paulnicholsandcrew stampede 2015
Paul Nichols and his crew pose for a photo during the Manitoba Stampede

The mission is to bring communities together through the introduction of their veterans on a horseback ride across Canada, according to Paul Nichols of Communities For Veterans Foundation. His journey across the country made a stop at the Manitoba Stampede last weekend.

"We are re-introducing people into their contemporary veterans. I was with the Calgary Hounders, I was with the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (BPPCLI), back when the Patricia's were still in Winnipeg, and I'm currently servicing with the Canadian Rangers," shared Nichols. "I was in Croatia, I was in Bosnia, I served in Medak. When I came home I went to the Battle School, things were going great. When I chose to leave the Military and go to a small town in British Columbia, where our home is. I landed in a community that doesn't recognize our veterans for who they are. We really think of them as the boys who stormed the beach in Normandy, but we tend to forget about the other generations of troops. I know that the Canadian people love their Military. My job is to re-introduce the Canadian people to their troops and veterans."

Communities For Veterans Foundation says Canada is home to over 540,000 veterans whose average age is fifty-six. In order to understand our veterans and their needs, it is imperative that we hear their stories and get a clear vision of who our veterans are. Nichols stated he would like to get as many veterans involved in his ride, and so far around 160 have rode with him.

Nichols explained you may be surprised as to who the Veterans are in your community.

"It's the guy who used to deliver your paper, it's the one who is wrenching on your car or your nurse in the hospital, and they aren't ninety years old," shared Nichols. "It's the twenty-five year old guy with three tours in Afghanistan. We've got forty year olds with seven operational tours, on three different continents, and he left the military and is just trying to find his way."

According to Nichols they are making a difference and feels every rider who joins them increases their voice.

Nichols noted another hope of his is to lower the amount of post traumatic stress disorder and reduce the amount of veteran suicides.