Jeanine Mader happily describes herself as a “volunteer addict.”
A Royal Canadian Air Force veteran and member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Jeanine has volunteered at Navy Bike Ride (NBR) for several years and has also volunteered at the Royal Canadian Air Force Run and Canada Army Run.
She started volunteering at NBR through the Royal Canadian Legion. Royal Canadian Legion Orléans Branch 632 has brought volunteers to the Ottawa in-person event for the past three years.
“I love to volunteer,” says Jeanine. “When I was asked to help by Dominion Command to hand out some Legion items a few years ago, I jumped at the chance. People love free stuff, and I enjoy meeting new people.”
Last year, Jeanine helped pass out NBR finisher coins to runners, walkers and cyclists at the Ottawa event.
“That was a lot of fun,” she says. “That was a special highlight for me, as I got to congratulate many people – one of them being one of my Girl Guides. I was very proud of her.”
Jeanine worked for the Royal Canadian Navy for more than 25 years as a procurement officer. She served seven years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, while her husband served in the Canadian Army.
Jeanine joined the military in 1974. She completed basic training in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, and did her supply tech course at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden. Her first posting was to CFB Uplands Ottawa, where she did computer inputs and purchased vehicle parts for the military fleet.
Jeanine then did a tour of duty in the Middle East, where she was injured.
“I still have no regrets going there,” she says. “At least I got to come back home. Others weren’t so lucky.”
Following her tour, Jeanine returned to Ottawa for a few months. She was then posted to Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Dundurn in Saskatchewan, where she met her now-husband, Garth. At CFAD Dundurn, Jeanine worked in the warehouse, receiving goods, and she did some computer inputs.
From there, the next posting was CFB Petawawa, where Jeanine worked in Canadian Medical Equipment Depot (CMED), in the tool crib. This posting is when Jeanine and her husband started their family. Their two boys were born in Petawawa, and Jeanine decided to leave the military so she could raise her family.
The Maders were then posted to Montreal and then made their final move to Ottawa. They have lived in Orléans since 1987.
Jeanine joined the Royal Canadian Legion in 2007. She was asked to be the Youth Education Chair, and she continues to serve in this role today. She has also served as third vice-president, second vice-president, and first vice-president of her branch.
“I am a strong believer that veterans should help veterans, if at all possible,”
– Jeanine Mader
“That is why I also volunteer at the Perley Health Centre [a campus of care for seniors and veterans in Ottawa]. I love spending time with our much older veterans. They are all so special to me.”
We are so thankful for volunteers like Jeanine Mader, who help us make our events a success and who help us create an amazing community. To learn how you can volunteer for the next Navy Bike Ride event in Ottawa, contact Susan Sloan at sloan.susan@cfmws.com.
