Stepping Into 2026: Our Next Bound Begins 

A new year always brings momentum. But this January, that feeling lands differently for Team Rubicon Canada. 

This year marks our 10th anniversary as a humanitarian organization, built to serve communities on their worst days. It’s been a decade since Greyshirts first stepped into the arena in Canada—and it’s the beginning of a new chapter defined not by rapid expansion, but by strengthening the foundations that will anchor our next decade of service. 

Ten years in, we remain grounded in the same promise that shaped our first operation in Fort McMurray, AB: no one faces disaster alone. It was true then and it’s even more true now. 

Last year pushed our organization harder than any year before it. Greyshirts delivered with the grit, humility, and professionalism Canadians have come to trust. 

We carried out more operations, delivered more training, and supported more communities. We stepped into places we had never served before. And every time, Greyshirts showed up with compassion, ability, and the steady presence that defines our culture. 

“None of this happened by accident,” explains Team Rubicon Canada CEO, Mischa Kaplan. “It happened because Greyshirts stepped up, lived our cultural principles, and proved again and again that disciplined service can change lives. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our amazing Greyshirts.” 

Those accomplishments weren’t about growing bigger but about growing stronger. 

While our 10th anniversary will be recognized throughout the year, January begins with a different focus: The Next Bound—our leadership conference theme. It’s not an anniversary theme, but rather a mindset and a deliberate, forward step into the year ahead. 

In military terms, a bound is purposeful. It’s not rushing. It’s not leaping blindly. It’s the steady, controlled movement that positions a team to advance with confidence. 

This year is about ensuring our footing is strong, our foundations are sturdy, and our organization is ready to meet increasing demand in a way that protects our culture, reinforces our values, and sustains our service model for years to come. 

As disasters become more frequent and complex across Canada, the country needs responders who are disciplined, well-trained, and mission driven. Our Next Bound is about making sure we continue to be exactly that. 

What hasn’t changed is who we are: a veteran-led humanitarian organization forged in service and defined by it. 

Whether we’re helping families recover heirlooms from the ashes, clearing debris after storms, supporting Indigenous communities, or simply showing up with a steady hand and a grey shirt—our purpose remains simple: serving others. 

Between deployments, we deepen our readiness. We train hard, build community, grow leaders, and strengthen the relationships that allow us to respond with precision and compassion when the call comes. These are the foundations worth protecting and worth building on. 

“This year will not be a quiet one, and that’s deliberate,” continued Kaplan. “It will be a year of tightening, reinforcing, and investing in the people and processes that make our mission of service possible. It will be a year of listening—to volunteers, to communities, to partners—and ensuring we evolve in a way that stays true to who we are and helps to build something extraordinary for the future.” 

And extraordinary, for us, doesn’t mean bigger. 

It means stronger, steadier, and more capable of serving with clarity, compassion, and conviction.  

Here’s to our Next Bound. To ten years of stepping into the arena—and to stepping into the next decade with purpose, humility, and heart. 

Mission First. Greyshirts Always.