THUNDER BAY – ANISHINAABE – It’s my first time attending a formal army mess dinner as a Canadian Ranger and here I am in a drill hall filled with red tunics, black trousers, and shiny medals.
It is a warm Fall evening In Ottawa and I am seated at a table with Brigadier-General Lowell Thomas, commander of 4th Division, and other high-ranking officers of the Canadian Army, and I feel a little nervous.
The last time I saw General Thomas, who commands the army in Ontario, we were more than 1,200 kilometres north of Ottawa, and it was in the middle of winter and outdoors on the coast of Hudson Bay. We were out on the land and inspecting Site 500, an abandoned radar site near Winisk, 35 kilometres downriver from my home community of Peawanuck. After an hour’s ride on snowmobiles a small group of Canadian Rangers had stopped to make a fire and cook some caribou ribs for the general and others in his party.
Now, here I was eating with him again but in Ottawa as one of six “honoured guests” selected from across Canada by the commander of the Canadian Army to participate in the 8th annual Army Run half-marathon.
The Run attracts thousands of runners, both military and civilian, and raises funds for the Soldier On and Military Families funds, two official financial support programs of the Canadian Armed Forces. They provide assistance for ill and injured soldiers and military families in need.
After being selected to represent the Canadian Rangers at the Run, I thought I would simply arrive in Ottawa, run the half-marathon, and fly back home. But when I received the itinerary for my visit I realized there was going to be much more to it than that. So I packed my finest Ranger gear, polished my boots, and travelled to Ottawa.
The weekend of the Army Run was filled with activities for the six honoured guests. We got a private tour of the Parliament buildings. We went zip lining as a team building exercise, which was an exhilarating experience. We had an opportunity to loosen up our legs with a friendship run and got a few last minute tips for the Army Run from John Stanton, founder of the Running Room stores.
The guest speakers at another dinner I attended as part of the Run were memorable. The most remarkable were two veterans who spoke about overcoming severe injuries and going on to live extraordinary lives. One became a doctor after he was paralyzed in a parachuting incident. Another, a double amputee, went on to participate in the television show Amazing Race Canada. Their stories were powerful and they spoke highly of the support they received from the Soldier On program. I was grateful for the opportunity to be there and honoured to be able to thank the men and women who serve this country.
On the day of the Army Run, after meeting with Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Richardson, 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group’s commanding officer, Captain Caryl Fletcher, the officer commanding 3CRPG’s Canadian Ranger company, and Chief Warrant Officer Rob Patterson, the group sergeant major, and receiving their encouragement and support I was ready to run. At the sound of the starting cannon massive waves of runners began to move, with me way in the back of some 25,000 participants.
It was a great experience and a personal highlight of the run for me was when I ran past the entrance to Rideau Hall, the official residence of David Johnston, Canada’s governor-general. He was standing outside and we exchanged high fives as I passed him.
Perhaps motivated by that high five, I finished much stronger than I expected, completing the half-marathon in two hours and 12 minutes, a personal best. It felt good when I received my finisher’s medal, which was in the shape of a soldier’s dog tag.
To be an honoured guest at the Army Run was an amazing and rewarding experience. Meeting Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, commander of the Canadian Army, and receiving a Commander’s Coin from him was one of many memories that will stay with me.
I still feel proud and honoured to have been one of the six honoured guests from across the country at the Army Run weekend. It makes me want to be a better Canadian Ranger.
Pam Chookomoolin
This description of Master Corporal Chookomoolin appeared in the program for the Army Run: “A devoted member of 3 CRPG, MCpl Chookomoolin has received the Canadian Forces Decoration, the Special Service Medal with Ranger Bar and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her extraordinary commitment to the Canadian Rangers. Born in Moose Factory, Ont., MCpl Chookomoolin has supported various domestic emergencies, including the response to the tainted water crisis in Kashechewan, a remote First Nation community in Northern Ontario. A traditional teachings instructor, MCpl Chookomoolin hosts an annual Wolf Run in her home community to raise awareness of diabetes. She and her team recently raised a total of $6,000 for this worthy cause.”
