Retired corporal Matthew Schovanek enlisted in the military in March of 1988 and was posted to eastern Canada (Petawawa) for basic training.  Matt was assigned to the First Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment – Bravo Company (2^nd Rifle Company) as an infantryman.

In 1993 Matt’s company was assigned to a UN peacekeeping mission in Croatia.  They returned home 8 months later and after a short break, went for a 2^nd tour of duty in Bosnia.  Less than a month into the 2^nd tour of duty (October 29^th, 1994), Matthew suffered a multi-trauma open head injury in a motor vehicle incident.  That injury forced him into retirement from the military and left him in the state he is now: Wheelchair-bound , Blind, and Brain Injured.  All of Matt’s family is proud of him; he was injured keeping others safe.

Matt currently resides at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre for Veterans in Calgary.  His sister Felicite and her husband Randy look after Matt.  Matt is involved in many great activities like disabled skiing, disabled sailing and a Friday nights out social group.