Jeff Virgo, Dwayne De Rosario, and Stephan Moreau at the BMO Field in Toronto.

Hub Staff

Following September’s Invictus Games in Toronto, Canadian Ambassador, Retired Private Jeff Virgo from Saugeen Shores, reflected on his time at the annual event that recognizes the achievements of injured servicemen and women through sport.

The two time Invictus athlete turned ambassador got the chance to meet with athletes, advocate to media and rub shoulders with other ambassadors such as Canadian icon Mike Myers.

See: Two-time Invictus athlete turned ambassador for upcoming games

The Games were held from September 23 to 30 but for Virgo his work as an ambassador is not complete as he continues to change the minds of communities through adaptive sports, as well as corporations and the government to reflect on the need for change in regards to how injured servicemen and women in Canada are received when they return home.

“We’re just working hard to do some sort of planning and really push it. Hopefully it will help Team Canada members to give them opportunities and jobs,” said Virgo.

The ambassador and personal trainer at Lakeshore Recreation said that following the “high of the games” many Invictus athletes face challenges assimilating back into normal life while managing their injury as they have heard the word “no” too many times. “It’s even worse for military people because we’re not supposed to be in the spotlight, we do our job professionally and that’s the end of the day so to allow all countries to relive the moment but also to pursue and push forward.”

Virgo suffered a spinal cord injury while serving as a Long Range Patrol Private, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, an Armed Forces base in Alberta in 2004 and remembered being told that he would only have a 1 to 2 percent chance of walking. “I was told I would have limited mobility standing up. I would be able to move my legs a bit but to stand up and walk would be very hard and next to impossible so it’s just little things like that, if we can keep pushing the envelope with that.” Virgo added that it’s about changing the mindset of doctors and medical professionals who say, “Oh this is the injury or this is the disease you may have and this is the best that you're going to get.”

Virgo remarked about Invictus athlete Trevor Greene. Greene was an Officer in the Seaforth Highlanders of the Canadian Forces and suffered a massive brain injury when he received a axe to the head in 2006 while serving in Afghanistan. He attended the Invictus Games in Toronto and was working hard to get to the 2018 Games in Sydney, Australia. “He's a guy who pushed the limits and everyday he's changing medical journals and that’s what we want is to change that mindset, and the trickle down effect.”

For Virgo the shift from being a competitor at the Games to an ambassador was like “night and day”, as he worked hard to explain the Games to anyone who would ask from media to spectators. “People generally cared and wanted to know how the system works,” he said.

Virgo said the pond and skating rink at Toronto’s City Hall was converted into tennis courts for the 2017 Games and initially spectators and fans consisted of the athletes’ friends and family members but soon tripled to standing room only viewings. He added that crowds filled 85 to 90 percent of seats at many of the events that saw Canadian athletes compete for the first time in wheelchair basketball and rugby.

From left, retired Master Cpl Collin Fitzgerald, retired Private Jeff Virgo, who served together in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI); PPCLI Medic Paul Franklin, and Canadian Minister Defence Peter MacKay at the 2017 Invictus Games held in Toronto September 23 to 30.