As part of a new feature celebrating the awesome people who support True Patriot Love, we spoke to donor and Royal Canadian Navy Veteran Stephen Wight.

Stephen Wight is one of a long line of Wight family members who have served Canada – the combined years of his family’s service are in the hundreds. He joined the Navy in 1982 in the Marine Engineering Technologist Training Program. He was later selected for the University Training Program for Non-Commissioned Members and went to Royal Military College, completing his BSc in Applied Science. He served on a variety of ships as an engineer and at the Naval Engineering School as a training officer.

We recently talked to Stephen about his connection to True Patriot Love, who his heroes are, the power of music, and how a simple internet search led to a life-changing expedition.

What is your and your family’s connection to Canada’s military?

Combined, my family has over 400 years of military service, as well as service with the RCMP and the Northwest Mounted Police. My grandfather was the first member of the Northwest Mounted Police to go up into the northern territories. He had nine boys and seven went into the military – one of them is my dad. My dad served 30 years in the military; I served 35; my brother served 37, and his kids are now in their 20th year. My son’s in his 15th year. And we have other relatives who served, too.

What is your connection to True Patriot Love?

It’s a good story. I was medically released in 2016 with issues in my shoulders and my knees. I didn’t know what to do. True Patriot Love popped up one day in my internet searching. I clicked and it basically said, how would you like to take a 10-day trip up through Newfoundland and go to Fogo Island on a kayak?

I’d never done that before, so I put my name in, wrote up a little bit of my history and sent it in and I was selected. It was one of the most awesome trips ever. I made new civilian and military friends and I’m still in touch with the mentor who was paired with me. It was just good for the soul and good for the mind.

What do you think civilian participants learned from the Veterans and servicepeople on that expedition?

That some of the work that we do is life-threatening, not just in war situations but in peacetime situations. One time I had to fix something in the ship, and if the valve broke where I was, they would button up the hatch because it’s either me or 175 people out at sea. You get the job done whether it’s going to cost you your life or not. Not everything we do is that way, but we handle a lot of things because that’s how we think: you’re not doing something for you, but for the team and the mission and the task that needs to be completed.

What do you wish more Canadians understood about their military?

That there’s more than the army! We have the largest shoreline in the world, but some people don’t even know we have a navy. I also wish people would learn about the history of the military; it’s part of Canada’s history and it shows how committed we are to helping others.

You’ve organized a number of fundraisers for True Patriot Love – thank you again! What about True Patriot Love’s work or mission is meaningful to you?

The focus on programs that improve mental health through education, peer support training, physical activities, promotion of increased social activities and self-awareness is what is meaningful to me. These areas have helped me develop new ways of handling PTSD, anxiety, and depression that have drastically improved my life.

Do you have a hero, or someone who inspires you? 

My heroes were my father and my mother. He was away on different tours on the DEW line and in Germany. He raised a family of five kids in a three-bedroom military apartment on $400 a month.

My father did a lot of side jobs. He was the icemaker for the Oromocto rink and through him, my brother and I both curled. My brother even went on to curl for New Brunswick at the Brier. My dad also worked the cinemas at the bases. He worked the drive-in theatres – we helped set up the speakers and the whole drive-in and took it all down at the end of the season. We saw almost every movie made between 1970 and 1985. We had a lot of fun and we did it cheaply.

My dad did all this while serving his country, and my mother gave up her life to help raise us and fill the gap when my dad was gone. They did it all to the best of their ability and so he’s my hero and my mom is my hero.

What type of music makes you feel energized?

My favourite musicians are people like Dan Hill and Gordon Lightfoot – anybody that writes about life and meaning. Music that’s a reflection of your past and makes you think about the present and the future, that there’s hope after despair, and there’s always another day.

Did Stephen’s story inspire you? Turn inspiration into action! Join the Canadian Walk for Veterans this September – you can join your local walk, take part in a Virtual Walk at your own time and pace, or bring a Walk to your hometown. Click to find out how.