For Dal history student Wyatt Carling, Remembrance Day brings back memories of attending parades in Chester, N.S., alongside his grandfather, a Royal Canadian Navy veteran who served during the Second World War and the Korean War.
Growing up, Wyatt listened to his grandfather John's stories about life at sea, including his experiences aboard a destroyer during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Today, Wyatt is experiencing a different side of naval service. As a Dal student and active naval reservist, he works as a port inspection diver. Although their experiences differ, Wyatt's family history helped inspire his decision to pursue military service.
Shown left: John Carling.
“Since my entire family has worked in the military for a few generations, I thought I would give it a go while I finished high school and university,” he says.
Wyatt’s family's history with the military stretches back at least four generations on his father's side. All his great uncles served, although he knows little about their experiences as they passed away years ago. His father spent time in the navy after graduating from university, actually joining the same reserve unit that Wyatt would later start at: HMCS Scotian.
Finding his place
Despite those family connections, Wyatt's decision to join the reserves at 16 following a move a year earlier from hometown Toronto to Chester was driven mostly by curiosity. After spotting an advertisement in the newspaper, he decided to give it a try.
“I honestly just thought the job sounded cool,” he says.
He chose to pursue diving, despite never having tried it before. His first time diving came during his initial Canadian Armed Forces training course, an experience that confirmed his interest in the role. His family supported his decision, although they encouraged him to continue to pursue a university degree.
Like many students balancing school with outside commitments, Wyatt initially struggled to find a routine.
It was tough at the start, but after my first year I found a system that worked.
“It was tough at the start, but after my first year I found a system that worked,” he says. “The reserves were very accommodating, and they allowed me to pursue my education, which I was very grateful for.”
For students considering a similar path, military service can offer opportunities to develop skills, gain work experience, and receive financial support while pursuing a degree. Eligible reservists can receive up to $7,500 annually in education reimbursement, depending on their approved educational expenses.
For Wyatt, however, some of the most rewarding parts of the experience have happened outside the classroom, including opportunities to travel across Canada.
“I would have never been able to travel around this country as much if I hadn’t joined,” he says.
Carrying a family tradition
While his experiences as a reservist have given Wyatt opportunities of his own, they have also changed the way he reflects on the generations of service that came before him.
As someone now serving in the Canadian Armed Forces himself, those memories of his grandfather and hearing first-hand account of military life carry a different significance.
Although his family no longer attends ceremonies together after moving apart, Wyatt continues to try to participate in Halifax's annual Remembrance Day parade with fellow reservists.
“It’s a time of reflection on the sacrifice of the Canadians that made the ultimate sacrifice,” he says. “Since joining, I certainly feel more connected to this idea, with their legacy living on through the CAF as a whole.”
Wyatt says the occasion is an opportunity to reflect on both the sacrifices of Canadian service members and the military history that has shaped his own family. His grandfather's experiences during the Second World War may look very different from his own life balancing university and military service. Still, both are part of a tradition that continues across generations.
This Remembrance Day, as Wyatt joins fellow reservists in Halifax to pay his respects, he will be continuing a family tradition that began long before he ever put on a uniform.