“It’s a basic human need to be heard and to listen. It matters to people as we live in these increasingly isolated bubbles,” says Graham Abbey, co-founder of the Creative Warrior program, an award-winning actor-director and the founder of Groundling Theatre Company. He works with Creative Warrior co-founder Karen Williamson, a therapist trained in PTSD and trauma care.

Creative Warrior is an art engagement program designed to use artistic expression and community to enhance the lives of Canadian military members, Veterans, and their families. Through a blend of performing arts, storytelling, and mindfulness, Creative Warrior offers a comprehensive approach to supporting the holistic well-being of participants.

“I have really developed an appreciation for how telling stories like this helps us connect to others.”

“It was an experiment in stretching myself and learning and growing and I had no idea how much I would enjoy it.”

“I really valued how welcome I felt.” 

“It was more than great! It was educational, impactful, and appreciated.”

– Foundational Workshop participants, September and October 2024

Many Veterans face challenges in processing their military experiences and understanding how those experiences have shaped their lives. Creative Warrior seeks to fill this gap by offering a safe and supportive environment where participants can engage in creative expression as a means of therapeutic release and self-discovery.

With extensive experience working with individuals who have faced trauma, Williamson blends artistic and therapeutic practices to create a safe, supportive space where participants can share their stories and explore their emotions in all their shades, light to dark. Abbey brings decades of performance and directing expertise, as well as experience in program development and mentorship of new talent.

The program consists of two six-week sessions: Foundational Storytelling and Intentional Storytelling. Both sessions are conducted virtually, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for participants with scheduling constraints or living in remote areas.

“I’m obsessed with the idea of in-person connection and “hearing the room breathe” as Bill Hutt says. But our groups create a bond across the digital realm – you really do feel it coming through the screen,” says Abbey.

At the conclusion of each session, participants convene for a Storytelling Cafe, where they perform their stories for their peers, either in person or virtually.

The geographic reach of this small-town Ontario-based program is impressive. Veterans from Alberta, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Ontario took part in the Foundational Storytelling fall session.

“The confidence to express what’s inside you is the root of all art. And by sharing it, you gain more confidence,” says Abbey. “There’s an enjoyment in sharing a story.”

“The stories are all different but each person found something that they could relate to within each other’s story,” Williamson says. “They give feedback, and we have conversations about what constitutes feedback. The group part of the story sharing helps people feel validated, lifted up and connected.”

Because the program operates at the junction of creative skill-building and sometimes expressing (or hearing about) trauma, Williamson’s presence and training are crucial components. “We’ve had times where we’ve stepped into territory that only Karen can navigate,” says Abbey.

Williamson sees the program as providing a structure for participants to re-assess painful parts of their lives, and separate what they’ve been through from who they are. “’Something I’ve seen as a failing, that I am ashamed of, that my family may find too painful to hear again, I turned into a story with this group. And now I see that I have lived through this and I made it.’”

Thanks to the support of the Bell True Patriot Love Fund – and donors like you –

Creative Warrior sessions are available to military members, Veterans and their families at no cost.