In this month’s episode we are speaking with the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, Mario Baril.

In our conversation we talk about the scope of his role, how the Ombudsman’s office can support Military family members, and some of the tools and resources that have been created by his team. Mr. Baril also tells us what he has learned about - and from - Military families since taking on this role in July 2025.

About our Guest:

Mario Baril is a seasoned public service executive and accredited mediator with nearly two decades of leadership experience in advancing organizational health and strategic governance across the Government of Canada.

Mario Baril has served in the executive ranks of the federal public service, holding a variety of senior leadership roles as a member of Senior Executive Management tables. His experience includes providing strategic counsel to Deputy Ministers as Chief of Staff at the Treasury Board Secretariat, advising Ministers’ Offices on strategic and business communications at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and delivering his leadership vision at the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada.

More recently, in 2018, Mario established the first organizational Ombudsman Office at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and pursued his passion for healthy workplaces through the delivery of Ombudsman confidential services at Public Services and Procurement Canada from 2022 to 2025.

In March 2025, Mario was appointed by the Governor General in Council—on the recommendation of the Minister of National Defence—as Special Advisor to the Minister and Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, effective July 2, 2025.

Mario is an Accredited Mediator (IMAQ) and a Certified Leadership Coach (Destination Leadership, 2024).

Throughout his career, Mario led numerous departmental and national initiatives aimed at promoting organizational health. He played a key role in establishing a new role and mandate of the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace—a national initiative recognized and highlighted as a success in the 29th Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada. He served on the Advisory Board for the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace and contributed to the Interdepartmental Committee on Mental Health Performance Measurement at the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Mario holds a master’s degree in public administration from ÉNAP, a bachelor’s degree in social sciences (Economics, Public Policy, and Management) from the University of Ottawa, and a college diploma in journalism.

Outside of his professional life, Mario is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys sailing, swimming, canoeing, cycling, downhill skiing, and trekking in Mont-Tremblant. A passionate traveler, he has explored numerous countries with his wife, Danielle, and their two sons—embracing diverse cultures and forging meaningful connections around the world.

Links:

• Military Benefits Browser https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/education-information/caf-members/compensation-benefits/mbb.html
• ABCs of Military Postings https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/education-information/caf-members/career/postings/abc-military-postings.html
• English homepage https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces.html
• French homepage https://www.canada.ca/fr/ombudsman-defense-nationale-forces.html

In this episode we are speaking with Amy Doyle and Dr Nicholas Held from the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR).

We discuss recent research studies, and how the findings are being put into practice in new programs and initiatives to support CAF Members, Veterans and their families. In particular we talk about a series of books to help Military children to discuss their feelings about the challenges facing them and their families.

Our Guests:

Amy Doyle has worked in publishing for many years as the owner of Midpoint Productions Inc. and as the former Director of Advertising at The Intelligencer newspaper in ontario’s Quinte region. Amy later transitioned into fundraising and partnerships - and now serves as Project Manager for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research at Queen’s University.

Amy is married to a former CAF reservist. Her youngest son serves with 2RCR at Base Gagetown in New Brunswick, and her eldest son is attending Dalhousie University.

Dr. Nicholas Held is the Interim Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University.

He is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Military, Veteran, Family Health.

Prior to this role, Dr. Held served as the Assistant Scientific Director at CIMVHR. He has previously held positions as an Assistant Professor Teaching Adjunct in the School of Kinesiology at Queen’s University and a Term Adjunct in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University. He completed his PhD degree at the University of British Columbia and Postdoctoral training in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University.

In addition to research training, he gained valuable experience working in a clinical setting exclusively with CAF Veterans living with chronic pain. His research interests broadly focus on improving the wellbeing of military, Veterans and their families, with a specific interest in improving pain management and recovery of CAF Veterans.

Learn More:

About CIMVHR:

https://cimvhr.ca/

About the books:

https://cimvhr.ca/canadian-adaptations-of-childrens-e-books-for-military-veteran-and-public-safety-personnel-families/

We want to hear from you!

Do you want to tell your story? Send us an email to find out more about being a guest: Podcast.Feedback@PetawawaMFRC.com

This month we are talking with two members of Team Canada at the Invictus Games in Whistler BC in February 2025.

In our discussion we talk about :

· what lead them to apply for Team Canada,

· the journey to the games once they were selected –

· and what it was like to complete at the Invictus Games.

We also talk about the lessons they learned – and how the experience changed their perspectives and their relationships.

If you are a fan of the Invictus Games you are really going to enjoy this behind- the-scenes look at how the athletes select the events they will compete in – as well as the training process to get them ready to compete.

Note - in this episode we do discuss Operational Stress Injuries, please listen with care.

About out Guests

Major Jessica Guerin is a dedicated Personnel Selections Officer with 23 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces. With a background as a medical technician and a degree in psychology from RMC, she combines her expertise in mental health with a passion for helping others find their career paths. Outside of work, she enjoys fitness challenges, cooking, and volunteering. Jess is also a proud mom and a strong advocate for veteran mental health initiatives, aiming to continue her journey in counseling psychology and support fellow veterans.

Pauline Lythgoe served in the Army and later in the Air Force as a Material Management Technician. She served in Petawawa for 18 years, working in different units and sections. She also completed an IR posting in Ottawa before retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces a few months ago in March of 2025.

We hope that you enjoy the conversation that my cohost Claudia Beswick and I had with Jessica Guerin and Pauline Lythgoe

Click here to learn more about Soldier On: https://www.soldieron.ca/

We want to hear from you!

Do you want to tell your story? Send us an email to find out more about being a guest: Podcast.Feedback@PetawawaMFRC.com