By Angie Rolheiser

Hunting lodge offers space for Wounded Warriors

Dec 14, 2018 | 10:29 AM

An exciting partnership for the Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation in northeast Saskatchewan.

The foundation has entered into an alliance with Gerald and Irene Purcell, who own Tobin Lake Trophy Adventures hunting lodge.

“It’s a reality, it’s a dream come true, it’s everything that we imagined it could be and more,” Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation Founder and CEO Blake Emmons said.

A news release said the alliance “will provide an established location on the shores of Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan that will benefit those challenged by PTSD brought on by their honourable service to their country.”

Those affected include veterans, firefighters, first responders, EMT’s, police personnel, trauma nurses, correctional officers and more.

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Emmons told northeastNOW one of the most compelling stories he heard during one of the weekends was from a tow truck driver, and the images he saw in his career.

Emmons said having a facility like Tobin Lake Trophy Adventures will help them expand programming during the week.

“We’re going to be able to do things like equine therapy. We’ll be able to do therapeutic things rather than just us all getting together and healing each other. We’ll actually be able to have some exact programs, because we’ll have the time,” Emmons said.

The facility can also be used for other gatherings.

“As an example, if a group of police officers or whatever would like to have a meeting in private or a get-together, avoid the stigma of ‘what will people think’, you know, we’ll make it available,” Emmons said. “I just look at the potential of what we’re going to be able to do with this, and I thank Gerry [Purcell] and his wife for making [Tobin Lake Trophy Adventures] available at no cost. 

“Last year at the Invictus Games two of the guys that went…were two graduates from Wounded Warriors Weekend that previously had attempted suicide,” said Emmons. “This year, four of our alumni from Wounded Warriors Weekend were at the Invictus Games in Sydney.”

Gerald and Irene Purcell said in the news release they “are looking forward to greeting our first group of participants in mid July 2019. These men and women have made it possible for people like us to have what we have, and to live the life we do in a country that’s free. We simply look forward to doing our part in giving back to those who have given us so much.”

More announcements are expected to be made in the next month.