WOUNDED WARRIORS by BARNEY MOORHOUSE
Cpl C.J. Wilneff is 26; and retired. Christopher Joseph Wilneff, born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, joined the military in 2006 at the age of 16. At age 20 CJ, as he is commonly known, volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan with 2RCR (Royal Canadian Regiment). He was medically released in 2014, shattered, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Normally a happy person, CJ returned a different man. His personality had dramatically changed. He often felt lost, pressured, lonely and unsure of himself. He struggled with flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, body tremors and a spiraling substance addiction. With the help of Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC), CJ has embarked on an adventure of recovery that includes speaking engagements.
Padre Philip Ralph is the National Program Director of Wounded Warriors Canada. For over two decades Phil has been the Regimental Chaplain to the 32 Combat Engineer Regiment in Toronto. He is also a Senior Pastor of an Ajax Baptist Church.
At the Puck Drop Dinner of the Roots of Hockey Fundraising Dinner which supports WWC and the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation on Friday January 29, 2016, while introducing CJ as the featured speaker, Phil said that WWC began after one of their soldiers was blown up. The movement grew from asking people to send gifts that made life a little less harsh and hopefully more enjoyable to to-day when it annually distributes $1.5 million to help wounded warriors. “If we had the funds we could easily hand out $2.5 million,” said Ralph.
Of interest, David Macdonald, National Partnerships Director with WWC and an active Reservist, went through basic training with the very same soldier who was originally blown up. “We were friends,” said Macdonald, who ironically himself was blown up. He also suffered from PTSD saying that recovery is an on-going process leading to renewal; to re-birth.
“I was clinically dead for two minutes,” he said. Now, on that anniversary Macdonald celebrates with a birthday party. This year the theme was what a 6 year old might do and they went bowling. “It was my girl friend’s idea.”
When I asked David about the controversy raging in the U.S. concerning Wounded Warriors he told me that WWC is no affiliate of the Americans. “We get angry e-mail from Americans and I explain that WWC has no connection to the states.” WWC has 4 employees and 80 cents of every dollar is invested in the program. WWC, a non-profit organization, receives no government funding and is supported by many communities and volunteers helping warriors heal during their transition to civilian life.
Ralph described the damage done by PTSD as “shrapnel of the soul.” Sadly it leads often to suicide. During his introduction Ralph said “Help us, help you, help them,” thus explaining why WWC was present.
Earlier CJ had told me that he had no notes as the more he focused on his speech the more nervous he became. And there were times that the dinner guests could see him struggling on stage. “I need to gather my thoughts,” he said on one occasion. And you could hear that proverbial pin drop. Everyone was in tune with CJ silently encouraging him on.
While talking at a Niagara Falls high school Remembrance Day assembly CJ watched a drama class perform “Invisible Wounds” based upon Ed Brown’s book, “A Soldier’s Fortune and Other Poems: Moving past PTSD and creating a fun-loving life,” written as a means of therapy. CJ couldn’t believe the incredible demonstration of PTSD. “It’s on Utube if you’d like to see.”
Following the presentation the poet and CJ met with the drama class for questions and answers. “One of the students was so overwhelmed she revealed that she needed assistance,” said CJ who has been invited to return on two occasions since. “If I reach just one person I have been successful,” he said.
CJ’s mother, Pauline, flew in from Nova Scotia to attend the dinner, CJ’s first such affair. She listened as he described how WWC’s animal therapy program was inspiring him.
Can Praxis is a program based at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, where PTSD patients are paired with a horse during a three phrase program. Each phase constitutes 4 days. Essentially, in phase one, the patient and spouse are introduced to a horse, and receive some classroom instruction. During Phase two the veteran and partner each pick a horse for all four days during which they are responsible to groom, ride and interact. Phase three entails a trail ride into the mountains.
CJ was surprised and impressed at the horse’s sensitivity to human emotion. For example, his horse, named Partner, was getting along just fine when CJ received an upsetting phone call. When CJ returned to Partner the horse wouldn’t let him near until CJ had calmed down. “You can fool some people some of the time but never a horse,” he added. Sometimes a veteran doesn’t realize s/he is emotional until seeing the horse’s reaction. “Horses are great therapy. They help people bond. They are non-judgmental and in tune with your emotions.” Of note, Ralph said WWC is planning to expand this program to Ontario and Quebec.
“WWC pays for everything,” said CJ. “From your front door to Rocky Mountain House and back plus any other incurred costs.” “Can Praxis” is derived from “Can” – signifying Canada’s can-do attitude and “Praxis”- meaning putting theory into practice.
Some Background
The CFB Trenton Pond Hockey Classic began five years ago, initially as a sports day for the Trenton Air Base, by Capt. Jeff Moorhouse of 436(T) Squadron raising $6700. It has expanded from one rink to four (an ice surface approximately equal to two NHL rinks). Since then the tournament has evolved to include a gala dinner, two days of competition and as many as 27 teams. Guest speakers have included Maple Leaf legend Ron Ellis, Canada’s most famous hockey father Walter Gretzky and Sgt.Chris Downey whose story of courage involved a trip to the South Pole with Prince Harry. The tournament, mingling military and civilians, embraces the local community including a majority of civilian teams and volunteers. As of 2016 it has donated $140,000 for its charitable causes.
As for CJ, he is seriously considering more speaking engagements on behalf of himself and Wounded Warriors Canada to show that there is hope and support for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Another example of an extra-ordinary, ordinary Canadian. 2016
