Marty's Mental Health Journey and More

A journey that started in his youth and has spanned decades of flight, adventure, and sharing knowledge. For many years, I have had the privilege of engaging in countless conversations with Gilles, and each one reveals new layers of his fascinating journey through the world of aviation. His story is one that continues to inspire, a testament to how an early spark of curiosity can lead to a lifetime of extraordinary achievements. Born in Quebec City in the 1950s, Gilles’ early exposure to aviation was far from the bustling air traffic of today’s world. At the time, Quebec City didn’t have the international airport it does now, and planes were a rare sight in the skies above. But as young as five years old, Gilles’ life was forever altered by a single event that would set the course for his future. He was on a beach with his parents when a Taylorcraft float plane made an unexpected landing nearby. A crowd gathered in awe, but Gilles, too small to see the plane up close, felt the stirri...

  As someone who's been in the workforce for quite some time, it's hard not to notice the stark shift in attitudes and behaviors among today's employees, particularly younger generations. Over the years, I've seen a growing trend of employees who are increasingly disgruntled, impolite, and sometimes even aggressive. What’s even more concerning is how many have a difficult time receiving constructive criticism—no matter how positive or well-intended it may be. Often, the instant response is to claim injustice, discrimination, or victimization. A simple critique, meant to guide improvement, can quickly spiral into accusations or blame-shifting, and the concept of accountability seems to be slipping through the cracks. This trend raises some critical questions: What has changed? Why are younger workers responding this way? The Roots of the Shift To answer that, we need to examine the upbringing and education systems that shaped these generations. In recent years, many ...

  I vividly remember the day my son was born. As I looked at this tiny human in my arms, my mind flooded with thoughts and emotions. I had spent countless sleepless nights imagining the father I wanted to be. While the specifics of how I’d parent would evolve over time, there was one thing that was abundantly clear from the start: I wanted to be the kind of father that actively shaped and nurtured my child’s life, particularly when it came to his cognitive, emotional, and behavioral growth. This vision wasn’t based on any one role model I admired; rather, it was born out of the negative or unwanted behaviors I’d observed from men around me. I didn’t want to perpetuate those mistakes. I wanted to do better. And so, I began my journey with a clear sense of purpose. Being an Involved Parent One of the most important aspects of fatherhood for me was being present—really present. Given the nature of my career, I spent a fair amount of time away from home. But whenever I was there,...

  Regret and remorse are universal experiences that shape the way we view the world and navigate our lives. From the seemingly trivial to the deeply consequential, these feelings can weigh heavily on our hearts, sometimes staying with us for a lifetime. For some, the pain of regret becomes a silent companion that changes the way they approach relationships, decisions, and their sense of self. In my case, the most profound sources of regret stem from my time as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission—experiences that have stayed with me and shaped who I am today. During my tour of duty, I was witness to the harsh realities of war. The devastation, the suffering, and the raw human cost of conflict were things I could never have prepared for. I was young at the time, eager to make a difference, to help in any way I could. Every day, I asked for permission to give the locals food, shelter, and the resources they needed to rebuild their lives. I wanted to be part of something th...

Cellphones have revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and experience the world. They have shrunk the globe, enabling us to reach across oceans with the tap of a finger and stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues at all times. With the world constantly at our fingertips, it’s easy to overlook the quiet, insidious toll this hyper-connectivity takes on our mental well-being. A conversation I had recently with a colleague shed light on the unsettling reality many young people face today: the relentless stress of living under the weight of digital expectations. Her children, like many others, are trapped in a constant cycle of checking their phones out of fear of missing something—whether it's a comment, a message, or a meme. It’s not just about staying connected anymore; it's about surviving a digital landscape that thrives on drama, exclusion, and pressure to participate. The fear of being left out, ignored, or ridiculed online is overwhelming, and for many ...

  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition that often arises from experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, with veterans being a particularly vulnerable group. For years, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has provided medicinal marijuana to veterans suffering from PTSD and depression, alongside other treatments. While marijuana and other recreational drugs have been touted as helpful for managing certain symptoms—such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances—their role in long-term recovery is a subject of ongoing debate. For some, these substances may offer much-needed relief, especially when conventional therapies fail to deliver immediate results. However, for others, such as yourself, they might feel like a temporary fix—an easy way to “numb” the pain, but not an effective solution for truly healing. Let’s take a deeper dive into the growing use of recreational drugs in managing PTSD and explore whether these options truly foster recove...