It’s never too late to explore your passion. Mine? Serving my country and supporting our military.

As a kid I devoured military history. I could recall vivid details of battles and generals from both World Wars and I would read history books late into the night (…sometimes to the detriment of my school assignments!) I had a model aircraft collection and loved building scale-model battlefields. I was a Boy Scout. I remember marching with the WW1 and WW2 veterans at the annual Remembrance Day Parade in the town I grew up in. I will never forget hearing their stories of pain, loss and heroism.

In high school I decided that I was going to become a naval engineer. The best of both worlds: the sea and the military. It was an expensive degree to obtain at the time and only a few schools in North America taught naval engineering, including Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. If getting a paid degree in naval engineering meant that I could serve my country in the military and see the world, then bring it on!

I started the long application process for RMC: aptitude tests, proficiency tests, physical tests, interviews with officers – it seemed endless. After a year’s worth of testing and advancing to the next level, I was told that the number of entrants in my year to my program was very limited (I don’t know why…) and that I didn’t make the last cut. I was crushed.

I didn’t have a “Plan B.” (That was a big lesson - you always need a “Plan B”…)

Fortunately, a large number of my family members were part of the Greek Merchant Marine and in 1985 I went to work aboard the ships. At 17, it was my chance to see the world!

I started as an “Oiler” – the worst job on the ship. I literally walked around with an oilcan in the engine room, oiling every moving part (at 40C!) I worked my way up to Apprentice Engineer in six months.

I spent almost one year at sea, mostly travelling in South East Asia and the Persian Gulf aboard an oil tanker – the Hawaiian Sun. I got to experience it all - Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan Korea, Tokyo, Taipei, Brunei, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait. It was a blast. The crazy part - The Persian Gulf and the “Danger Pay.” Due to the fact that the Persian Gulf Tanker War was in full swing and Iraq and Iran were firing missiles at each other in the Gulf, we received three times our pay when we took on cargo in the Persian Gulf (…that we would blow on cheap electronics in Hong Kong and Singapore!) It was a fantastic experience and certainly one I will never forget.

I went on to have a very satisfying and exciting career in the mining industry, but in the back of my mind, have always longed to serve my country. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to experience Navy life when I spent four days aboard the HMCS Regina. It really reminded me that it’s never too late to explore one’s passions…

I am very excited to announce my recent appointment to Canada Company’s BC Division as Chair – my long awaited chance to serve the military, serve the country and give back to Canada.

Canada Company is a charitable, non-partisan organization that works to ensure the men and women in our Canadian Armed Forces receive the widest support, care, and recognition they deserve. As part of our pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our troops, Canada Company also serves to build the bridge between business, community leaders and the Canadian military.

I’ve had the privilege to tour military bases with Canada Company and meet many of our exceptional military professionals along the way. They tend to be the same types of people that serve in the mining business – adventure-seekers, travellers, professionals with can-do spirits.

I am excited to share more of my passion with you in the coming months. Please follow along on our journey and consider becoming a member of Canada Company!

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/canada-company-bc-chapter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CanadaCompanyBC