rhonda
Duty With Honour :salute: :cdn:
 
CESBA Police Memorial Boxing in support of the Soldier On Fund.(May 2nd)

Go to the links to read about the "West Side Punch Up" these men and woman support us to no end. A huge THANK YOU.

Canadian Emergancy Services Boxing Association http://www.cesba.ca/1ndex.html click on the Ron MacLean and Don Cherry video.

West Side Punch Up http://www.cesba.ca/westside_poster_11x17_external_revapr16.pdf

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :salute: :cdn:

 
CFB Trenton Surf n Turf 2009 is fast approaching. Once again they will be supporting the Soldier On Fund and have issued a nation wide challenge for teams to compete. Go to their link for more info.
http://www.cfcommunitygateway.com/en/Trenton/news/SurfTurf_e.asp

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :salute: :cdn:
 
Soldier On included in Senate Debate: French/English ( Education and Awarness are the key to success)

Bonjour. Tel qu'indiqué par la sénatrice Champagne (PCC) en Comité lundi, sa motion portant sur la diffusion des Jeux paralympiques de 2010 a été débattue hier en fin de journée au Sénat. Ci-dessous la transcription du débat qui se poursuivra à une date ultérieure. Please find below Transcript of a Senate debate brought up by Senator Champagne (CPC) yesterday on the

broadcasting of the 2010 Paralympîc Games.

Les Jeux olympiques et paralympiques de 2010 Motion tendant à assurer la télédiffusion—Ajournement du débat L'honorable Andrée Champagne conformément à l'avis du 28 avril 2009, propose :

Que le Sénat fasse l'unanimité pour encourager les deux ministres responsables des Jeux Olympiques et paralympiques à faire tout en leur pouvoir pour enjoindre le COVAN et le Consortium des diffuseurs à en venir rapidement à une entente pour assurer la diffusion des Jeux paralympiques de 2010 à Vancouver et Whistler.

— Honorables sénateurs, en mars dernier, à la base militaire de Valcartier, j'ai participé aux cérémonies qui marquaient le début du compte à rebours des Jeux paralympiques d'hiver de 2010. L'an prochain, à Vancouver et à Whistler, la cérémonie d'ouverture de ces Jeux bien particuliers aura lieu le 12 mars, et celle de la clôture le 21 mars suivant. Pour ces jeux d'hiver, nous accueillerons 1 300 athlètes et entraîneurs venus de plus de
45 pays.

Pourquoi avons-nous marqué le début de ce compte à rebours à Valcartier? La petite histoire de ces Jeux nous l'explique.

Les premières compétitions de ce genre ont eu lieu en Angleterre, en 1948.
Elles réunissaient des vétérans blessés au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Quatre ans plus tard, d'autres anciens combattants venus des Pays-Bas se joignaient aux Britanniques. Le mouvement paralympique international était né.

Les premiers Jeux paralympiques tels que nous les connaissons eurent lieu à Rome, en 1960. En 1976, après les Olympiques de Montréal, pour la première fois, des athlètes avec toutes sortes de difficultés physiques se sont réunis à Toronto. La même année, les premiers Jeux paralympiques d'hiver ont eu lieu en Suède, et 2010 marquera la première fois que le Canada est l'hôte des Jeux paralympiques d'hiver.

Revenons à ma question initiale : que viennent faire nos Forces canadiennes dans les Jeux paralympiques?

Depuis plusieurs années, les Forces canadiennes ont mis sur pied un programme qui s'appelle « Soldat en mouvement ». Son principal objectif est de fournir aux membres du personnel, qui sont malades ou blessés, des ressources et des occasions de participer pleinement à des activités de conditionnement physique et de promotion de la santé et à des sports.

Depuis 2007, la création du fonds « Soldat en mouvement » offre un appui aux membres actifs et retraités des Forces canadiennes sous forme de subventions afin de les aider à couvrir les dépenses encourues. On peut penser à l'achat d'équipement de sport adapté et d'appareils fonctionnels.
Pensons à un vélo de montagne sur mesure, un fauteuil roulant pour le basket-ball, une luge pour le hockey, une embarcation pour l'aviron et des centres d'entraînement sur mesure à domicile.

À Valcartier, j'ai eu l'occasion de visiter cet énorme gymnase aux multiples équipements où nos militaires blessés au front ou ailleurs travaillent à leur réadaptation et à leur réhabilitation. J'ai aussi rencontré certains de nos athlètes qui participeront aux Jeux de 2010, et d'autres qui, après nous avoir fait honneur en 2008, se préparent activement à ceux de 2012. Plusieurs s'entraînent à Valcartier. Je pense, entre autres, à Steven Daniel.

Steven a servi comme parachutiste dans les Forces canadiennes pendant 14 ans. Il a participé à quatre missions à l'étranger. En 2005, lors d'un exercice de parachutisme en chute libre, il a atterri trop rapidement, et il est demeuré paralysé.

Mais en aviron, il s'est rendu jusqu'à Pékin et vise Londres en 2012. Il fallait le voir avec son fils, si heureux des succès de son papa.

J'aurais aimé que vous entendiez Benoit St-Amand nous parler de la bataille qu'il livre depuis des années après une grave maladie. Avec un enthousiasme sans borne, cet unijambiste nous a expliqué le fonctionnement de sa luge et nous a parlé de ses espoirs pour 2010. Benoit sera le gardien de but de notre équipe de hockey sur luge.

Nos Jeux paralympiques d'hiver présenteront 60 épreuves, notamment le ski alpin, le ski de fond, le hockey sur luge, le biathlon et le curling en fauteuil roulant. Environ 55 athlètes, hommes et femmes, représenteront le Canada.

Ce qui me chagrine et m'inquiète, c'est la possibilité que nous ne voyions pas les exploits de nos athlètes canadiens, et de tous les autres, au cours de ces Jeux paralympiques. Évidemment, si l'un ou l'autre des nôtres devenait récipiendaire d'une médaille, ou si quelqu'un ou quelqu'une faisait une chute spectaculaire, on nous ferait voir quelques images aux informations de fin de soirée. Dites- moi, combien de fois Chantal Petitclerc a-t-elle été déclarée gagnante avant que nous la connaissions vraiment, avant que nous lui rendions un hommage fort mérité?

Nous savons tous que le Comité international olympique a accordé les droits de diffusion des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques à CTV-Globe Media-Rogers.

Il semble qu'une entente ne soit pas encore intervenue entre le COVAN et le consortium quant à la diffusion des Jeux paralympiques. Fort heureusement, on nous assure que des négociations sont toujours en cours.

Chaque heure ou à peu près, CTV-Globe Media-Rogers se vante d'avoir tout ce qu'il y a de mieux pour nous présenter les Jeux de Vancouver-Whistler. Une couverture sans précédent, insistent-ils. Comme les Jeux paralympiques auront lieu sur les même sites tout de suite après, il me semble normal qu'on permette aux Canadiens d'admirer aussi ces athlètes non moins méritants.

Trop souvent, par le passé, les exploits des athlètes paralympiques nous étaient offerts deux ou trois semaines après la tenue des épreuves et trop souvent à des heures tardives. Cette année, de part et d'autre, des efforts importants seront consentis pour que nous puissions voir certaines des compétitions en direct, parfois même au cours des heures de grande écoute et sur le réseau principal. Nous sommes tous bien conscients que si la diffusion de ces épreuves devait être confinée à des chaînes qui ne sont accessibles que par la cablodiffusion, un nombre important de Canadiens n'y auraient pas accès. Pourtant, nous souhaitons tous ardemment pouvoir être témoins des prouesses de tous nos athlètes. Tous et toutes méritent que leurs performances soient vues par tous les Canadiens.

Il est certain que le gouvernement du Canada ne peut imposer ses préférences quand vient le temps pour les diffuseurs de définir leur grille horaire.

Par ailleurs, les ministres responsables des Jeux et du sport amateur sont souvent en contact, tant avec le COVAN qu'avec le consortium des diffuseurs.

C'est pourquoi ma motion demande de vous joindre à moi pour leur répéter que nous comptons sur eux pour inciter et pour encourager le COVAN et CTV-Globe Media-Rogers à en venir rapidement à une entente.

Au même titre que les Jeux olympiques, les Jeux paralympiques méritent d'être disponibles sur nos écrans partout, et, bien sûr, décrits dans nos deux langues officielles.

Je terminerai avec ce que j'appellerais « Dernière heure » : hier, au Comité des langues officielles, nous recevions des représentants du consortium des diffuseurs. Ils nous ont confirmé que le COVAN détient les droits sur ces Jeux et que des négociations sont toujours en cours.

Il nous a semblé évident que, de part et d'autre, on souhaite ardemment pouvoir diffuser bon nombre des disciplines que présenteront nos athlètes paralympiques. Ces Jeux étant moins connus, donc moins populaires, tous travaillent encore à trouver des commanditaires.

Bonne nouvelle, les diffuseurs nous ont appris, nous ont même garanti la diffusion de certaines parties de hockey sur luge. Mais les autres...

Notre collègue, le sénateur Comeau, a alors demandé aux témoins quelle serait leur réaction s'ils recevaient un appel de nos ministres responsables des Jeux, leur parlant de l'importance des Jeux paralympiques et les encourageant à poursuivre leurs pourparlers.

Ils nous ont assuré qu'ils les écouteraient avec plaisir et semblaient convaincus que le COVAN n'y verrait aucune objection non plus, au contraire.

Je vous invite donc, honorables sénateurs, à adopter cette motion. Il serait sûrement préférable que notre vote soit unanime.

Avec tous nos athlètes paralympiques, je vous en remercie de tout cœur.

(Sur la motion du sénateur Fairbairn, le débat est ajourné.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Motion to Broadcast Games—Debate Adjourned Hon. Andrée Champagne, pursuant to notice of April 28, 2009, moved:

That the Senate unanimously urge the two Ministers responsible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to do everything in their power to make VANOC and the Broadcasting Consortium quickly reach an agreement that will ensure the broadcasting of the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.

She said: Honourable senators, last March, I was at the Valcartier military base to participate in the ceremony marking the beginning of the countdown to the 2010 Paralympic Games. Next year, in Vancouver and Whistler, the opening ceremony of these very special games will be held on March 12 and the closing ceremony on March 21. We will be hosting 1,300 athletes and coaches from 45 countries for these Winter Games.


Why did the countdown start in Valcartier? A short history of these games provides the answer.

The first such competitions took place in England in 1948.

They brought together veterans who had been wounded in the Second World War. Four years later, other veterans came from the Netherlands to join the British. Thus, the international paralympic movement was born.

The first Paralympic Games as we now know them took place in Rome in 1960.
After the Montreal Olympics in 1976, for the first time, athletes with all kinds of physical disabilities convened in Toronto. The same year, the first Paralympic Winter Games were held in Sweden, and 2010 will mark the first time that Canada is hosting the Paralympic Winter Games.

Let us get back to my initial question: What do our Canadian Forces have to do with the Paralympic Games?

Several years ago, the Canadian Forces launched a program called "Soldier On". Its primary objective is to provide ill or injured military personnel with resources and opportunities that support their full and active participation in physical fitness, health promotion and sport.

Since 2007, the Soldier On Fund has been providing support to active and retired Canadian Forces members in the form of financial grants to help them cover their costs. This might include purchasing adaptive sports equipment and assistive devices, such as a custom mountain bike, a basketball wheelchair, a hockey sledge, a rowing shell or a customized home gym.

I had the opportunity to visit the enormous, well-equipped gymnasium in Valcartier, where our soldiers who have been injured on the front lines, or elsewhere, work on their rehabilitation. I have also met some of our athletes who will be competing at the 2010 Games, and others who, after making us proud in 2008, are actively preparing for the 2012 Games. Many of them train at Valcartier. For instance, Steven Daniel comes to mind.

Steven was a paratrooper with the Canadian Forces for 14 years and served in four overseas missions. However, during a free-fall parachuting exercise in 2005, he landed with too much speed and ended up paralyzed.

However, he made it to Beijing as a rower, and he hopes to go to London in 2012. It was great to see him with his son, who is so proud of his dad's success.

I wish you could have heard Benoit St-Amand talk about the battle he has been fighting for years as a result of a serious illness. With boundless enthusiasm, this one-legged man explained how his sledge works and told us about his hopes for 2010. Benoit will be the goalie on our sledge hockey team.

Our Paralympic Winter Games will comprise 60 sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sledge hockey, biathlon and wheelchair curling. Approximately 55 male and female athletes will represent Canada.

What saddens and concerns me is the possibility that we will not see the performances of our Canadian athletes or any of the other athletes during the Paralympic Games. Of course, if one of our athletes should win a medal or if someone should take a spectacular fall, the evening news will run a story. Tell me, how many events did Chantal Petitclerc win before we really knew who she was and paid tribute to her as she so richly deserved?

We all know that the International Olympic Committee has awarded the broadcasting rights to the Olympic and Paralympic Games to CTV-Globemedia-Rogers.

It seems that VANOC has not yet reached an agreement with the consortium about broadcasting the Paralympic Games. Fortunately, we have been assured that talks are still under way.

CTV-Globemedia-Rogers is constantly bragging that it is the best equipped to bring us the Vancouver-Whistler Games and insisting that it will provide unprecedented coverage. With the Paralympics taking place on the same sites right after the Olympics, it makes sense to me to allow Canadians to also admire the paralympic athletes, who are no less deserving of coverage.

Too often, in the past, paralympic athletes' feats were broadcast two or three weeks after the events and too often late in the evening. This year, a concerted effort is being made to bring us live coverage of certain events, even during prime time and on the main network. But we all know that if coverage of these events were limited to cable channels, many Canadians would not be able to watch. Yet all of us want to be able to see the achievements of all our athletes. All of them deserve to have their performances seen by all Canadians.

The Government of Canada certainly cannot impose its preferences when the time comes for the broadcasters to establish their schedules.

The ministers responsible for the Games and for amateur sport are often in contact with both VANOC and the consortium of broadcasters.

For that reason, my motion asks that you join me in reiterating that we are counting on them to urge and encourage VANOC and CTV-Globe Media-Rogers to come to an agreement quickly.

Just like the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games also deserve to be seen on our screens everywhere and, naturally, to have commentary in both official languages.

In closing, I will report the latest news. Yesterday, at the Official Languages Committee, we heard from the representatives of the broadcasters'
consortium. They confirmed that VANOC holds the rights to these Games, that they hold the broadcasting rights, and that negotiations are still in progress.

It was obvious to us that both parties are keen to cover a good number of the sports in which our paralympic athletes will be participating. As the Paralympic Games are not as well known, and hence less popular, everyone is still working on obtaining sponsors.

The good news is that broadcasters have learned and even guaranteed that some sledge hockey games will be broadcast. But the others . . .

Our colleague, Senator Comeau, asked them what they would say if they received a call from our ministers responsible for the

Games to discuss the importance of the Paralympic Games and to encourage them to continue their talks.
They assured us that they would be pleased to listen and seemed convinced that VANOC would also be receptive.

Therefore, honourable senators, I invite you to support this motion. It would definitely be desirable for the vote to be unanimous.

On behalf of our Paralympic athletes, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(On motion of Senator Fairbairn, debate adjourned.) ________________________ Estelle Lacoste Agente des affaires parlementaires / Parliamentary Officer Affaires parlementaires et réglementaires / Parliamentary and Regulatory Affairs Secrétariat général / Corporate Secretariat Patrimoine canadien / Canadian Heritage
tel: (819) 953-9938
fax: (613) 997-5150
e-mail: estelle_lacoste@pch.gc.ca

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
WO Andrew McLean :salute: :cdnsalute:
 
Fund Raiser for SOF; they auctioned off the Cannon and raised over $500.00. Over 200hrs of work put into it.  :pushup: :PT:

Left to right back row
Sgt Joice, MCpl Randell, Pte Lord, WO Sutton, Cpl Oram, Cpl Potocnik,
Cpl Graham, Pte Fairman


Front Row
Cpl Nadeau, Cpl Pavone Cpl Burke Cpl Calvert Mcpl Shemko

Missing
Cpl Beers, Cpl Gendron, Cpl Kenaar, Cpl Ross

The cannon has about 200 man hours put into it. The barral is made out of Nickle Aluminum Bronze and the wheels wwere made out of brass.

Giancarlo Pavone
CPL 8AMS Trenton
Aircraft Structures Tech
Machine Shop


Great work AST Machine Shop. :salute: :cdn:
Duty With Honour
Soldier On
:)
 
Good Day to all;
Long wknd approaching and we are getting ready for our next exciting event. 10 CF amputees along with family members and support staff will be heading to the Center for the Intrepid ( Brooks Army Medical Facility) in Texas next Tuesday for a 3 day Triathlon camp. The American Challenged Athletes Fund will be providing the clinics and equipment for our personnel. I will be sure to post some pictures of the event once I return.
Have a great long wknd and thanks again to all who continue to support Soldier On. :yellow:

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
WO Andrew McLean :salute: :cdn:
 
IRONMAN3 said:
Good Day to all;
Long wknd approaching and we are getting ready for our next exciting event. 10 CF amputees along with family members and support staff will be heading to the Center for the Intrepid ( Brooks Army Medical Facility) in Texas next Tuesday for a 3 day Triathlon camp. The American Challenged Athletes Fund will be providing the clinics and equipment for our personnel. I will be sure to post some pictures of the event once I return.
Have a great long wknd and thanks again to all who continue to support Soldier On. :yellow:

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
WO Andrew McLean :salute: :cdn:

Good Day to all; words cannot express the experience down at the Brooks Army Medical Center and the Center for the Intrepid Swim, Bike and Run camp. I have attached a few pics that I was able to snap off while there. Enjoy.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
 
MCpl Rickard had just received his first running leg after 20 years without. He ran the 2 miles of the run on it and the next day was quiet sore. We can only imagine....
 
CANFORGEN 100/09 CMP 044/09 251918Z MAY 09
CHANGES TO THE CANADIAN FORCES LONG-TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS PROGRAM
UNCLASSIFIED



THE CANADIAN FORCES LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD) PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY SISIP FINANCIAL SERVICES HAS RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO COVER 100 PERCENT OF LTD INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR SERVICE-ATTRIBUTABLE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES AND 85 PERCENT OF LTD PREMIUMS FOR NON-SERVICE-ATTRIBUTABLE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IMPACTING REGULAR FORCE PERSONNEL. THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WILL CONTINUE TO COVER 100 PERCENT OF THE PREMIUMS OF RESERVE FORCE PERSONNEL


AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES, EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2009, THE LTD INSURANCE PREMIUM FOR A REGULAR FORCE PERSON EARNING 60,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR WILL BE REDUCED FROM 10.47 DOLLARS PER MONTH TO 8.57 DOLLARS PER MONTH


YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON THE SISIP FS LTD PROGRAM AT WWW.SISIP.COM. ANY RELATED QUERIES CAN BE ADDRESSED TO A LOCAL BASE OR WING SISIP FS OFFICE OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL OFFICE AT 1-800-267-6681


IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CF PERSONNEL BE FAMILIAR WITH AND UNDERSTAND THEIR SISIP FS LTD PROTECTION. COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS ARE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PERSONNEL ARE INFORMED OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS CANFORGEN


SIGNED BY MGEN W. SEMIANIW, CMP
 
IRONMAN3 said:
CESBA Police Memorial Boxing in support of the Soldier On Fund.(May 2nd)

Go to the links to read about the "West Side Punch Up" these men and woman support us to no end. A huge THANK YOU.

Canadian Emergancy Services Boxing Association http://www.cesba.ca/1ndex.html click on the Ron MacLean and Don Cherry video.

West Side Punch Up http://www.cesba.ca/westside_poster_11x17_external_revapr16.pdf

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :salute: :cdn:

Here is a link to an article in the latest Maple Leaf regarding the event.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=5376
:salute: :cdn:
 
Revised JPSU announcement:

The Joint Personnel Support Unit
BG-09.006 (Revised/Mise à jour) - May 28, 2009

In the provision of care and support to ill and injured personnel, the Canadian Forces (CF) are far ahead of where they were ten years ago. As part of an ongoing process to improve the level of services, the CF has established a network of support centres to meet the needs of ill and injured personnel from the Navy, Army and Air Force, providing them with an integrated “one-stop service.”  The support centres, known as Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs), operate under the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU), which is headquartered in Ottawa.

The mandate of the JPSU is to respond to requests for support and report to the chain of command on issues of concern raised by ill and injured CF personnel. The JPSU accomplishes the following:

It improves the quality of care and services provided to ill and injured CF personnel;
It ensures that military personnel have access to the same high standard of care and support across the country;
It reduces the potential for gaps, overlaps and confusion, ensuring that no CF member “falls through the cracks”;
As military personnel move frequently, the JPSU concept recognizes that people heal better and faster when they are close to their family and their social support network; and
The JPSU gives military personnel a new mission – to heal (recover), to regain their strength (rehabilitate) and to choose their best way forward (reintegrate).
The overarching goal of the JPSU is to ensure that all Regular Force and Reserve Force personnel and their families are provided an equitable level of care and support regardless of environment or location, through centralized command and control.

Services
The JPSU provides a CF/VAC integrated “one-stop service” for ill and injured CF personnel and their families. It supports currently serving and releasing CF personnel, both Regular Force and Reserve Force. It caters to both referrals and walk-in clients, to long-term injured personnel and to members considering retirement. It responds to queries from family members regarding support services and programs for ill and injured personnel, and provides referrals as appropriate.

The JPSU plays a central role in the transition process for CF personnel recovering from serious illness or injury, and either progressing towards a normal work schedule or preparing for a civilian career. A member with a medical condition that precludes return to normal duty for more than six months is transferred to the Service Personnel Holding List (SPHL), posted to the JPSU, and assigned to an IPSC. Once the member is medically stabilized and a permanent medical category is assigned, which may include Medical Employment Limitations (MELs), an administrative review is conducted to assess future employability and suitability for continued service in accordance with the CF’s universality of service standards.i Members who do not meet all of the universality of service standards and who are not employable in the CF in any other capacity will be medically released, following considerate and suitable notice, through the nearest IPSC, where they will have access to a range of benefits and services to help them make the transition to civilian life and/or receive extended financial and other support if they are permanently incapacitated.

The services made available through the JPSU include the following:

Casualty tracking;
Casualty administrative support and advocacy;
CF Case Management;
Return to Work (RTW) Program coordination;
Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial services;
Liaison with Military Family Resource Centres, local base support representatives and local unit Commanding Officers; and
VAC client and transition services.
The JPSU improves on earlier initiatives in several key ways. It provides one-stop access to services and benefits, simplifying the process for clients seeking assistance. It reduces the potential for gaps and overlaps, and the potential for confusion among service providers. VAC staff become engaged earlier in a releasing member’s transition process. Shared standards and guidelines lead to care and support which is consistent across departments (DND/CF and VAC); environments (Army, Navy, Air Force); components (Regular Force and Reserve Force); bases, wings and units; and the country.

Structure
The JPSU is the central military unit to which a number of Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs) belong. The IPSCs will be located as follows:

Calgary, AB;
Edmonton, AB;
Esquimalt, BC;
Gagetown, NB;
Halifax, NS;
Kingston, ON;
London, ON;
Meaford, ON;
Moncton, NB;
Ottawa, ON;
Petawawa, ON;
St-Jean, QC;
St. John’s, NL;
Shilo, MB;
Toronto, ON;
Valcartier, QC;
Vancouver, BC;
Wainwright, AB; and
Winnipeg, MB.
Locations will open over the coming months. The individual IPSCs will be structured and staffed based on the size and relative needs of the population they serve.

A Realignment of Resources
The delivery of casualty support services at the base, wing and formation level has been occurring for as long as the CF has been training and employing members and sending them into operational theatres and special duty operations. On the national level, new initiatives were launched in 1998 and again in 2007. While filling gaps in service, however, these did not comprehensively address the needs of the CF. In 2008, the Chief of Military Personnel (CMP) recommended the stand-up of casualty support units which would provide a consistent level of care for all CF personnel. The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) accepted this recommendation, and announced the intent to further enhance casualty support by establishing centrally managed units across the country.Leadership recognized that the earlier system of care management was complex, and that simplifying it would benefit personnel in need. The JPSU provides CF personnel and their families with coordinated, seamless and integrated care when illnesses or injuries occur, and through the stages of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into military or civilian life and employment.

i For more information on universality of service, see the Backgrounder, “Fit to Serve: Universality of Service and Related Support Programs,” at  <http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/view-news-afficher-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=2918>

 
CBC Radio "Soldier On Program"

ADM(PA) Transcript - Transcription SMA(AP)
Text in the language of origin - Le texte est reproduit dans sa langue d'origine

TOPIC/SUJET: "Soldier On" Program Helps Wounded Soldiers

AGENCY/AGENCE: CBX-AM Edmonton

DATE-TIME/DATE-HEURE: 01 June 2009 07h39

REFERENCE: 09060101



RON WILSON (CBX-AM): Since Canada sent its first soldier to Afghanistan in 2002; more than 100 Canadian soldiers have died on that military mission. It’s estimated that for every soldier who dies, at least two come home grievously wounded. The injuries are catastrophic: some have lost limbs, some have lost sight, and some have lost both.



This morning here on CBC Edmonton, we want to tell you about a program called Soldier On. It helps those injured soldiers deal with the injury and in some cases psychological damage as well that they’re suffering.



This program runs on a shoestring budget. They get some money from the Canadian Forces, they get charitable donations. It provides the wounded with special sporting equipment, instruction, travel grants. It also makes a difference here, in Edmonton, for soldiers like Corporal Jake Wilkinson and Major Mark Campbell. Both were seriously injured by roadside bombs.



Sergeant Loren Ford, while serving in Afghanistan, lost an eye and his leg in a friendly fire incident back in 2002.



SERGEANT LOREN FORD (injured soldier): I said I had to try it because it’s an absolute love of mine and when I did it, especially with my wife, she came along and we skied. I think it was about an eight-kilometre loop down in Mount Washington. And I tell you, I hadn’t felt, that three hours that we were out, was the highlight of my week; personally for personal accomplishment because I almost didn’t miss a step in the actual movement of cross-country skiing, which you do need a lot of flexibility.



However, because I do have dorsal flexion and I have some stability, and we were in a track, I tell you this winter, like I’m going to be going out and getting my own equipment. I’m going to be doing it and introducing it to my boys because it’s something that I absolutely loved my whole life. It took me going on the Soldier On Program, for me just to realize that I could do it, it took the Soldier On Program to get me to do that.



MAJOR MARK CAMPBELL (injured soldier): Soldier On has been huge in terms of my personal recovery from my wounds. I can say I’ve been on three different events: sports clinic in Kingston, which last December introduced me to wheelchair volleyball, swimming pool skills and hand crank bicycling and a few other things.



In the context of adapted sports, Soldier On has offered me an opportunity to try to a whole bunch of things that I wouldn’t have necessarily had the gumption to try myself. It’s easy to take the easy way out, and it’s another thing entirely to challenge yourself and to find out just what it is that you’re still capable of doing.



One-on-one instruction, learning to ride a single ski with little outriggers, day one, my shoulders were awfully sore from balancing. By day five, I was skiing every intermediate blue run on Mount Washington with these guys cheering me on just incredible. It’s just fantastic.



And Soldier On facilitated me doing that. Would I have ever even thought about sit skiing? Not a chance! Would I have ever thought about joining the sledge hockey league in Edmonton? No.



CORPORAL JAKE WILKINSON (injured soldier): That was an amazing opportunity. I was on the one in December with Mark and on the ski week as well with Loren and Mark as well. And speaking of seeing him on the sit-ski actually was an inspiration because I was on top of the mountain a couple of times there and on the fifth day, seeing him up there, because I had seen him on the first day struggling at first and whatnot, and it was actually inspiration to a point that I wanted to try to sit-ski. And had it not been for that program, I never would have met Mark. He’s infantry by trade. I’m a mechanic. I probably never would have met him. I knew Loren just from my injury, but before that, I never would have met him and it’s kind of a really good circle of friends, I’ll say, and very inspirational.



MAJOR MARK CAMPBELL: Amazing rehabilitative value. For the cost of what they do, most of which, you know, just sort of depends on the good graces of the army in terms of hosting and equipment and everything else. But what that program does, you just... I can’t... I can’t put into words just how much it means. And it’s not just about learning to play wheelchair basketball. It’s about... it’s about time spent with fellow disabled soldiers and understanding that you’re not alone and that you all share very similar challenges. You can’t put a price tag on that. It’s just... It’s incredible. So, yes, if, you know, if we get the chance to do a little scuba in Aruba, I’m not going to say no.



RON WILCOX: Major Mark Campbell. You also heard the voice of Corporal Jake Wilkinson and Sergeant Loren Ford, all three of those soldiers suffered grievous injuries while serving in Afghanistan. They were talking about a program called Soldier On, which provides on a shoestring budget literally some support for the soldiers who have been injured while serving in Afghanistan.



You can learn more by going to their website, soldieron.ca. That’s soldieron.ca.

 

 
Good Day to all;

I have started a whirlwind tour of events in support of the Soldier On Fund. Last wknd I was in Winnipeg for the first annual Air Force Run which had 1006 entrants. This week I will be in Kingston for a PD day and also for the K2K indoor 24hr Cycling Fundraiser for SO. Then off to St-Jean recruit school on Monday for 2 presentations.
The annual Surf n Turf is also being held next Friday on the 12th and once again they are raising awareness and funds for SO. (8 Wing Trenton)

The 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Tourny in support of the Soldier On Fund is also being held in Trenton on the 15th and 16th of June. Links are provided. 95.5 has an online auction as well.
http://vip.buzsoftware.com/rgc/index.cfm?ID=102
http://www.classichits955.fm/
Many returning Canadian celebs!

Hope to see some of you out in my travels.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
WO Andrew McLean :salute: :cdn:

 
Good Day to all; here are two links to upcoming events:

Kingston K2K Spin-a-thon
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/asu_kingston/k2k/

CF RAAM 2009 Raising awarness for Soldier On
http://cfraam2009.donmacpherson.com/

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :salute: :cdn:
 
Good Day all;
Just getting back from the Kington K2K Spin-a-thon and it was an amazing 24hrs. They raised over $34,000 for Soldier On and more importantly they raised awareness. MCpl  Joyd Mitic, Sgt Lorne Ford and Cpl Shawn Fevens were also present during the event and cycled a few KM's for some of the teams.

I will look for the newspaper articles and post when I can.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On
Kingston K2K :salute: :cdn:
 
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