The elderly, uniformed veteran is an iconic image at Remembrance Day. However, it is time, says Lieutenant-Colonel Mike McGinty with the British Columbia Dragoons, that Canadians also pay homage to younger veterans who are often overlooked at this time of year.

McGinty is associate director of risk management and security services at UBC害羞草研究所檚 Okanagan campus. He is also an active reservist and commanding officer of the British Columbia Dragoons害羞草研究所攖he Canadian Armed Forces unit based in the Okanagan Valley.

害羞草研究所淭here are no veterans left from World War 1 and we have very few left from the Second World War,害羞草研究所� McGinty says. 害羞草研究所淏ut there are a lot of veterans in Canada, thousands of them. These are the men and women who served in Bosnia, Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and other places. We need to include them in our thoughts when we take time to mark Remembrance Day.害羞草研究所�

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The British Columbia Dragoons have a long history in the Okanagan Valley. Established in 1911, those were the soldiers who went to Canada害羞草研究所檚 battles, serving in places like Flanders in WW1 and Italy and Holland in WW2. This year害羞草研究所檚 Remembrance Day, the regiment has soldiers from the valley deployed in South Sudan and in Eastern Europe.

McGinty retired from the British Army in 2014, and joined the Dragoons after moving to British Columbia. It was while working with them, the lead for a job at the university came up. He applied, stressed in this interview that he was a reservist, and was successful. Now, he juggles the two roles and is thankful the university recognizes his dual duties.

害羞草研究所淯BC has known I was reserve soldier since the moment of my application,害羞草研究所� he says, explaining not every employer wants to hire reservists as they overestimate the distraction and underestimate the benefit.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a common misconception for many employers,害羞草研究所� says McGinty. 害羞草研究所淏ut if they hire reservists, they get people who are motivated and exceptionally well trained in areas like leadership development. Best of all, they get employees who are getting that training on somebody else害羞草研究所檚 dime.害羞草研究所�

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Along with McGinty, there are almost a dozen students and one faculty member currently serving with the Dragoons. Earlier this year, UBC Okanagan was recognized by the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, winning the Provincial Award of Excellence for the university害羞草研究所檚 support of military reservists who are also employees. The campus won two awards; one at the provincial level and also special recognition at the federal level.

害羞草研究所淯BC Okanagan is proud to support employee reservists and to recognize all Canadian veterans on Remembrance Day,害羞草研究所� says deputy vice-chancellor and principal Deborah Buszard. 害羞草研究所淩eservists bring unique experiences and special skills to their work and I applaud their dedication and that of all veterans to our communities and to the country.害羞草研究所�

For McGinty, who was an officer and helicopter pilot in the British Army, there will always be a need for a few minutes of reflection every November. He will speak, in uniform, at the campus Remembrance Day service this week, as he did last year. While he thinks it害羞草研究所檚 important for the campus community to mark the event, for him it害羞草研究所檚 also personal.

害羞草研究所淩emembrance Day is significant to me because I害羞草研究所檝e been to 33 funerals,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淭hese are people I met through my work, or I was responsible for their funeral arrangements and at those I met their grieving families. These are people who voluntarily gave themselves and I truly believe it害羞草研究所檚 worth us giving up a few hours one day a year to recognize and reflect on their sacrifice.害羞草研究所�

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