Yes.
Evidence of meeting #95 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was centres.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #95 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was centres.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
I had two Métis women staying with me recently during the mefloquine rally, and I mentioned the book. They're from northern Saskatchewan, and they said it was probably all about just the southern part. When they opened the book, they were just beside themselves at how accurate it was. Their relatives were there. Is this a tool as well, then?
3:50 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
I would add that in Alberta the Métis Nation takes a lead role in exactly what you're referring to, especially through Batoche. Going there as a regular force member and as a veteran after, I still participate when I can.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
With the recommendations you put forward, when it comes to creating that national needs assessment tool, I would assume you'd hope that you'd have a significant role to play in determining what that tool looks like.
3:50 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
That was one of the things about coming here. How can we support what's being studied now, or, if there are gaps in the system, what role can we play? We're out there already, and especially with our friendship centres across Canada, it's a simplistic form of understanding that. We're still looking for the ones who are not speaking.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
That's the challenge across all platforms with veterans.
When you approach someone in a scenario where you're wondering if they're a veteran or not, we've heard from other groups that rather than asking them, “Are you a veteran?”, to ask them, “Did you serve?” Do you find that makes a difference for you as well?
3:50 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
If I'm new in a community and on the street and so on, I'll do a little walkabout. How long has he been sitting here? Who's his family? Who's his extended family? I work that way. Maybe there's a tap on the shoulder from an aunt or an uncle who's been concerned. This is when we open the conversation up and ask if they know of a member of their extended family living on the same street who could maybe be of assistance or be aware in that capacity. That's what we also do at the Legion within the same area.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
You mentioned that you've been sober for 35 years.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
I covered all my wounds in my.... I hate using the word “racism”—I think at the time it wasn't meant that way—but you were called “wagon burner”, “chief”, and everything like that. I had a little more hair than this, and there were some things that I....
When I'd come home, my wife, being a teacher and living with me, knew there was something bothering me. Then my daughter was born. When she was four, she said, “Dad, you always smell like this every Sunday when we going to church.” That's when I decided to get out of the military and I proceeded to sober up.
I went back to university. While I worked full time, I went to the University of Alberta for seven years in political science and local administration. I lost two half-brothers to suicide. Instead of going to Fort McMurray as an electrician, I went back to university to study mental health, addictions and different therapy. From my own experience, I could write my own thesis, and I thought I'd challenge whoever was there. That's where that comes from, but I still need help on my own.
Can I just add one little thing to it? I still play baseball. I've been going to Phoenix for the last seven years to play baseball. I play for Team America. I'm this little Indian boy from northern Alberta, from Slave Lake. My father pitched semi-pro, close to it, and we have a Sinclair ball team at home in Slave Lake. We still play. This year our coach retired in Phoenix, and now I'm playing for Seattle. They did the best bidding for me, so I'm going to play for them. When that's done, after two weeks I'm off to the Pan Am Games in Australia. I'm pitching for Australia for the second year. I'm playing for the young guys, the 60 and under. I'm only 72.
3:55 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
That's my self-care. I replaced the alcohol with my spiritual guidance, music and sports.
If I can help anyone by doing that.... I get very emotional about this because our young people today need help. That's why I'm still sitting here.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Bratina Liberal Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Thank you very much.
Before I start, Mr. Sinclair, I missed this at the beginning. Sorry about that.
Mr. MacLeod, what's your role in the big scheme of things?
3:55 p.m.
Representative, National Association of Friendship Centres
I'm a full-time program officer at the National Association of Friendship Centres.
3:55 p.m.
National Association of Friendship Centres
I'm the research assistant for the National Association of Friendship Centres.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Bratina Liberal Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Okay. To go back to you, Mr. Sinclair, you had quite a history in the armed forces with your trade. What was your trade? Were you an electrician?
3:55 p.m.
Board Member, National Association of Friendship Centres
I was a 052 lineman. I went back to school when I got out, apprenticing at NAIT to get my electrician's.... I got to my fourth year and was accepted at university, so I had to drop out of my apprenticing.
