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I was born in 1919 and grew up in the city of Winnipeg, MB.  Growing up, I was very interested in sports.  I was interested in history.  I was interested in military things because my father had been wounded in World War I.  I would also say that I really grew up believing in Canada.  My mother was very conscious of being a Canadian.

When I was in high school, I got interested in debating, and some people say I never lost that interest.  I can remember writing letters to the Editor when I was maybe fourteen-fifteen years of age, and getting a couple of them published.  When I was going to university, I worked part time for The Canadian Press.  I used to take all the news from the wire from Toronto and the wire from Edmonton and condense it for the Brandon Sun.

I got into the Army Reserve by default.  I got into the army because I wanted a place to play hockey.  That would have been in June of 1939 and by September, we were at war, so then the Colonel called me in and said, “We want you to join the regiment as an officer,” and I said “no”.  He said, “What?” I said, “No thanks” I said, “I’ll join all right, but this war is going to be over by Christmas and besides what qualifications do I have to lead men?” I found out a little bit later that maybe I did.

On October 15, 1939, I enlisted in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.  I was 20 years old.  It was an experience to join the army and to really, if you like, I hate to use the word but, to study, to understand that you had a God-given opportunity to understand what men were, what life was all about, what men were all about.  What men were capable of.

I lost my right leg below the knee in 1944 while in command of a company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, battling for the Scheldt Estuary in Belgium and Holland during the Second World War.  I was glad to sacrifice a leg, knowing I might get out of the war. Now that may be very, oh I’d say, that may be very selfish of me, on my part, I don’t know, but I mean that’s why the Leopold Canal always brings flooding back of nice thoughts and when I sometimes go to bed at night and I can’t sleep, I think of the Leopold Canal and I think of everything that happened that night – but I also think that that was the battle that I went through that allowed me to continue living.

It gave me an opportunity that I never would have had otherwise. I mean, my God, look at the opportunities that I had! I never would have had those opportunities had it not been for the war and taking a hit when I was in the wrong place at the wrong time – it was worthwhile.  I would say that it all hasn’t been a picnic, but I’ve always had a way of finding where the good part of it was, and I’d say, “Hold on to that!”

When I returned to Canada, The War Amps was there to assist me in rebuilding my life as an amputee, as it had been for so many other amputee veterans since the First World War.

Before becoming CEO of The War Amps in 1965, I held several positions including, Adviser to the Minister of Labour in Veterans’ Rehabilitation, National Secretary of the Army Benevolent Fund, and Director of the Canadian Army Financial Welfare Program.  Secretary and Executive Director of the Woods Committee which conducted an extensive study on veterans pension legislation.

Throughout my tenure, The War Amps has grown dramatically and has become known the world over for its innovative programs and ideas.  The continued growth in the public’s use of the Key Tag Service, established in 1946 to provide war amputees with work at competitive wages, has also allowed the expansion of existing programs as well as the development of new ones.

In 1975, with the immediate needs of our war amputee members being met, I established the internationally-recognized Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, which provides financial assistance with artificial limbs, counselling, regional seminars and innovative programs like Matching Mothers.  CHAMP is the only program of its kind in the world, and has gained international renown for its innovative assistance to children who are born missing limbs or lose them due to accidents or medical reasons.

I have produced many incentive films encouraging amputees and the disabled to take part in activities like skiing and golf.  I actually learned to downhill ski myself at the age of 66 because I wanted to make a video which would inspire amputees — both young and old — to take up the sport as a recreational pastime. An entire series of award-winning ski videos grew from one of the first productions, The Nakiska Kids.

As a documentary producer, I created The War Amps NEVER AGAIN! Series to illustrate the reality of war and to preserve Canada’s military heritage. 

To me, the history of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles will always be about the men. I think their stories must be told.  In 2005, I released a memoir titled, Excuse Us! Herr Schicklgruber – an insight into the personalities, feelings and hopes of the men with whom I served in the Second World War. 

In 2006, I had the privilege of granting an interview with Veterans Affairs Canada as part of its Heroes Remember Project.  The interview raised experiences I had not brought myself to think about in years.  The interview was done without notes or preparation and took some four hours in front of a camera to complete.  I wrote a book titled Up Close and Personal which is comprised of the full interview transcript and produced a one-hour documentary which contains highlights of the interview.

For more than 40 years, I have been proud to serve the needs of Canadian amputees, both young and old, as CEO of The War Amputations of Canada and Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada.  This has taken me down many paths.  Some were arduous, others controversial, but each has had its special purpose.

I have been privileged and honoured to receive numerous prestigious awards for my service to my country, to veterans and to Canadian amputees in both the war and civilian life, including Companion in the Order of Canada in 1999 and Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour from France in 2004.

I wouldn’t change a thing. I wouldn’t change a thing because I would be afraid that when they dealt the cards the next time I wouldn’t get all the good cards. I’d get a bunch of two’s or something.  You know, I think that you play with the cards you have and somewhere in that deck was a work ethic that I’m happy about and wonderful opportunities to do something useful… what more does a guy want?