Wounded Warriors Canada

Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) is a national non-profit organization focused on providing mental health services to veterans, first responders, and their families. Founded in 2006 by Captain Wayne Johnston, a Reserve Captain in the Canadian Forces, the organization was initially named The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warriors Fund. The inspiration came from Captain Johnston's duties as an assisting officer for severely wounded soldiers recovering in Germany from the war in Afghanistan. He observed a lack of basic comfort items for the troops and was moved to provide support to improve their quality of life during recovery. The fund was established after he witnessed the injuries of Sapper Mike McTeague, who was hurt in a suicide bombing in September 2006.

The organization has since evolved from a fundraising entity that dispersed funds to third-party providers into a direct mental health service provider. This strategic shift, led by CEO Scott Maxwell who joined in 2013, transformed the volunteer-based fund into a national organization. Maxwell's personal motivation stems from the loss of his high school friend in Afghanistan in 2007, which committed him to supporting Canada's service members. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its mission in 2016 to include first responders and public safety personnel nationally.

Wounded Warriors Canada operates as a registered charity, generating revenue primarily through donations and special fundraising events, supplemented by program and sales revenue. Its target demographic, termed Trauma Exposed Professionals (TExP), includes a wide range of individuals such as Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and corrections officers who are regularly exposed to traumatic events. The organization's services are clinically facilitated and offered at no cost to participants. Key programs include the Trauma Resiliency Program (TRP), which offers group counseling; the Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday (COPE) program, which supports couples dealing with operational stress injuries; and the PTSD Service Dog program. It also offers programs for children of service members, like the Warrior Kids Virtual and Camp programs. A 2022 survey indicated high satisfaction among program participants, with 97% reporting satisfaction and 84% finding group therapy valuable.

Keywords: veteran mental health, first responder support, PTSD programs, Canadian military families, trauma recovery, mental health services, operational stress injury, veteran charity, COPE program, PTSD service dogs, Wounded Warriors Canada, Wayne Johnston, Scott Maxwell, Trauma Resiliency Program, veteran support, family well-being, Canadian Armed Forces charity, first responder mental wellness, non-profit, peer support, resiliency training, mental health for public safety personnel