June 14th, 2022
Rothesay, NB – June 14, 2022 – The Soldier On Atlantic Golf Invitational is happening tomorrow, June 15, 2022, at Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, NB. Proceeds from the sixth annual charity golf event will benefit Soldier On, a Canadian Armed Forces program that helps serving members and veterans overcome their physical and mental health injuries through sport, recreational and creative activities.
Eighteen teams, consisting of leaders from Atlantic Canada’s business community and the public sector, will participate in the tournament. Each team will include one injured veteran from the Soldier On program.
“Any opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation for those who risked their well-being to serve our country is worth our time and resources,” said Jake Bell, Chair of the Board of Governors for Commissionaires, title sponsor of the event.
“I can’t think of a better way to show our support for wounded soldiers than to fundraise and spend a day alongside them as teammates.”
Media and the community are invited to attend the event for an up-close look at the Canadian Army armoured vehicles that will be on display, and to watch the flyovers and demonstrations by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
There will be opportunities for media to speak with event organizers, sponsors, business leaders and Armed Forces officials.
The Soldier On program supports people like Joe Kiraly, a former Chief Petty Officer who fell down a ladder on a ship at sea, injuring his back and neck. He spent the next four years in denial, suppressing chronic pain and masking increasing limitations to protect his all-important career.
His private physical battle brought about psychological turmoil, a spiral that ultimately landed Joe on the stern of a military warship, contemplating a final plunge into the ocean.
“Generally, life kind of fell apart. I was dealing with the guilt of being not hurt enough, so I didn’t seek help,” said Joe, who’s now a Senior Manager at Soldier On.
“Solider On helped me turn the corner from a really dark place. After I realized I wasn’t alone and committed to my recovery, I was able to start a new life for myself.”
“We couldn’t be as effective of a program and deliver as much direct support to Canada’s ill and injured without assistance from sponsors like Commissionaires.”
-30-
For information on how to participate in the tournament, make a donation, or become a sponsor, please contact:
Jake Bell
Chair, Board of Governors
Commissionaires
506-229-2291
[email protected]
ABOUT SOLDIER ON
Since 2007, Soldier On has supported more than 10,000 ill and injured members using sport and physical recreational activities to enable social support, build confidence in their abilities and realize their full potential. Soldier On provides members with a safe environment to challenge themselves and become inspired in ways that they may not have thought possible, contributing to and providing a gateway to enhance one’s well-being. This re-introduction to an active lifestyle provides opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and meet peers with similar challenges.
The Soldier On Fund is the most direct way for Canadians to contribute to supporting the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of ill and injured members. Program administration costs are covered by the support system within the Canadian Armed Forces, so the majority of donations go directly to support injured soldiers. The fund has disbursed more than $8 million for the purchase of sporting and recreational equipment such as bicycles, golf clubs, kayaks, and fishing equipment. The fund also pays for training and travel for members to participate in regional, national and international events.
ABOUT COMMISSIONAIRES
Commissionaires is Canada’s premier security provider and the largest private-sector employer of Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans. Founded on the core military values of dedication, responsibility and sense of mission, Commissionaires employs 22,000 people across the country. It offers a wide range of security services, including professional guarding, monitoring and surveillance, threat risk assessment, non-core policing, by-law enforcement, digital fingerprinting, criminal and employee background screening, investigations, and security training. Commissionaires is a self-funded not-for-profit that serves a diverse range of public and private sector organizations.