Military veteran Tim Riley was walking around in a 25 year fog.
After serving with the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Somalia during Operation Deliverance in the early 1990s, he finished his service time in 1995.
When he got out, he experienced what a lot of veterans are subjected to; isolation and uncertainty.
It wasn't until 2019 that he started his journey to reconnect with people in the community who understood what he was going through.
And it not only changed his life, it inspired him to assist others like him.
His latest effort is a veterans fishing derby along the Grand River in partnership with the Freedom Centre in Preston on Sept. 14.
"It’s a safe, inviting, welcoming place where veterans can be themselves," Riley said of the derby that will be followed by a barbecue.
"You can fish or you can watch. Share what you want to share and put your toe in the water, so to speak. Take your first little step in your healing journey."
Riley understands firsthand the importance of finding a supportive community with common ground, as it was when he discovered similar events to the fishing derby that he found a sense of belonging.
Since then, he's dedicated his time to bringing veterans together, including through a recent trip to Nipawin, Sask. to participate in a Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation camp.
"Unless you’ve lived it, you don’t know," he said about his time during and after military service.
"I was left to my own devices. I didn’t feel good about that, didn’t feel good about myself. I struggled with mental health. It affected my relationships. It takes a toll on you, the things you see, what you experience."
Rev. Rosemary Redshaw joins Riley on the board of the Freedom Centre, which works to support veterans who are experiencing homelessness in the region.
Their vision includes building a three-storey community centre on Hamilton Street with 10 units of supportive housing. The project has yet to break ground but is one Redshaw feels is critical.
"Our region has a higher than normal rate of homeless veterans in comparison to the percentage of homeless people in general," Redshaw said.
"We've been actively supporting the housing of veterans, providing direction in terms of Veterans Affairs Canada benefits that can dramatically change the direction of their lives. We've supported them in tangible ways through furniture and household items when they're placed, food and financial counselling."
As a registered charity through the Church of Nazarene, the centre is collecting donations to serve meals and purchase equipment for the derby. Any excess money raised goes towards assisting veterans in need.
Redshaw hopes the event provides an opportunity to come together in a low stress environment.
"We would like the participants to know there are people who respect and support them in their service and to know there are resources that are available for them," she said.
"It's about bringing strangers together in a room who hopefully will be able to build relationships as the day goes on and to make our community aware of the many veterans we have. Hopefully we can change a life or two by walking alongside them."
While dealing with what he's experienced takes ongoing work, Riley knows it's a path that can be made easier with a strong support system.
"Along with faith, the veteran community has been the most instrumental healing thing for me. Even if I don’t know them from the past, there’s that instant connection where you don’t have to explain yourself and you feel safe," he said.
"I’m not where I want to be but I’m far from where I used to be."
The fishing derby begins at 7 a.m. and runs until 11 a.m.
Veterans can sign up by emailing [email protected].
Anyone interested in donating to the Freedom Centre can do so through [email protected].
