Annual Vancouver Military Dinner Raises Funds for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025
The Vancouver Military Dinner took place April 6th, bringing together more than 100 service members and civilians to raise an incredible $35,000 for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, presented by ATCO and Boeing.
The evening kicked off with the cocktail hour, where guests had the opportunity to network and reconnect, participate in the fundraising wine pull (which quickly sold out) and begin launching their bids at the event’s largest silent auction to date. Prizes included VIP experiences to see Pearl Jam and the Canucks, and for the very first time featured an exclusive package for four guests to take in the official Welcome Ceremony for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
Volunteers welcomed guests to the event and offered the opportunity to learn more about the Games through trivia and sharing more about the Heart of Invictus film, playing silently with subtitles on screens around the room. These pre-games volunteers have been with us through the One Year To Go Celebrations and continue to be incredible ambassadors for Games, helping to generate excitement and awareness, while also fundraising during the Vancouver Military Dinner. A huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who helped to make this event a success!
One such volunteer ambassador is Nick Holyome, who took on a special role at the event as one of two headline speakers. Nick is an alumni of both Invictus Games The Hague 2020 and the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, having competed in Cycling, Rowing, and Wheelchair Rugby. Nick served as an Army Intelligence Officer, an Air Force Intelligence Officer, and a MARS officer with the Naval Reserves. In his career he was deployed to Kabul and three times to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Nick generously shared his journey, what Invictus means to him, and how he continues to use the unrivaled power of sport to support his wellbeing.
Commodore Patrick Montgomery, Commander of the Naval Reserve, was the Military keynote speaker at the Vancouver Military Dinner, sharing an informative presentation on the Naval Reserve and what this service looks like across Canada. Cmdre Montgomery is responsible for all citizen-sailors serving across the country and beyond. He has enjoyed a remarkable career in multiple Naval Reserve Divisions and staff appointments, as well as Commanding His Majesty’s Canadian Ships Edmonton and Saskatoon.
The keynote speeches were certainly highlights of the event, offering an important opportunity to learn more about Canada’s military and underscoring the sacrifice and dedication of all service members and Veterans across the country. Hosted as a Military Mess Dinner, civilians had the opportunity to experience Military traditions including several official toasts, songs, and banter.
Since 2014, the Vancouver Military Dinner has been delivering unique, elegant experiences, bringing military and civilian Canadians closer together and raising awareness of the issues and people that are fundamental to the defence of Canada. Proceeds from the annual dinner go to charitable causes that support our nation’s sailors, soldiers, aviators, special forces operators, and Veterans. A huge thank you to founders Mark Adams and Scott Martin and the entire organizing committee for supporting the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 through the Vancouver Military Dinner. To learn more about the Vancouver Military Dinner, visit: https://www.vanmildinner.com/
