Panel discussion in Halifax to honour female military sacrifices

Captain Nichola Goddard is seen. (Courtesy: True Patriot Love Foundation)

Female veterans and civilians will be getting together in Halifax this week for a panel discussion about leadership and sacrifice from a women’s perspective.

Organized by True Patriot Love, the Captain Nichola Goddard Women in Leadership Series will be held on Thursday and will include multiple speakers to tell stories of female leadership in the military.

“It’s a panel discussion, and it will be monitored by our deputy premier, Barbara Adams who is also responsible with relationships with the miliary and veteran community. There will be senior serving members and veterans on the panel,” said retired Lt. Col Eleanor Taylor with True Patriot Love.

The event was started eight years ago with the goal of honouring the memory of Captain Nichola Goddard, who was the first female Canadian soldier to lose her life in a combat role.

Goddard first served in Petawawa, Ont., before serving in Afghanistan where she was tragically killed in a combat incident.

Taylor says not many people realize Goddard also had a Maritime connection.

“Her family moved all over places in Canada and Papua New Guinea, she went to high school in Antigonish, she made a deep impact on the people there, and the song Highway of Heroes written by the Trews from Antigonish is really about her and her sacrifice,” said Taylor.

Following her death, Goddard’s family established a fund in her honour in 2018 with True Patriot Love acting as the steward. The goal of the fund is to meet the needs of women veterans and actively serving women members as well as their families.

Taylor says the objective of the event is to bring civilians and civilian businesses together to hear stories of leadership, as well as raise money for the fund.

Tickets are available on the True Patriot Love website.

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