The derby offers veterans the opportunity to meet others who have had similar experiences.
Military veteran Tim Riley walked around in a fog for 25 years.
After serving with the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Somalia during Operation Deliverance in the early 1990s, he completed his service in 1995.
When he was discharged, he experienced what many veterans go through: isolation and uncertainty.
It wasn’t until 2019 that he began his journey to reconnect with people in the community who understood what he was going through.
And not only did it change his life, it also inspired him to help others like him.
His latest project is a fishing competition for veterans on the Grand River in partnership with the Freedom Centre in Preston on September 14th.
“It’s a safe, welcoming and friendly place where veterans can be themselves,” Riley said of the derby, which will be followed by a barbecue.
“You can fish or watch. Share what you want to share and dip your toe in the water, so to speak. Take your first small step on your path to healing.”
Riley knows firsthand the importance of finding a supportive community with shared interests, because when he came across events similar to the Fishing Derby, he developed a sense of belonging.
Since then, he has dedicated himself to bringing veterans together, including a recent trip to Nipawin, Saskatchewan, to attend a Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation camp.
“If you haven’t experienced it yourself, you don’t know,” he said about his time during and after military service.
“I was on my own. I didn’t feel good about it, I didn’t feel good about myself. I had mental health issues. It affected my relationships. It takes its toll on you, the things you see, what you experience.”
Rev. Rosemary Redshaw joins Riley on the board of the Freedom Center, which works to support homeless veterans in the area.
Their vision includes building a three-story community center on Hamilton Street with 10 assisted living units. The project has yet to break ground, but Redshaw considers it crucial.
“In our region, there is a higher than average percentage of homeless veterans compared to the overall homeless population,” Redshaw said.
“We actively support the housing of veterans and provide assistance in obtaining Veterans Affairs Canada benefits that can dramatically change their lives. We provide them with concrete support by providing them with furniture and household items when they are housed, as well as food and financial advice.”
A registered charity of the Church of the Nazarene, the center raises funds to serve meals and purchase equipment for the Derby, with all excess proceeds benefiting veterans in need.
Redshaw hopes the event will provide an opportunity to come together in a relaxed environment.
“We want participants to know that there are people who respect and support them in their service and that resources are available to them,” she said.
“It’s about bringing strangers together in a room who can hopefully build relationships throughout the day and make our community aware of the many veterans we have. Hopefully we can change a life or two by walking alongside them.”
Although processing his experiences requires ongoing work, Riley knows that this journey is easier with a strong support system.
“Besides faith, the veteran community has been the most important part of my healing. Even though I don’t know them from the past, there is this immediate connection where you don’t have to explain yourself and you feel safe,” he said.
“I am not where I want to be, but I am far from where I once was.”
The fishing derby starts at 7 a.m. and lasts until 11 a.m.
Veterans can register by email (email protected).
Anyone interested in donating to the Freedom Centre can do so via (email protected).
