Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan trained alongside wounded military members and veterans on Wednesday as they prepared for the 2017 Invictus Games.
Two serving Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt members are among the 90 Canadian Forces members and veterans who are taking part in the games, founded in 2014 by Prince Harry as a rehabilitation tool for service members with physical or mental injuries.
Sajjan, a former Forces member who was injured while serving in Bosnia, said he has seen first hand what an “immense confidence builder” sports programs such as the Invictus Games and the Canadian Forces’ Soldier On can be.
The training camp is being held for a week at the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence, Commonwealth Pool, the Victoria Bowmen Archery Club and CFB Esquimalt.
The Invictus Games take place Sept. 23-30 in Toronto. More than 550 ill or injured soldiers and veterans from 17 countries will compete in Paralympics-style sports such as wheelchair basketball and seated volleyball.
