March 26, 2018 Dear Justice Arnold: 1am writing this letter to discuss with you my son, Chris, and, hopefully, shed some light on his character. As his father, 1 know that there is an automatic, at least perceived, sense of bias, but I am truly speaking from my heart about this young man. | hope that you accept my words in the sincere and respectful manner intended. Chris was born on November 30, 1987 in Calgary, AB. (He is my only child.) { had the fortune of being in the delivery room watching him enter this world, It was a difficult birth ~ he almost died. When doctors finally informed his mom and me that he would survive, I remember walking out of the delivery room and into the hospital hallway, leaning against a wall and collapsing to the floor in tears of joy and reltef. At less than two years of age, we relocated to Cape Breton to be close to family, | was fortunate to have been able to transfer to Sydney to help close the military base in 11999. Chris was the only grandchild of both sets of grandparents, Needless to say, he was constantly surrounded by love, support and affection. Chris’ mom and I separated when Chris was a bit over 2 years of age. Hi spend every second weekend with me. Since I was posted io CFS Halifax in thesummer ‘of 1990, I drove to North Sydney every second weekend to see Chris. He and I wor nd spend our weekends at my parents’ home. I will never forget how he used to wi ‘ni Atle arms around my leg as he stepped into my foot. I would carry him around the house like that. He thought it was the coolest thing, As for me, I couldn't believe a this young boy was my son was, and still am, so very proud of him, With ata vena sincerity, Chris was, and is, my life. C im. With the utmost Asa military police oficer at the age of 18, ] quickly le di rece between a leer anda follower. The world reads bon eo an a neTeW up more asa follower ~a people pleaser and the kind of percon tore ea ‘and follow the wishes of his friends, eam aChris never got i and gis, ook Ine trouble asa child or teenager. Hs friends were nice young boys 01 , rom caring and He hi Jose nd with his friends, and still does to ay aE families. He had a very clos At age 12, i Ay ase A Chris followed in my footsteps and one the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where he excelled fe often went ois junior hgh cool ns edt uniform to help anvlnes era Jaa the Ar ets Ct lived in Sydney Mines, a small former coal~ folie towe wher aval mont was execs ce ‘Many kids came from poor fanilesChes saw te cadetmovement sa way 0 help the other kids through a sense isa lerie that they would never attain by hanging around the streets. He was -ssful in convincing many young kids to join, some ‘of whom went on to later join the Canadian Forces and enjoy highly successful careers. ‘As for Charis, when he finished with cadets at age 17 (the cut-off age), which was the same year he graduated high school, he moved to Halifax to live with my wit, ‘Angie sett ties The 15 yeats of not being able to See him daily, or notbeing able to wake NET arGhristmas morning for over 15 years and see his smiling face were finally past Our selationship grew stronger. not only love my son ike him too. There 2 aifference, as [am certain you know. When he was 19, he decided to move to Banf, AB and ive with « Fiend who helped him get a Job at Banl Fire and Safety. He spent almost 2 years with that company and he came to realize that he wanted a career that would allow him to help people. He returned to Halifax and enrolled in the ‘sixemonth program at the Fire ‘School in Waverley, NS. Unfortunately, no firefighter jobs existed in HRM or the surrounding area upon his graduation, or for years to follow. So, he applied to the RCMP, Sadly, he was unable to complete the ‘obstacle course because of a lower back injury. (While he rin North Sydney when he was 15 or 16,he slipped and fell injuring his lower back. He required surgery.) With the RCMP career out of reach, Garis continued to work at restauran’ and also at Simplex-Grinnell in Dartmouth, a installs, tests and repairs fire alarms systems & commercial facilities any that He qospltals, condo and apartment building, and even in our provincial inc ales “Pid federal prisons in NSand NB. sporting in Halifax his materal grandmother was in the hospital at wile i oe or ed hs supervisn to allow him to work on a projec: athe a coast Guard College in Sydney, which was not far from the CB Regional ‘Chris saw this a5 ar opportunity to i the work needed to be completed at 3} Guard College and vis his grandmother, with whom he was especially close, Nays. He would also be is when she passed. Sadly, his supervisor ee him that he would have to choose b i i Fequest t2 a euper @ between his job and his ple thing ipervisor to do, Chris, of course, chose his yhat a tert ip. Atleast he was able to be with her when she passed. r. mother ‘and left his jalSs Chris suffered fr rom depression following the passing of his grandmother. He sought counseling, but told nab Sat hewne one ld na bai iy the family, Including his mother or me. We had no Idea Chris conti . Hammon aSrent tn Jobs that helped others. He was a volunteer freighter In safety services. 1¢ helped my company, which provided occupational health and Th The wenendouty tag een Spar 245 ce Crit dele Ps night te "ess Disorder (PTSD), consequences of which have caused him to have knowing that fesibecks) difficulty sleeping, hypervigitance and more. It tears me apart my son has PTSD. [have been liv jor mi ind know all iaorweedl tes cant ia eeteces ing with ft for many years and know While Chris was incarcerated pending trial (and before his bail) he wrote a note on @ brown cardboard toilet paper roll, which I have pinned to my home-office corkboard. 1¢ says: “When I get out, [want to: 4. Hug everyone. 2. Help people. 3. Show Brittany the Cabot trail. 4 Restart my career, 5, Starta fomily. & Spend all of my time with loved ones. 7, See the world. & Cherish every second. 9. Make a difference in the world and in people's lives.” ed full-time while he was on ball, and he enrolled in an online program at Aiversity in ON. He wanted to obtain a psychology degree and work in the tice system. He wanted to help people that have been incarcerated because fn the system whereby inmates with mental health disorders are not effectively, or at all. Chris wort Queen's UI criminal ju: he saw @ gap being treated While Chris was on ball he saw a psychologist (weekly) that specialize While Gfers from the terrible symptoms of PTSD, as 1 avaTenionae fee atl seunately, Correctional Services in NS do not provide psychological counseling to Inmates suffering from a mental health disorder. Consequently, the psychologi ing to {reated Chris throughout his year on bail offered to attend the Burnside faclline vow Sid continue treating him for free. She knows the financial strain horton ye fas taken on our family and her ofer was and | n that the legal services Yeterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has offered to now ee oe counseling while at Bumside because his treatmeat wil ety see PoP CHOLOS ecovery am extremely grata ae ee reatment will help wi logical at Chris can, at least for now,