Mark Campbell of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry was out on the water for the first time one week ago. Major Campbell lost his legs above the knee in February of 2008 while out on the front lines in Afghanistan.

Mark entered our program last year in late October, so all of his casting practice has been on a polished concrete floor up until now. While his first “on the water” outing did not result in any fish, Mark was presented with a Sage VT2 6WT fly rod and a Bauer MXP2 fly reel. The rod was donated to Project Healing Waters Canada by Fish Tales Fly Shop in Calgary, Alberta and the reel spooled with line and backing was donated by Brad Janke of Okotoks Alberta.

Mark spent some time learning to wield the new rod and is planning on some more time on the water. As well Mark is going to be heading to Northern Ontario for five days of fishing in a combined effort by Project Healing Waters Inc. and Project Healing Waters Canada with travel for Canadian Soldiers being made possible by Soldier-On.

This is much of what we are all about here at PHWFFC. Everyone working together for the benefit of our Soldiers and for members of our protective services.

Here is a brief summary of my military career. I joined the Canadian Armed Forces in July of 1990 as an infantry soldier. After my basic training in St-Jean, I was affected to CFB Valcartier in Quebec. This base is where I spent the vast majority of my career until I was posted to CFB Gagetown in September of 2007. Throughout my 20 years of service, I have been deployed overseas on many occasions and have participated in many domestic operations.

The outstanding friends my wife and I got to know and appreciate during our stay in New Brunswick prompted a few and very positive life transforming decisions. First and foremost, we decided to establish ourselves in this beautiful province. Secondly, we wanted to give back to a community that has been so great and given us so much.

So why PHWFFC? I discovered PHWFFC and what they did through my wife’s work. The organization she works for copes majorly with the injured military and the mourning family and relatives of the deceased. After watching, and I must say by sheer curiosity the promotional DVD that Kevin had left after his briefing to the Joint Personnel Support Unit in Gagetown, I decided at that moment that I wanted to get involved. I strongly believe in the philosophy that drives PHWFFC and can testify to the phenomenal benefits it brings to an individual mentally, physically and last but not least emotionally. The next step was doing some research on the internet, finding the PHWFFC web site and contacting the NB director.

I am an avid fly fisher, fly tier and outdoorsman and have been for many years. As a youngster, I grew up in a supportive and loving family that was not much into neither fishing or outdoor activities. Nevertheless, through self propelled interest and friends sharing the same hobby as I, fishing slowly but surely grew into a full time obsession. Throughout the years, I have fished many rivers and lakes in the province of Quebec. Thanks to a wonderful group of friends whom I am very fortunate to have and cherish, I am now experiencing the fabulous atlantic salmon and trout fishery NB has to offer. Getting out and fishing is without a doubt the best way my wife and I have found to unwind from the stress generated by our work and daily obligations. There is definitely something soothing about the sound of flowing water, a fishing rod and the hope of landing the big one that cannot be expressed in words but must be experienced.

I will be retiring from the Canadian Forces this coming July. I am eager to begin working with the other members of PHWFFC in order to get this project moving forward here in NB. I hope my contribution will help individuals find the therapeutic benefits as well as the serenity fly fishing and tying have to offer.

Screaming reels

Daniel Despres