I am a Canadian author, speaker, and former medic who spent over 17 years serving others—first in the Canadian Armed Forces with 1 Field Ambulance, and later as a frontline civilian paramedic. My journey has taken me from the silent weight of military ramp ceremonies to the chaotic intensity of urban emergency medicine.
In 2017, after years of cumulative trauma, I was diagnosed with PTSD. Leaving the uniform didn’t mean abandoning my purpose; it meant finding a new one. Writing became my lifeline and my primary form of “personal therapy”.
Works & Accolades
- Memoirs: I am the author of the critically acclaimed memoir A Medic’s Mind (2019) and Woven in War. My latest book, Trauma and Tea: Essays on Trauma, Recovery, and Growing Up the Hard Way, was released in early 2026.
- Historical Legacy: My work is featured in the Canadian War Museum’s oral history project, In Their Own Voices, preserving the reality of the veteran experience for future generations.
- Advocacy & Media: I host the podcast MatthewHeneghan: Unfiltered (formerly Unwritten Chapters), a space for raw conversations about resilience that ranks in the top 5% globally. My writing and commentary have been featured by CBC, CTV, and the National Post.
- Recognition: For my dedication to community service and mental health advocacy, I have been honored with the B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship (2024), the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and am a 2026 recipient of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.
My Philosophy
I live in Falkland, British Columbia, where I continue to write, mentor, and share the stories that matter. Whether I’m speaking to students through the Memory Project or writing an opinion piece, I believe in leading with compassion rather than ego.
I write for the person who feels like they are hitting rock bottom, and for the stranger who wants to understand what it’s like to carry the weight of the world.
