I joined the military 30 years ago and I only have a few years left to do before retirement. Been posted to various and sometime exotic such as Valcartier, Germany, Goose Bay Labrador, Gagetown, Ottawa, and Petawawa and now finally back home Valcartier.

I learn fly fishing when I was 8 year old. Since then, I’m avid fly fisher and take every opportunity to wet my line. While in Goose Bay, I taught myself fly tying since then, I tie my own flies. I also participate in a fly fishing forum giving advice (2 cent worth) or telling my fishing stories. On the same forum, I publish some of my fly creation for the benefit of other fly fishermen.

How did I got involved with this project is not by accident but by a ricochet from my involvement with a youth group here in Quebec City. I was looking for a sponsor when I wrote a request letter to Jack’s company. Jack got me in contact with Kerry and the story goes on.

I think this is a great project and I want to help out and bring my knowledge and expertise to this project. Been in Afghanistan myself and while I was working at the hospital, I seen our wounded soldiers. Now, it is time for me to give more to them.

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J’ai joint la vie militaire il a un peu plus de trente ans. Heureusement, il ne me reste que quelques années de services avant de me retirer. Durant ma carrière, nous fumes mutés dans plusieurs endroit certain d’entre eux on peut dire exotique tel que Valcartier, Allemagne, Goose Bay labrador, Gagetown, Ottawa Petawawa et finalement retour au point de départ.
J’ai appris la pêche à la mouche à l’âge de 8 ans et je n’ai jamais abandonné ce sport. Durant mon séjour au Labrador, j’ai appris à monter mes propres mouches. Je participe aussi activement à des forums qui parlent de pêche. J’aime bien donné mon avis ou des trucs. Sur ce même forum, j’ai publié quelques mouches de ma création pour le plaisir des partager avec les autres pêcheurs.
Comment j’ai joint le projet Healing Waters, c’est un peu le hasard et du fait que je travaille avec un groupe de jeunes qui apprennent le montage de mouches et aussi ils apprennent le maniement de la canne à pêche. À la fin du projet, nous les amenons à la pêche pour qu’ils puissent tester leurs mouches. J’ai écrit une lettre de demande de support à la compagnie de Jack qui lui m’a mis en contact avec Kerry.
Lors de mon séjour en Afghanistan, je travaillais à l’hôpital multinational rôle 3. J’y travaillais en tant qu’officier du bien-être, j’ai vu et connu quelques uns de nos soldats blessés. Je crois fortement que ce projet pourra aider nos soldats blessés.
Je suis marié à Lise qui est ma compagne depuis plus de trente ans et nous avons un garçon de 24 ans qui est encore à l’université.

1ST ANNUAL EDMONTON DINNER & SILENT AUCTION
IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT HEALING WATERS & TROUT UNLIMITED EDMONTON

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010
MAYFIELD INN & SUITES
16615 – 109 AVENUE
EDMONTON

Dear Friend of Trout Unlimited Canada

Project Healing Waters Canada is pleased to partner with the Northern Lights Fly Tyers, Trout Unlimited Edmonton Chapter, for their 2010 Dinner and Silent Auction on October 23, 2010. We are excited to have partnered with the Edmonton Chapter of Trout Unlimited as this group of dedicated fly tyers and anglers forms a substantial part of the training and deleveopment of new fly-anglers through the Project Healing Waters Program.

Your support of the 2010 Northern Lights Auction and Dinner supports the Cold Water Conservation initiatives of Trout Unlimited Edmonton Chapter in addition to providing the dedicated funding necessary to provide the Healing Waters program to our clients. PHWFFC clients are comprised of Canadian Forces Soldiers as well as civilians who are suffering severe physical injury or Post Traumatic Stress and are looking for alternative methods for rehabilitation.

We offer the ability to discover fly-fishing in a safe and controlled environment at the hands of experienced anglers with a passion for the sport with attention to the conservation needs of our cold water resources. Our program supports: members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP and Municipal Police Forces, Corrections Canada, Fire and Emergency Services personnel and Canadians who have suffered amputations.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Tickets Now Available at:
The Fishing Centre – 12922 82 St NW Edmonton, AB (780) 473-4498

Order by Phone (Tickets are $40 each).

Mervyn Hasler 780-819-5106 or email: Juroch@telus.net

Barry Wright 780-910-8375 or e-mail: wrightb@telusplanet.net

Kerry Pitt e-mail: projecthealingwatersca@gmail.com

We are also accepting donations of goods or services for the dinner, please inquire above on how you can help out.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada
Kerry Pitt, President PHWFFC Canada
Greg Scratchley, Media Coordinator email: gscratch@gmail.com twitter: @PHWFFCanada

Northern Lights Fly Tyers – Trout Unlimited Edmonton
Barry Wright, President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northern Lights Fly Tyers, Trout Unlimited Edmonton announce fundraiser to support Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta (October 6, 2010) – The Northern Lights Fly Tyers, Trout Unlimited Edmonton will be hosting a dinner and silent auction on the evening of Saturday October 23, 2010. A portion of the funds raised at the event will be used to support ongoing execution of programs for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada, an organization devoted to providing support to injured / disabled veterans and public service personnel.

Tickets for this fund-raising dinner are available from the Northern Lights as well as local Edmonton fly-fishing retailers.

“Partnership with an organization like the Northern Lights is critical to the success of our support program,” said Kerry Pitt, President of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada. “This funding allows the Northern Lights to accept PHWFFC Clients with disabilities and PTSD as a result of their service to Canadians without concern for additional costs.”

The public are welcome to attend this catered dinner and auction at the Mayfield Inn in Edmonton. Tickets are $40/plate. For more information or to order tickets, the public is asked to visit the website of the Northern Lights at http://www.nlft.org

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada is a non-profit organization with the mandate of offering Fly Fishing and Fly Tying instruction to Canadian Forces, First Responders, and those individuals who suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or severe physical injuries as a result of their selfless service to the public. The largest group of clients and potential clients for PHWFFC are those returning from active duty in the Canadian Forces overseas (Afghanistan and other active theatres) and have returned injured or currently suffer the effects of PTSD.

The Northern Lights Fly Tyers – Trout Unlimited Edmonton is an Edmonton Fly Fishing Club and Trout Unlimited Chapter with a history of providing low or no cost fly-tying and fly-fishing education to the general public. The Trout Unlimited Chapter also provides funding and manpower to public projects that support cold-water fish conservation and education, like the Yellow Fish Road project.

For more information on the Northern Lights visit:
http://www.nlft.org

For more information on Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada visit:
http://www.projecthealingwaters.ca

Contact:
Greg Scratchley, PHWFFC Media Relations
gscratch@gmail.com
(780) 232-8731

# # #

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada would like to announce the formation of a working partnership with the Northern Lights Fly Tyers – Trout Unlimited Edmonton.

PHWFFC clients in Northern Alberta will now have a huge resource at their disposal. Rather than relying on the schedules of just a few representatives of PHWFFC clients will now be supported by members of Alberta’s largest and most successful fly fishing and fly-tying organization. With over a hundred members the Northern Lights are a tremendous resource for new fly-fishers through their commitment to education, camaraderie and conservation.

PHWFFC will lead the organization of groups and manage the introduction of clients, and the Northern Lights will provide the manpower and experience to help bring our clients to the water.

This exciting partnership will allow PHWFFC to support more individuals, provide more frequent training sessions, and allow PHWFFC to focus on bringing in more of the people who could benefit from the program.

More information about the Northern Lights is available at their website: http://www.nlft.org

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