Regina group called Veterans Helping Veterans offers support, promotes healing
Global News
Members of Veterans Helping Veterans come from organizations such the Canadian Forces and the RCMP. Members help each other deal with the emotional legacy of their experiences
A Regina chapter of the Veterans Helping Veterans does just that. A group of nearly 20 veterans in Regina gathers occasionally to offer support with various activities to promote healing.
“We have numerous retired members that are RCMP, military and we just seem to all click… Regardless of the service, we are all veterans, and we all have similar experiences,” said Jon Graves, a military veteran.
Steve Gloade, who is an RCMP veteran, said he and the other members find Veterans Helping Veterans therapeutic.
“We were looking for a place to come together as a safe place with no judgment, no criticism. Everybody here has battled some sort of injury, whether it’s physical, emotional or whether it’s both,” Gloade said. “We talk about if you need help and you want to discuss it, (or) you’re looking for tips or tricks to try to deal with something.”
The Veterans Helping Veterans group gathers at least once or twice a week in various places throughout the city. In recent weeks, the group has held free guitar lessons and equine therapy sessions in Lumsden, Sask.
“I got in touch with Guitars for Vets, and we got a bunch of people that received their free guitars through that group,” Graves said. “It just gives us just one more thing to get veterans out and do things in the community.”
Sean Chiddenton, who spent over 25 years in the RCMP, arranged for the Veterans Helping Veterans group to attend equine therapy sessions, which they all found therapeutic.
“We started last weekend and a lot of the people that came had a fantastic experience,” Chiddenton said. “You’re just kind of in the moment and it helps just clear your head and help calm you down and relax. It’s a win-win. The horses love the attention, and I could see from the people that came out just how quickly they just relaxed and let things go. That was a huge benefit and (I’m) really grateful we have that opportunity.”