Honour Ranch: Home away from home for those suffering from PTSD
Monday, Jul 26, 2021With help from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation, Honour House Society recently opened a second facility for those suffering from PTSD.
For members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, and emergency services personnel, the widespread impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have devastating and lasting consequences. Sadly, the number of people in uniform who are on long-term leave or who have tragically taken their own lives due to the terrifying or traumatizing events that they regularly witness is far too high.
Honour House Society aims to have a positive impact on those numbers by providing a “home away from home” for those in uniform. Honour House Society operates two facilities: Honour House in New Westminster and the newly opened Honour Ranch in Ashcroft.
Honour Ranch is a stunning 120-acre property that helps guests recuperate and restore their sense of calm in a peaceful, natural environment, away from the stressors that can be found in towns and cities. The Ranch is not a health care treatment facility or institution, but rather a haven for people who are suffering where they can learn from mental health specialists and experts.
Honour Ranch was able to open with the help of some tremendous donations and volunteer efforts. The Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation provided $36,725 in funding over two years (2020-2021) to support its launch as well as offered staff opportunities to volunteer.
“With the generous grant from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation, Honour Ranch has been able to purchase necessary supplies and equipment to improve and augment the operation of the Ranch,” says Jeannie Yee, Board Director, Honour House Society. “We are so appreciative of the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation and the extraordinary volunteers who contributed to the reality of Honour Ranch for our military, veterans, and first responders.”
Volunteer spotlight: Sally Chiang, Executive Assistant to the SVP, People & Culture, Pacific Blue Cross 
I was fortunate enough to volunteer at Honour Ranch in June, August, and October 2020. During my time at Honour Ranch we worked on renovations for the ten residential cabins and the main lodge that includes a kitchen and social area. We also did a considerable amount of groundwork and landscaping, and fixed and installed fencing.
It was amazing to see so many people coming together to achieve a common goal of helping our military, first responders, and veterans. Volunteering for such a great cause does not even come close to the debt of gratitude we owe these members in uniform. Knowing that our volunteer efforts will benefit individuals who have experienced traumatic events and aid in their healing is very gratifying. It is a way of saying “thank you” for their service. I’m looking forward to returning to volunteer at Honour Ranch this year.