Book Excerpt Videos
These are personal stories, shared by serving and retired men and women of the Canadian military. We want you to get to know them by catching a glimpse of their daily lives. They all participated in the first Veteran's Writing Workshop in Calgary, Alberta, which we continue to run annually, free of charge, from September to May.
Stories from the workshop were collated into the book A Mile in Their Boots. The readings were recorded at the official book launch at The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta on 2 June 2022. Some of these stories are difficult to watch, however, we feel it is important to listen and understand their experiences. It is our intention to honour Canadian military personnel and to educate the public. We also support their healing from the trauma that many have experienced, through writing and sharing their stories.
Warning: Due to the nature of this project, some stories contain coarse language and graphic content.
Scents and Sensibility
My time in the Canadian Armed Forces has been not only a mixture of hard work and tough times but also amazing experiences and much laughter. Meeting Queen Elizabeth II was just one of many opportunities my career enabled, and taught me that, even during events full of pomp and circumstance, there is always a source of humour.
The Death of Sullay Conteh
My nine months in Sierra Leone in 2011 had a profound effect on me, especially witnessing the poverty and desperation inherent in so many people's lives. They live on the edge of death or in its shadow every day. As Canadian soldiers, we were conspicuous in our camouflage uniforms and white Land Rovers, and were often asked to assist complete strangers with donations of money or other items. This could be frustrating, but it helped to consider that I might behave similarly if my own life had taken such a desperate turn during a time of civil war. At the same time, the country's natural beauty is stunning, and I'll never forget driving past lines of children walking proudly to school in their clean and colourful uniforms. The early morning sight of them talking and laughing always struck me as a cheerful and hopeful sign, especially against a background of derelict or burnt-out buildings.
More Fun than Childhood Games
The media has always painted a picture of romantic excitement and bravado in regard to the army. Inspired by this concept, I embraced the "fun" associated with the military and eventually made the commitment to seriously become a soldier—all linking back to my days as a child "playing war."
First Shave
The military is steeped with traditions and routines that are based on years of lessons learned. We are trained to do things in a particular way that would seem bizarre to the uninitiated. For reservists, who must live in two worlds, this can be a particularly challenging endeavour. My life was filled with milestones and "firsts" that were definitely affected by my membership in the big "green machine." This story is about my first time being forced to shave, an experience that left me wishing for the expert tutelage of my father.
First Round
This is a recollection of my first time on the small arms range. I had recently joined the Canadian Armed Forces and was taking my recruit course. This piece takes place in a very tight, structured environment; the rules on the small arms range are very strict and the range safety officer holds absolute authority. I hope this piece will resonate with all those who have found themselves in the same situation. I am proud to be among those of you who have served.
Rwanda, My Nemesis
I was deeply affected by the events that happened during my deployment to Rwanda in 1994, and I still have nightmares. I wrote this short story because I want to be a voice for the genocide survivors and for military veterans who are still not able to share their own stories. Telling my personal story to others helps me in my healing journey, and it is also a way of honouring those who lost their lives during the genocide. I do not want them to be forgotten.
The Time Machine, December 2014
Writing in the style of Norman Mailer, this story attempts to tell something of the difficulty that I have had with reintegration into civilian life after I returned from Afghanistan. It also discusses the importance of the comradery of mutual and moral suffering that defines army life.