Supporting Canada’s veterans year-round 

Each November, we pause to commemorate and honour those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces during Veteran’s Week. This year, Veteran’s Week will take place from November 5 through to the Remembrance Day ceremonies that will take place at Cenotaphs across the country.

It’s important to pause each year and reflect on the sacrifices that have been made and to honour those who have or are serving in the Military.

At Access Storage, we want to extend that support and appreciation year-round. That’s why we are thrilled to be able to partner with Team Rubicon Canada.

Many will know Team Rubicon as a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. For instance, Team Rubicon was instrumental in assisting communities in Atlantic Canada, where the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona caused significant damage and disruption in 2022.

However, there is another equally important role that Team Rubicon offers. It supports former military personnel in their transition from service to civilian life. Team Rubicon seeks to provide veterans with three things they lose after leaving the military: a purpose, gained through disaster relief; community, built by serving with others; and identity, from recognizing the impact one individual can make.

One such individual was Toronto’s Drew Robertson, a volunteer with Team Rubicon Canada. Even after many years in the civilian sector, Drew still felt something was missing in his life before he found Team Rubicon.

“When I left the military, it was a very difficult transition,” Drew said. “I found it very, very challenging – it was a personal mission that had to be conquered.”

Importantly, Team Rubicon provided Drew with an opportunity to go out and serve again. Service was core to his beliefs, Drew said. Having an organization that helps facilitate missions into areas that need support allowed Drew to help at a scale that he wouldn’t be able to do on his own.

Supporting veterans like Drew is very important, said Team Rubicon Canada’s Brand and Communications senior manager Helen Lialias.

“Veterans come with lots of skills and knowledge from their prior military experience,” Helen said. “That is invaluable in helping communities that are in crisis.

“There’s also another element to what Team Rubicon provides,” she added. “Our veteran volunteers are gaining purpose, community and identity while continuing their service and doing so with like-minded team members.

“That’s also an important part of what we offer.”

Team Rubicon provides the transition between what veterans knew in the military and what they are adjusting to in civilian life.

That’s something that Drew appreciated and that has helped him feel fulfilled.

“When I finished my civilian career, I was still missing the military,” he said. “It’s great to be involved with people who had a shared experience of service. We all have a common purpose.”

Access Storage is proud to support Team Rubicon Canada in the work it does to support veterans like Drew. We are humbled by the commitment to service that Drew and Team Rubicon demonstrate and are proud to support our veterans year-round.

Sign up to volunteer with Team Rubicon Canada today https://team-rubicon.ca/volunteer/