Cape Breton residents are some of the most generous people in the world. Time and time again, we see Cape Bretoners step up to the plate to help those in need, whether it is families who lost their homes to fire, raising money for Christmas Daddies, or Wish Foundation or fundraising for families that need aid for medical reasons. This weekend saw a military mother, Trina Hall Samson, do her part through fundraising to help with a venture known as Real Canadian Recreation, that will aid military veterans who need a place to restore their piece of mind after traumatic service during their military career.
Samson, raised funds through sewing of face masks for COVID, motorcycle poker rally and tickets on a beautiful home-made quilt. She was able to deliver Tyson Bowen, Ret/Sgt and head of this venture, $2,020.00 for his project of a veterans/service member retreat in Lorne, Pictou County, NS in support of their mental health and PTSD! Needless to say, Bowen was so very grateful to each and every one who contributed. He informed Samson that they are building 18 wooden teepees that can house families of 4 on the 300 acre property. He will be using these funds towards this project! Thank you to all for helping this military mom with this Real Canadian Recreation benefit.
On Sunday, October 18, the motorcycle Cape Breton Warrior Poker Ride organized by Samson took place. The Poker Run was in support of The Real Canadian Recreation for a Nova Scotia’s Veteran Retreat. Samson, has two of her children in the military, so this project was very near and dear to her. The event had 45 motorcycle riders take part. This venture had a strong Richmond County connection, not only to Samson, but also to former Richmond County native Tyson Bowen and his family.
Canadian Military Veteran, Ret/Sgt. Tyson Bowen, who is originally from Isle Madame, served 14 years with the Canadian Armed Forces, rising up the ranks from rifleman to section commander, his career also included combat tours in 2007 and 2010 in Afghanistan. Bowen, who was diagnosed with PTSD in 2015, understands the problems veterans are facing, from dealing with his own experiences and he hopes the Eco-Adventure Park will help others, as it has helped him embrace a slower pace and daily routine to keep his post-traumatic stress disorder at bay.
The Eco Adventure Park will be geared towards healing veterans through nature, so that other veterans can have a place to come, and find calm and camaraderie. Ret/Sgt. Bowen who is a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, which left him (and his family and friends) suffering from the effects of PTSD, has found peace, calm, and happiness on this land and he wants to share it with as many veterans as possible. Bowen and his family have recently purchased an 80 hector, farm just 15 minutes South of Stellarton in Pictou County, NS and have started the Real Canadian Recreation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadian Military Service members and veterans through the development of a Nova Scotia Eco-Adventure Park. The goal in developing the property is to include a woodworking shop, a functional garage, accommodations, as well as camp sites and trails dedicated to hiking, biking, all-terrain vehicles and other off-road worthy vehicles. The organization is working towards creating a location where veterans can come and stay for a couple of hours or a couple of days depending on their needs, free of charge. This will give veterans an opportunity to participate in retreats right here in our own province.
To see a video by Emma Smith on the Real Canadian Recreation produced for the CBC go to https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/veteran-afghanistan-farm-retreat-ptsd-health-nature-1.5353003.
Great things happen from the work of our communities pulling together. We should be very proud of Samson and all the hard work that our residents do for these very worthwhile causes.
