Paddling toward peace: How a Military Police member is striving for renewal on the Nahanni River
August 22, 2025 – Defence Stories
Estimated read time – 2:15
Written by: Warrant Officer Katherine Vick, 1 Military Police Squadron
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Participants paddle red canoes under an overcast sky during the True Patriot Love Madawaska Training Camp. The training focused on developing whitewater canoeing skills and team cohesion ahead of the 240-kilometre Nahanni River expedition.
After a devastating loss and a difficult relocation, a Military Police member will soon embark on a 240 kilometer, all-women’s, expedition on the Nahanni River. Warrant Officer Katherine Vick recounts what led her to this point and tells us about her hopes for an unforgettable and life-changing experience to come.
In 2023, my family and I were posted to Borden, Ontario – one of the busiest military bases in Canada. That December, one of my members, who was struggling with mental health, committed suicide. His death significantly impacted my own mental-health, and I was advised to start trauma therapy. As I began to seek help, I found out my family and I were being posted to Winnipeg, M.B., uprooting us from our support system. After arriving at my new location, I was referred to a trauma therapist to improve my mental health.
I started reacting with anger to situations that did not warrant it, and this was when I knew changes were needed. I was exhausted, irritable, sad, and had lost control of my emotions. It was not the life I wanted, and it was affecting everyone around me. I needed help, for the sake of my family and myself.
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Participants of the True Patriot Love Madawaska Training Camp gather on a rocky riverbank, holding paddles and flags including 'TRUE PATRIOT LOVE', 'Canso', and the Canadian flag. The camp brought together veterans and first responders to prepare for the challenges of the Nahanni River expedition and support one another through shared experiences.
In 2022, I went on a Warrior Adventures Canada canoe trip alongside twelve other veterans and first responders. We paddled fifty kilometers through Algonquin Park, proving our strength, both mentally and physically. My best friend and fellow Military Police member, Nicole Laidlaw, then encouraged me to apply for the True Patriot Love all-women’s Nahanni River expedition in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.). She experienced the Baffin Island trip years earlier and said it changed her life.
An all-female team will be embarking on the Nahanni River Expedition from August 22 – September 7, 2025, paddling 240 kilometers. Physically, I have been prioritizing my health and getting back into shape. Mentally, I am a little nervous but mostly excited.
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Warrant Officer Katherine Vick stands on the rocky banks of a river during the True Patriot Love Madawaska Training Camp. Held in preparation for the Nahanni River expedition, the camp helped participants build confidence in whitewater canoeing while fostering connection and personal growth.
This trip will help me reconnect with myself and reignite my spark. Though we haven’t left yet, I already feel surrounded by strong, supportive women, making it a powerful space for healing and rediscovery. Joining an all-women team is a new experience for me, since the Military Police is predominantly male, but everyone I’ve met so far has been wonderful. I’m hopeful this journey will be both empowering and unforgettable.
Shortly after sharing our donation links, I surpassed my $1,000 goal and have now raised over $2,200. Fundraising is not mandatory for military members, but this cause is so close to my heart that I feel I should do my part to contribute. The support that True Patriot Love has provided has been mind-blowing.
If I could share one message with anyone who might be struggling with their mental health, it would be this: talk to someone and get out of your own head. We must end the stigma around mental health. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is the bravest thing you can do.
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