HOPE: A Compassionate Support Network for the Canadian Armed Forces

February 11, 2026 – Defence Stories

Estimated read time – 2:30

By: Ashley Boisvert, Communications Officer at CAF Transition Group

Understanding HOPE

Grief is something everyone experiences, but within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), it often comes with added layers of complexity. Operational demands, frequent relocations, and the realities of military service can make loss harder to navigate. The HOPE (Helping Our Peers by Empathy) program was created to offer peer-based, compassionate support to CAF members, veterans, and their families during these difficult moments.

Voices from the Program

Corporal Nicole Lamothe and Lieutenant (Navy) Courtney Williams are HOPE volunteers who bring both professional commitment and personal experience to the program. Nicole grew up in Trenton in a military family and has served in the CAF for eight years, working at Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Leitrim in Ottawa. Courtney grew up in rural Nova Scotia, joined the CAF in 2012, attended the Royal Military College of Canada, and now serves in Halifax as a Naval Combat Systems Engineering Officer.

Finding HOPE

Nicole first learned about HOPE through a CAF email highlighting morale and welfare programs and followed up by exploring the program online. The focus on grief and bereavement immediately resonated with her. Courtney discovered HOPE while attending a course focused on supporting CAF members and their families. Having experienced the loss of her mother, she felt drawn to the program as a meaningful way to give back.

Turning loss into purpose

For both volunteers, personal loss played a central role in their decision to join. Nicole lost her father at the age of 15 and saw HOPE as a way to use her lived experience to support others within the CAF community. Courtney has always viewed supporting members and families as a core responsibility of leadership and felt HOPE allowed her to do this in a way that fits with the demands of military life.

Why HOPE Is needed

Grief is still a difficult subject in many military settings, where emotional openness has not always been encouraged. HOPE helps change this by creating safe, judgment-free spaces where people can talk openly. Military service also brings unique challenges to grief, whether members are coping with personal loss while continuing to serve or families are navigating the loss of a loved one connected to military service.

Making a difference

HOPE connects people with someone who understands both grief and military culture. Many individuals reaching out are experiencing loss for the first time and are unsure what is “normal.” Volunteers help normalize the grieving process, offering reassurance that there is no set timeline and that finding a new normal does not mean forgetting.

Looking forward

Nicole and Courtney hope to see greater awareness of HOPE across all levels of the CAF so members know support exists before they need it. As the program continues to grow, HOPE remains a vital source of empathy, connection, and understanding for the military community.

Those seeking support or interested in learning more about the program can visit: HOPE Program.