By Debbie-Lynn in Reflection
Blog
Recent Stories
From The Field
Team Rubicon Canada Deploys to Brantford, Ontario Following Historic Flooding
Local and regional flooding hit Southern Ontario hard in the past several weeks. Water levels rose seven meters in the Grand River, forcing more than 5,000 people to evacuate their homes. As the ice begins to melt, Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led disaster response organization, is preparing to deploy to Brantford to provide immediate response. … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Op Trogon
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be offered a role in Operation Trogon, the TR UK led operation in Haiti, to help respond to the impact of Hurricane Mathew that made landfall there. I was asked to join the Op as a chainsaw specialist due to a need identified by … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Joy Duggan
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to join Team Rubicon. When I first heard that TR was coming to help out in my hometown of Fort McMurray I assumed they would be like all the other NGO’s out there; well intentioned but of limited effectiveness. My initial perception couldn’t have been further from … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Op Nirman
As the Sun began to set behind the Himalayan Range, the sounds of drums and singing in the distance welcomed us into a village with very little, yet so much to give. In mid-March, Team Rubicon UK – along with members from Team Rubicon Canada, Australia, USA and Germany – came together in Nepal to … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Emma Butterfield
The devastation wrought by the earthquake is hard to comprehend: we have driven for hours, through towns, villages, hamlets, all full of collapsing buildings. The roads themselves are scarred with cracks where the earth has just opened up. The disaster has encompassed a huge area. The people of Ecuador have welcomed us into their homes, … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Georgia Yurwich-Spink
In that strange no man’s land of time between Christmas and New Year, when social events with friends are a blur and there’s a constant drone of Home Alone in the background, it can be hard to think of anything other than what else to do with those turkey leftovers and whether the shop will … Read More
Reflections
Reflection
Home, But Not the Same: A Greyshirt’s Journey of Resilience, Healing, and Rebuilding Community in Jasper
I’m back in Jasper, but it is not the same. The place I’ve called home for so many years, the mountains and lakes, the community that welcomed me and all of their pets I came to know at the Jasper Vet Clinic have become deeply engraved in my heart. Since returning home, I’ve been honoured … Read More
Reflection
Everyone Has a Role: Finding My Purpose in Team Rubicon’s Mission in Jasper
Two days ago I returned from my first-ever deployment with Team Rubicon Canada. I was dispatched to Jasper on Operation Wildrose to assist with the sifting operation after the wildfire devastated nearly a third of the town. The day we got the news that Jasper was burning, I knew I would go there to help the … Read More
Reflection
Stepping Into the Arena: A Greyshirt’s Reflection On Helping Jasper Heal
I was asked to send a short reflection of my time in Jasper: Anxiety. It is one of those things that it is inevitable to feel walking into a situation that you’ve never been in before. You read the news and see the town map: 30% of Jasper has been destroyed. You’re on a plane … Read More
Reflection
On the Frontlines of Recovery: A Kiwi’s Experience in Jasper’s Wildfire Response
Home after two weeks in Alberta, Canada as part of a seven-person Taskforce Kiwi contingent supporting Team Rubicon Canada in the aftermath of the devastating wildfire that flattened more than 350 homes in the breathtakingly beautiful town of Jasper. Op Wild Rose is an ongoing recovery operation providing those that have lost their homes access … Read More
Reflection
Salvaging service memories after the wildfire
On Monday, June 26th, I had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful Greyshirt experience in the Tantallon region. My assigned task involved performing a sifting operation at a particular residence. To my surprise, I was immediately recognized as I approached the homeowner. The homeowner and I share a unique bond, having served and worked … Read More
Reflection
Fiona’s Fury Final Sitrep
This was my first deployment with Team Rubicon, and I was scared. I got to Prince Edward Island sweating. Some people are still recovering from Fiona’s devastation, and in PEI, it’s not over yet. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I never let that stop me before. Once I stopped sweating, I … Read More
Reflection
Battling Fiona’s Fury in PEI
I’m Greyshirt, Sydney Gerzymisch, from the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario. In September of this year, I was all set to go to a work event in Charlottetown, PEI. A few days after we arrived, we got the notice that the work event was cancelled due to incoming Hurricane Fiona. So rather than working, we ended … Read More
Reflection
How grace and resiliency can change a traumatic situation
A veteran’s search for service leads her to Kentucky Jayne Reilly served in the Canadian military for seven years, receiving a medical discharge after deploying to Afghanistan. She returned home, joined the Reserves, and became a yoga instructor for the next 15 years. Going from soldier to yoga instructor might seem unusual and weird, but not … Read More
Reflection
Preventing a community’s worst day from happening
Wildfires have been growing in intensity and frequency all around the world, and the U.S. state of Colorado is no exception. In the fall of 2020, a small fire started near the East Troublesome Creek in Grand County and was whipped by high winds into the second-most destructive fire in the state’s history. When the … Read More
Reflection
Restoring hope for one proudly Canadian homeowner after the storm
Saturday, May 21st, was a momentous day for Doris McFadden and her family, who live in Peterborough, Ontario. That evening a tornado struck her home, downing a large maple tree and other smaller trees in her backyard. The tornado had also destroyed one shed, severely damaged another, and covered her property in several feet of … Read More
Reflection
TEAM RUBICON CANADA REACHES GOAL: 100+ VOLUNTEERS TRAINED IN STOP THE BLEED
In October 2020, a team of Greyshirts deployed in Texas, quickly went from disaster response to life savers in a few short moments. When a young man they were assisting experienced a medical emergency, and began bleeding profusely, the team was able to use their medical knowledge, skills, and the first aid supplies on hand … Read More
Reflection
A Greyshirt Crosses Her Own Rubicon to Help Camp Maple Leaf
The phrase “crossing the Rubicon” is an idiom that implies a person is passing a point of no return. It alludes to the crossing of the Rubicon River by Julius Caesar in January 49 BC. Volunteer Colette Ainsworth had her own “crossing the river” moment when she was part of a team of 22 volunteers … Read More
Reflection
From Flooding to Foodbanks, a Volunteer Earns His Shirt
As an army brat, my parents raised me to see the honour in serving my country at home and abroad. Following retirement after 44+ years of service to Canada in law enforcement, national security, and military operations, I was looking for a volunteering opportunity with an organization involved in truly meaningful work. Lucky enough, I … Read More
Reflection
Operation Kumsheen Response: Reflections from Breyan Sinnott
While flying home from Lytton, British Columbia, I reflect on my experiences while serving as a grey shirt deployed with Team Rubicon Canada on Operation Kumsheen Response. I deployed on Operation Kumsheen Response from August 21, 2021 to August 28, 2021. I was a member of Strike Team Alpha, meaning the first team to operate … Read More
Reflection
For Mother’s Day at TRC it’s the gift of volunteering together with family that hits home
For some mothers and daughters, quality time together could be cooking or baking or going out for brunch. For others it’s picking up a chainsaw to clear out debris after a tornado. Their first step, their first taste of solid food, the first day of school, these are some of a mother’s fondest memories of … Read More
Reflection
National Volunteer Month: Greyshirt Spotlight
April is national volunteer month and we’re taking a look at why our Canadian Greyshirts decided to join and volunteer with Team Rubicon Canada (TRC). Our Greyshirt spotlight this month features Eric Depenau who is the Deputy Administrator for the Prince George Metro. He is a Lieutenant in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Primary Reserve and spent time with the BC Wildfire Service from 2011 – 2020. When I joined … Read More
Reflection
Hurricane Dorian Volunteer Reflections
Some of our Greyshirts reflect on their time in Abaco, Bahamas during Hurricane Dorian Bahamas Relief operations. I wanted to become involved in Team Rubicon because I was impressed and inspired by what the organization stands for and its stated mission. This was my first deployment, so I came into the operation with an … Read More
Reflection
How One Volunteer Lives by our “Service Above Self” Principle
As Zach Simard, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Team Rubicon Canada (TRC) volunteer, answered the call for help from communities impacted by the 2019 spring floods in Eastern Canada, he faced devastation not just in his own community in Renfrew County, ON, but also his home. It had flooded, forcing him … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Op Trogon
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be offered a role in Operation Trogon, the TR UK led operation in Haiti, to help respond to the impact of Hurricane Mathew that made landfall there. I was asked to join the Op as a chainsaw specialist due to a need identified by … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Joy Duggan
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to join Team Rubicon. When I first heard that TR was coming to help out in my hometown of Fort McMurray I assumed they would be like all the other NGO’s out there; well intentioned but of limited effectiveness. My initial perception couldn’t have been further from … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Op Nirman
As the Sun began to set behind the Himalayan Range, the sounds of drums and singing in the distance welcomed us into a village with very little, yet so much to give. In mid-March, Team Rubicon UK – along with members from Team Rubicon Canada, Australia, USA and Germany – came together in Nepal to … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Emma Butterfield
The devastation wrought by the earthquake is hard to comprehend: we have driven for hours, through towns, villages, hamlets, all full of collapsing buildings. The roads themselves are scarred with cracks where the earth has just opened up. The disaster has encompassed a huge area. The people of Ecuador have welcomed us into their homes, … Read More
Reflection
Reflection: Georgia Yurwich-Spink
In that strange no man’s land of time between Christmas and New Year, when social events with friends are a blur and there’s a constant drone of Home Alone in the background, it can be hard to think of anything other than what else to do with those turkey leftovers and whether the shop will … Read More
Reflection
No Time to Think
Paddy Trewin joined the British Army in 1978 at the age of 15, but says he wasn’t allowed through the gates until he was 16. He served 23 and a half years with the Royal Green Jackets before retiring in November of 2011, and learned of Team Rubicon through his former regiment. He received an … Read More
History & Culture
History and Culture
And Then There Were Four: Meet the Team Rubicon Canada Staff
We’re thrilled to announce we’ve hit a significant milestone in our growth as a disaster response charity. Team Rubicon Canada officially welcomes three new staff members to our National Headquarters. Our organization is now poised to take on a greater, more impactful role in disaster relief operations in Canada and abroad. Ashley Pardy-Serre, Director … Read More
History and Culture
Deploying Abroad
Deploying internationally is complex and requires a significant amount of planning and coordination. When we arrive on site after a disaster in a foreign country, all eyes and hope have turned to us, expecting immediate action and results. Disasters are no-excuse, results-only zones. Team Rubicon Canada will sort you out with travel and logistics and take … Read More
History and Culture
Team Rubicon Canada Spins Up
On May 1st, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta that within days would sweep through the city and destroy more than 2,400 homes and displace more than 80,000 residents. The wildfire, which would come to be known as ‘The Beast’, would eventually grow to nearly 1.5 million acres. Having established a strong … Read More
Stories of Service
COVID-19
COVID-19
Operation Bridgegap: Reflections from Ronin Jong
After hearing about the organization during my previous service with another NGO, I joined Team Rubicon Canada (TRC) last year ready to tackle earthquakes, floods, muckouts, tornadoes, and other ‘big’ incidents as I had been doing elsewhere for almost a decade, but with the added TRC ‘secret sauce’. Who better to take on a disaster … Read More
Partner News
Partner News
Full steam ahead! CN’s $200,000 donation has put us on track to double the impact of our MISSION POSSIBLE campaign!
We’re honoured to announce that this iconic Canadian brand is now an Official National Partner of Team Rubicon Canada. Earlier this year, CN pledged $10 million (CAD) over ten years to support disaster relief initiatives across North America, underscoring CN’s commitment to assisting communities affected by natural disasters and the impacts of climate change. … Read More
From the Field
From The Field
Wildfires Bring Humanitarians to Serve a Nova Scotia Community
“The structure was gone in 15 minutes,” said Del Arnold. Everything except the contents of two suitcases had been destroyed in a fire. Arnold’s loss was part of Canada’s worst fire season on record: over 120,000 Canadians evacuated, and more than 20 million acres burned by the end of July. Arnold had recently … Read More
From The Field
In Service, Finding Soul Food
Deploying with Team Rubicon recently I found true soul food—or, food for the soul. But, what is food for the soul? Let me give you just a little taste: It’s community: This is the powerful thing that drives Team Rubicon Greyshirts to the heart of disasters. The external community, in the heart of disaster, is full … Read More
From The Field
Flood Response in Eastern Canada
In April 2019, snowmelt and rainfall overwhelmed parts of Eastern Canada. Along the Ottawa River, flooding reached record levels as residents struggled to save their homes. As the floodwaters recede, homeowners are facing the continued physical and mental challenges of displacement, and the dangers of infection from contaminated water and mould. Each passing day presents … Read More
From The Field
Team Rubicon Canada Deploys to Brantford, Ontario Following Historic Flooding
Local and regional flooding hit Southern Ontario hard in the past several weeks. Water levels rose seven meters in the Grand River, forcing more than 5,000 people to evacuate their homes. As the ice begins to melt, Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led disaster response organization, is preparing to deploy to Brantford to provide immediate response. … Read More
Education
Education
Team Rubicon Canada Rolls Out Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Last March, Team Rubicon Canada was excited to deliver Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to 12 Greyshirt volunteers in Calgary. We have a dense population of veterans, first responders and civilians who are regularly exposed to disaster zones, making suicide intervention a life-saving skill for our volunteers to have. What is ASIST? ASIST, … Read More