Two coasts, one purpose: How two Fleet Maintenance Facility employees united to support Jasper

November 29, 2024 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time - 2:30

Ryan Solomon and Shawn Brake had never met, despite working for the same organization.

Solomon is Group Manager 5 at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, while Brake operates out of Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott as the Work Centre Supervisor of Control Systems. Working in different roles on opposite coasts offered little opportunity for the pair to connect – until the summer of 2024, when devastating wildfires erupted in Jasper, B.C.

Both Military Veterans, Solomon and Brake were drawn to volunteer with Team Rubicon (TR) (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) Canada, a non-profit humanitarian organization focused on disaster response.

“The individuals who showed up to help in Jasper truly reflected the greater good in humanity,” Solomon said.

TR Canada, founded and led by veterans, is a key player in Canadian disaster relief, addressing gaps in domestic aid.

"We provide a service where there is no other service," Stephani Baker, TR Canada's Vice President of Development and Communications, said.

TR Canada relies on a volunteer force, known as Greyshirts, composed of military veterans, first responders, and civilians.

Tim Kenney, Vice President of Program and Field Operations at TR Canada, is himself a retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Kenney explained how the non-profit seeks to support Canadians during their most vulnerable moments, especially with the growing number of natural disasters.

“We want to be there on their worst day so that they're not experiencing those life-changing events alone,” he said.

The wildfires of 2023 were Canada’s worst on record, with over 6,000 fires burning more than 15 million hectares of land—an area larger than New Brunswick and Nova Scotia combined.

In 2024 alone, TR Canada volunteers worked over 13,000 hours providing disaster relief across four different provinces.

In Jasper, the organization worked alongside all levels of government, conducting reconnaissance, mapping, and assisting in recovery efforts. Their efforts included sifting through the remains of destroyed homes to recover personal items.

Over five weeks in Jasper, TR Canada deployed 140 volunteers and recovered over 1,500 meaningful items from 304 homes.

Solomon and Brake, part of the sifting team, spent days in full-body Tyvek suits and respirators, searching for anything that could bring comfort to residents. Despite the emotional toll, they were deeply moved by the shared humanity they witnessed.

“It was an incredible experience, I made friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Brake.

TR Canada is always looking for people who are willing to help in times of crisis.

“Anybody can participate, and everybody's contribution matters,” Baker said, emphasizing that no prior experience in disaster response is required to volunteer.

With well over 3,700 volunteers across Canada (except Nunavut), there are many ways to get involved.