Bruce Barteaux
Biography
How does one sum up a half century of toil, leisure, interests and adventures? That is the question that has stumped me and may have challenged others as we are on the threshold of joining the Old Brigade. I reserve judgement and retain the option of changing my (18 year old) opinion that the revered members of the Old Brigade are “ancient”, among their other more impressive attributes. That said, I’ve probably already wasted half of my allotted space.
Back to the task at hand (“squirrel!”). Oh yes, what have I done or perhaps better, what fuels me or what are my passions? I was honoured to have completed 42 years of full-time service in a Canadian army uniform. During that time it was also a privilege to wear the maple leaf on my singlet at many world and Commonwealth ultramarathon championships. Being inducted into the Canadian Armed Forces Sports Hall of Fame for doing something that I enjoy was a true thrill!
I valued and pursued fitness from before my time at RMC and I have been blessed with continued great health that has allowed me to continue doing pretty much anything that I want during my retirement. Here’s where some of my passions show up as I continue to be busy at what I enjoy doing – helping others. After full-time service ended, I managed another 5 years in uniform as a Cadet Instructor Cadre officer which allowed the opportunity to help youth develop and to perhaps act as a role model. In fact, although they wouldn’t extend my uniformed service, I still work as a Civilian Instructor doing all the high-end expedition activities with army cadets. While I was an army cadet before RMC, my son, daughter and son-in-law also got the benefit of that youth opportunity and they are all doing great in their individual careers of over 20 years in the army to date. Obviously Bonnie and I are extremely proud of them all!
My church activities allow me to put my passion for God in the form of service. I am a member of our Leadership Team, a role that I have been in during many church homes over my military moves, I sing and more recently play bass guitar in Worship Teams, I am the Treasurer and I generally help out where needed, doing set up, tear down or even expedient roof repairs.
In an increasingly disaster-impacted world, my latest passion is being a member of Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led volunteer disaster relief organization. Over the past year I have responded to the needs resulting from hurricanes, wildfires and floods, meeting and helping folks who have been impacted and trying to assist their recovery. There are also great benefits and opportunities to help fellow “Greyshirts” as we are called, as many deal with previous trauma themselves.
Oh yes, I am pleased to have the good health and therefore the ability to give the “gift of life” to others. I am a regular blood donor and my last donation was my 150th whole blood offering to the Canadian Blood Services for use by those with health needs.
I would be remiss and totally deficient if I did not stress the importance that Bonnie, the love of my life, has been in supporting me in my military, sports and volunteering endeavors. I have been so blessed to have her by my side for all these years (OK, decades)!
In summary, it’s great to be in a position to have the time and the physical ability to help others in a myriad of ways. And, of course, I am sure that much of the idea of service to others before self, came from the training and close bonds that we developed and nurtured from our time together at RMC. I look forward to reuniting with buds as we actually enter that which seemed almost unimaginably distant fifty years ago. Hip, hip hooray for the Old Brigade and the new crop of geezers about to enter it!
