On Wednesday 12 November, the East Coast Army (ECA) celebrated its launch at First Canadian Place’s Vertical Restaurant. Hosting “A General Welcome” was none other than Newfoundland and Labrador’s General Rick Hillier (ret), Canada’s former Chief of Defence Staff. As the charitable and social wing of its parent group East Coast Connected (ECC), Hillier got the ECA off to a great start by highlighting the privileges and responsibilities of being an Atlantic Canadian living “away from home.” This mandate was driven home by media personality Seamus O’Reagan, who spoke in support of Great Big Sea’s upcoming charity concert in Toronto for Newfoundland’s Daffodil Place.

General Hillier charmed and delighted the audience with anecdotes of his experiences in the military, and of the emotional challenges facing a culture living away from its roots. As the newly-appointed Chancellor of Memorial University, in addition to his leadership role with TD Bank in Ottawa, Hillier understands the value of inter-regional communication and organization fundamental to the ECA’s purpose. Stressing the “unique opportunity” of being an Atlantic Canadian working abroad, he recounted “the importance of community” in coordinating support across what can sometimes seem like very large distances.

As an example of the kinds of “ex-patriot” communities experienced by Atlantic Canadians, General Hillier was quick to point that more Atlantic Canadians are involved in the military per capita than from any other area of the country. Fostering a sense of belonging was an important part of maintaining morale, but also in sustaining an enduring connection to “home.” Hillier recounted one such story about a Christmas in Kosovo, when “in the shell of a bombed out factory...I sat down and ate scrunchions for Christmas dinner with a bunch of Newfoundlanders.” Such experiences, he noted, present East Coasters with a chance to organize and coordinate over their love of a shared culture.

For all the successes of those who have left, Hillier reiterated, there remains a pressing need to remember the plight of the many less prosperous people who have remained “home.” “We are so fortunate,” he gestured to the audience. “It is our privilege and our duty to assist those who need it most in Atlantic Canada.”

Good work is already being done in the arena of inter-regional social and charitable acts, a point made clear by the next speaker. Seamus O’Reagan, host of CTV’s Canada AM and a native Newfoundlander himself, talked on behalf of St. John’s Daffodil Place, and the upcoming charity event featuring Great Big Sea.

O’Reagan spoke eloquently on behalf of Daffodil Place, a St. John’s residence designed to accommodate cancer patients in the emotionally and financially arduous trial of cancer treatments. A concert featuring Great Big Sea, entitled “The Great Big Give,” is scheduled for 6 December 2008. For details on this event, please go to http://www.smilingland.ca/. More information on Daffodil Place can be found at http://www.daffodilplace.ca/.