General Rick Hillier (Retd). (rdnewwsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

The Outreach Centre

Retired General Rick Hillier brings message of support for Ukraine during Regimental Dining-In event in Red Deer

Jan 24, 2023 | 4:36 PM

Over 350 people gathered at the Red Deer Resort and Casino Monday to mark 150 years of the RCMP service in Canada, including 80 years in Red Deer.

The Outreach Centre’s Regimental Dining-In event featured guest speaker, General Rick Hillier (Retd).

Currently Chair of the Ukrainian World Congress’ Strategic Advisory Council, Hillier was the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada’s highest-ranking position in the Canadian Forces. Among his many military career highlights, Hillier oversaw Canada’s most important mission in Afghanistan.

Now, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine still ongoing, Hillier spoke of Canada’s and Alberta’s role in the war.

“The people of Alberta understand more than anybody else I think, they have to play a part in support,” says Hillier. “The Government of Alberta on behalf of the people of Alberta, have contributed two tranches of $10 million each to support Ukraine and with that, the Ukrainian World Congress has had some input there. We’ve been able to buy first aid kits for troops to carry so they can save their own lives first, save the lives of their battle buddies second, and battalion aid stations and all those basic things, that was all done by the people of Alberta and I just want to say a heartfelt thanks.”

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Hillier says it’s important that Canada continues to support Ukraine.

“We depend on international stability, the rule of law if you will, across the world, so that we can have prosperity, do well and we can be secure,” he explains. “But when that international stability that we believe in through the United Nations and through NATO is threatened, we now also have to step up and play a part.”

“I’m hopeful that’s going to lead to a nation who wants its government to invest heavily in the Canadian Armed Forces to make sure we have all the capabilities that we need to respond into the north, to help defend that international order around the world, and that means we have to have all the bits and pieces,” adds Hillier.

Hillier says that also means more recruiting.

“We’re probably running at less than 50,000 full time men and women in uniform right now and a lot of those are not deployable because of previous missions and things that have occurred,” he admits. “We need to seriously invest in the Armed Forces and realize that our role in G7 and G20 and the UN and NATO, any influence we have comes from the ability to help that security.”

Ian Wheeliker, Executive Director, The Outreach Centre in Red Deer, says their Regimental Dining-In event brings him a feeling of pride and is a good reflection of the relationship both he and the Centre have had with the RCMP in Red Deer.

“Building a relationship with community agencies and partners and in particular with law enforcement and police, that’s the only way that we’re really going to create safer communities and create the kind of communities that our families are happy and safe growing up in, so we’re proud to be part of the solution,” says Wheeliker.

Wheeliker says when the agencies, RCMP, and community sponsors that support the work of local charities come together, that’s when people’s lives are changed.

“These are complex social issues that we’re trying to fix and change. We can’t do it alone. When the community comes together, it’s such a powerful force in giving a positive message to the community, but also impacting individual lives.”

Ian Wheeliker, Executive Director, The Outreach Centre. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

Wheeliker says funds raised from sponsors, auction items and silent auction items from the event will go directly to the programs and services at The Outreach Centre.

“We’ve got four key areas. Suicide Prevention and Education, Housing and Homelessness, Domestic Violence, and trying to reduce the strain and stress of poverty,” he explains. “It’s tough, as we all know the price of food has gone up. During Tools for School we had greater demand this year than we have in previous years, but again the community came through for us. We made sure that every kid that needed a backpack for back-to-school got one.”

During the recent holiday season, Wheeliker says The Outreach Centre, in partnership with the Christmas Bureau, were able to assist low-income single parent families and their children to the tune of $94,000.

“So we made sure that they got the holiday meal, gifts for the kids, even a gift for the mom or the dad and that was all with the generous support of the community as well,” he points out. “It’s tough times but I know this about Albertans, is that when we go through tough times, those that can give, give even more.”