Paul "Trapper" Cane MSM, CD, KCStG
Knight and Commander in the Order of St. George
Awardee of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation
Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal
Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal
Meritorious Service Medal presented by Governor General Julie Payette at Rideau Hall
Natalie first met Trapper at the Warf Rat Rally in Nova Scotia in 2013 as a fellow motorcyclist. His steadfast encouragement, unceasing dedication and committment to the well-being of veterans & civilians alike, mentorship and collaboration for over a decade has been nothing short of inspiring. BZ, Sir.
Paul served 23 years with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Due to a tragic parachute accident, which left Mr. Cane paralyzed from the waist down, he retired medically in the 1990s. A lifetime motorcyclist, Mr. Cane was determined to be able to ride once again. In 2003, he co-founded the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) Motorcycle Unit. Since then, it's grown to a national level riding group. The group has focused more than five million dollars nationwide to assist numerous charities such as the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans, and assists military personnel who are returning from war and transitioning into civilian life. CAV members continue to support charities and fundraisers across the country. The CAV welcomes veterans of the military, police, fire and ambulance services as well as non-veteran supporters. His tattoos on his forearms represent the organization’s motto, Strength and Honour.
Paul’s leadership style is old school with the “Lead by Example" approach; if he’s positive and keeps moving forward maybe it’ll inspire that behavior in others. He’s mentioned many times that folks who depend on fear or dictate to “lackies” don’t get loyalty or members who’ll stick under all tests. His example, as high a standard as he always set, never mattered to the angry “Alpha” male of the veteran community, or the gamers who just loved to stir the pot and sit back to watch the chaos they created. He is nothing short of impressive, and one of the most beloved and known retired veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces. He is regularly travelling across Canada giving out awards, and speaking at events.
He's also been the ride lead for every HHR Heroes Highway Ride for the last 15 years, 15 years at Washington DC's Rolling Thunder in the 'prestigious First 500' of a million vets on bikes, and every 'Atlanticade Confederation Bridge' ride guiding 1000 bikes + each of the years that event ran.
Steve Critchley, CD (Warrant Officer, Retired)
Can Praxis Leading Equine-Assisted Therapy for the Veteran and First Responder Communities
The Clinic holds an ardent appreciation and respect for Steve Critchley from Can Praxis for over a decade of collaboration, advice & facilitation, mentoring and modelling of leadership. His program has been academically researched and published more than once in the Canadian Military Journal, and Natalie was granted permission to experience writing a trauma intervention critique on Can Praxis during her master's degree. We are proud to host a display of Can Praxis at Valhalla Visions Counselling Clinic. BZ, Sir.
Steve founded Can Praxis in 2013 and continues to work with Veterans and First Responders along with their families overcoming PTSD and other OSIs. After working with more than 750 families dealing with PTSD, he has in-depth experience working with the crisis and conflict the injury brings to their everyday life.
Steve is a practicing mediator with international experience and has taught mediation programs overseas in the United Kingdom, Italy, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Dubai. He spent 28 years as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces as a Basic Training Instructor, as well as an Advanced Leadership Instructor. He'd also been deployed to Egypt, Cyprus and Bosnia. During the Bosnian war, Steve witnessed human conflict at its worst. His experiences included negotiating with armed belligerents and establishing small local areas of trust and cooperation, and developed the belief that people can work together to achieve realistic and positive results. He was also included in a select group from the Canadian military to undergo mediation training as a part of a pilot program co-ordinated by the Executive Director for Conflict Management responsible to the Department of National Defence and the Federal Government.
Steve has acted as a Harassment Investigator, a Harassment Adviser, and as an Assisting Officer for the Federal and Provincial Government, Canadian Forces, and Private Industry during harassment complaints and investigations. He completed the Certificate Program in Conflict Management offered at the University of Calgary by the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society. Steve has mediated in Alberta Civil Court, private mediations between Land Owners and multi national Energy Companies, a $500m law suite, workplace harassment, abuse of authority, and for municipalities such as the City of Calgary. Steve has been involved in large group mediations including Directors, Managers, Human Resources, Union officials, Lawyers, Advocates, Foremen, Supervisors, and Laborers. Issues have included Land Owner/Oil and Gas Industry, workplace conflict, harassment complaints, performance reviews, wrongful dismissal, and breakdown in communication and job performance.
CWO Dominic Lapointe & Family
Former CTC Sgt Major of CFB Gagetown
Natalie met this household through roller derby in 2017, and their daughter’s filled a part of her heart she'd lost through a passing of a cadet at the Royal Military College in 2012. Regardless of how irregular she got to visit it’s left a mark on her knowing them. Thank you.
Currently posted in Poland, Dominic now carries his duties in a world leadership role as a Canadian Armed Forces member. His wife, Barbara, currently acts as a member of the Europe North Advisory Committee for DMFS Europe. She’s also a founding member of the Junior Roller Derby Association of Canada, holds a 12-year executive board membership for Military Family Resource Centres in British Columbia and Alberta, and was the head coach for team Canada Junior Roller Derby from 2020-2023. Their daughter “G” is currently attending the Royal Military College of Canada and their son is attending a hockey academy boarding school in Europe.
Appreciative Notations
Invitations to a variety of events over the years both nationally and internationally, and those Natalie had met since 2013 but may or may not be in regular contact with.
This included a sponsored trip in 2014 travelling around the United Kingdom visiting with Veterans who served in the Falklands War. There, she appreciatively visited the Catterick Garrison, met with non-profit organizations, visited castles, took part in a group motorcycle ride, and attended the Brands Hatch race track as a VIP to spectate a double-leg amputee, Veteran racing team compete.
