The Canadian Armed Forces account for more than 90,000 jobs in Canada. But when military careers come to an end, the transition to civilian life, and the opportunity to find new employment can be quite the challenge, and at times, very stressful.

The reasons for joining the army are different for everyone, and sometimes a spontaneous decision can have a lasting impact on the rest of one’s career. Gérald Dugas, who is currently a security guard at GardaWorld in New Brunswick, explains, “I was 17 years old and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in life. I went to a recruitment centre, and they offered me a job as an air force firefighter, so I seized the opportunity.” After serving more than 18 years as a firefighter with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mr. Dugas left the army to offer more stability to his family, as they had to move almost every three years.

Following the military, Mr. Dugas worked as a firefighter with the Ministry of National Defence. The transition was not what he had envisioned, so after five years of working at the Ministry, he decided to reorient his career, accepting a job in the trucking industry. A few years later, Mr. Dugas’s professional evolution eventually led him to pursue a career in security.

“In my current position as a security guard at NB Power's head office, where 600 employees work, I particularly enjoy giving customer service; like the human aspect of my work.” Mr. Dugas is delighted to have found a job that complements his personality; one where he can apply some of the acquired knowledge and skills from his military career. He credits his military experience saying, “I am able to anticipate situations that were not considered, and this makes all the difference to our clients.”

Like Gérald Dugas, many veterans have found their place in the civilian world on the GardaWorld team. At GardaWorld, we want to hire people who want to make a difference. When we hire veterans, we know we have someone who values loyalty and integrity.

To learn more about GardaWorld's initiative to hire veterans, please visit our Veterans page.