Seth Congdon
The Brass Tacks. I’m Seth. I come from a small village on the south shore of Nova Scotia. I’m a first generation Canadian, and fortunate son of two wonderful parents who immigrated here from the U.S. in the early 70’s. I was incredibly lucky to grow up on the edge of the North Atlantic, enjoying every opportunity the ocean can give. I have a kinship with this place. The ocean is said to carry with it healing properties that replenish and ground. I suppose that’s no small part as to why I find myself here today.
I spent a decade and a half serving Canada as an infanteer and rifleman with the PPCLI Second Battalion. I started this career as a means to support myself and to experience a fringe lifestyle at the same time. I’ve had the absolute honour to work with some of the most professional individuals, domestically and abroad. To be counted as worthy enough to stand in the same room, let alone work and collaborate with them, is in no small way humbling.
I spent a decade and a half serving Canada as an infanteer and rifleman with the PPCLI Second Battalion. I started this career as a means to support myself and to experience a fringe lifestyle at the same time. I’ve had the absolute honour to work with some of the most professional individuals, domestically and abroad. To be counted as worthy enough to stand in the same room, let alone work and collaborate with them, is in no small way humbling.
Having started my career in a peacekeeping role, serving in Bosnia and traveling the former Yugoslavia, I was able to satisfy the original goal of joining to serve. Soon after 2001, I was able to branch further into peacemaking in Afghanistan and traveling in the Middle East. Being immersed in a foreign culture, and experiencing it at its most raw, provides a valuable perspective. For example, while serving in Bosnia, I was able to take part in physically maintaining security for elections, bringing aid to a broad civilian populace, and participating in one of the most intensive ordinance, mine removal and amnesty initiatives as part of Op Palladium. Later, in Afghanistan, I was involved directly with the push to remove the Taliban from national control, empowering the Afghan people to hold the first Loya Jirga (democratic assembly of tribes and leaders) in more than a decade. These, and experiences like them, bring us a spectrum of humanity few get to witness.
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The cost of this education is high, and has left a lot of Vets across Canada fragmented and alone. Meeting Jim and Royce on this journey has highlighted how incredibly valuable community is after service has finished. Being part of Strayboar and collaborating with people who are encountering the very same obstacles is in an odd way comforting. I hope you find peace in it too.
-Seth
-Seth
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