Vancouver-Whistler Invictus Games showcase veteran resilience

Article / February 20, 2025 / National Defence

By Steven Fouchard, Directorate Army Public Affairs

The Invictus Games are back in Canada this year and, while their mission to showcase the resilience of injured soldiers and veterans through sport remains unchanged, the 2025 edition includes a first: the inclusion of winter adaptive sports.

Vancouver and Whistler B.C. are hosting more than 500 athletes from 20 countries who are competing in alpine and Nordic skiing, skeleton, and wheelchair curling among other events from February 8 to16.

The Canadian Armed Forces are playing a role in the current Games alongside Veterans Affairs Canada.

Team Canada’s participation is led by Soldier On, a support program administered by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, and the True Patriot Love Foundation, a national charity supporting ill and injured veterans and their families.

Team Canada 2025 consists of 56 competitors: 22 currently serving Canadian Armed Forces members and 34 veterans.

Among the currently serving athletes is Chief Warrant Officer Cheryl Belanger, a Canadian Army Medical Technician with Canadian Forces Health Services. CWO Belanger’s career has included deployments to Afghanistan, Haiti, and Ukraine.

Other Team Canada members include:

Assunta Aquina, a combat engineer who served in the former Yugoslavia and says a career highlight was working with de-mining teams in Bosnia.

Charles Philip Arsenault, a retired Mobile Support Equipment Operator with deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

Jeffrey Michael Becker, a retired Reserve Combat Engineer who deployed to the former Yugoslavia in 2002, and Afghanistan, where he served in both Kandahar and Kabul.

The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who was inspired in part by his own military service in Afghanistan.

The first Games were held in London, England in 2014. The first Canadian city to host was Toronto in 2017.

"The Invictus Games are more than a competition, they are a testament to the resilience and strength of our members and veterans," said Lieutenant-General Mike Wright, Commander Canadian Army.

“Every athlete competing represents a story of perseverance," he continued. "By showcasing their journeys, we not only honour their achievements but also strengthen the bond between military and civilian communities, reminding us all of the sacrifices made in service to our country,” he added.

This year’s Games are taking place on the traditional territories of the Líl̓wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, who are partners in the event. In recognition, organizers have ensured Indigenous traditions and cultures will be present in every part of it.

“The Canadian Armed Forces is committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation,” said LGen Wright, who also serves as Defence Team Champion for Indigenous Peoples. “I commend the organizers and partners for making these games a platform for inclusion, respect, and healing.”