Christian McEachern crashing through PTSD walls

Former city soldier plans wilderness centre to battle PTSD
By GLENN KAUTH, Sun Media


Christian McEachern, a former member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who left the military in 2001. (Supplied photo)

A former Edmonton soldier – once so distressed he crashed an SUV into a garrison building – is the driving force behind plans for a new wilderness centre dedicated to helping fellow post-traumatic stress disorder sufferers battle their demons.

“It’s going to be geared towards using an adventure-therapy concept with the veterans,” said Christian McEachern, a former member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who left the military in 2001.

Earlier that year, McEachern drew attention to the issue of PTSD when he crashed the vehicle through the Edmonton Garrison headquarters. At the time, he lashed out at the military for doing too little to help soldiers with the disorder, which he had suffered from for years following service in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Since leaving the military, McEachern, 37, has been living in his hometown of Calgary. Now, after finishing a degree in ecotourism and outdoor leadership, his goal is to apply that knowledge to help his successors in the army by setting up an adventure centre in the mountains nearby.
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