Anyone that knows me says that I am an inspiration of what is possible if you put the work in to get there and I hope that my story may inspire you also.

Conrad Heegsma joined the Canadian Forces in July 1985. After completing basic training, I was posted to CFB Petawawa. In 1987 I was posted to CFB Lahr in Germany and was there until being posted to Gagetown, NB with the Armoured School while there I held many different positions including being a driver for student that were students on leadership training and later as an Instructor. My next posting in 2004 sent me to Edmonton, AB where I was a tank loader and later became a tank commander and also instructed some trade training. My final posting sent me back to Gagetown, NB in 2007 this time to the training center where I was an instructor.

In 2008 my body began to fail me from all of the abuse of the many years in a combat arms trade and playing military hockey. I had DDD of my lumbar and c-spine and arthritis causing me to have relentless pain to the point that I could no longer function in the as an instructor in the field. At this time, I became involved with distance learning as an instructor, programmer / coordinator for online leadership training until I was medically released in 2014 after serving nearly 29 years.

My wife and I moved to London, ON where I currently reside. I have been focusing on my health and education for the last several years. I completed three different collage programs online at Fanshaw College. After a lot of coordination with my case manager and my family doctor I was able to attend the intensive pain management program at the DeGroot Pain Clinic in Hamilton, ON. Where my transformation began. The knowledge and skills that I acquired to deal with my chronic pain from the amazing people at the DeGroot Pain Clinic and some fantastic health care providers in London. I can now do things that I never thought in a million years would be possible for me to do. I began volunteering at a local YMCA and now I am a wellness coach at that very same branch of the YMCA. Anyone that knows me says that I am an inspiration of what is possible if you put the work in to get there and I hope that my story may inspire you also.

Leadership & Board
The Centre of Excellence’s Board of Directors oversees the operations and financials of the Centre of Excellence as a not-for-profit, and includes veterans, industry leaders, and chronic pain experts from McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences and Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation.
Advisory Council For Veterans
Scientific Advisory Board
Leadership Team
Board of Directors
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