How the Invictus Games and the Canadian Government Failed an Injured Veteran

A veteran, injured while taking part in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, shares his story

Retired navy diver Scott Snow, 43, in his Invictus Team Canada flannel outside a retirement home in Kingston

A Canadian Armed Forces veteran, Scott Snow, a poster child for the 2023 Invictus Games, is now facing significant medical expenses after being left uninsured for injuries sustained while representing his country during the Games.

Scott Snow went to Dusseldorf, Germany to participate in archery, rowing and wheelchair rugby. During his first rugby match, the wheelchair he was using toppled backwards, slamming him onto the court floor and injuring his head, neck and spine.

Nearly a year and two surgeries later, Snow told CBC News he has had to pay thousands of dollars to cover assisted living arrangements and has been forced to abandon some therapy altogether for financial reasons.

His journey to the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf was featured in a promotional video highlighting the event. In the video, he discussed his two daughters, the 12 surgeries he has undergone for military-related injuries, and his struggles with PTSD and depression.

The article goes into some alarming details. Snow’s chair didn’t have a required safety strap so when his chair toppled over, his head and neck were left vulnerable to impact damage. Doubly concerning, according to Canadian policy,