Dear Veterans and Friends,

As we gather to celebrate this holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission at Veterans For Healing in 2025. This time of year reminds us of the importance of community, compassion, and the healing power of gathering with loved ones.

To our veterans, thank you for your courage and sacrifice. Your resilience inspires us every day. We are honored to stand beside you on your journey to healing and hope.

May this 2025 holiday season bring you peace, joy, and the warmth of loved ones. Together, let’s continue to support one another and spread kindness in the coming years. 

Wishing you all a wonderful safe holiday season and a new year filled with promise.

Warm regards,

Fabian Henry

CEO, Veterans for Healing

What’s in this issue:

• Remembrance Day at Pipers Glen

• Upcoming events: 

  • Client Appreciation Night

  • Christmas Movie Night

• Reminder: Clinic closure

• Introducing our newest team member: Shannon MacQueen

• VFH Functional Mushrooms launching December 10

• ‘The Better Than Principle’ article

• Holiday recipes

• Team Tidbits: Juliane Nowe

Remembrance Day at Pipers Glen

On November 11, we hosted our annual Remembrance Day gathering at Pipers Glen.

We are so thankful for all of you who travelled to be with us. The morning brought moments of reflection, gratitude, and respect.

We commend those who were brave to go swimming down at Egypt Falls, and we’re thankful for those who trekked down to the water with us.

Thank you to all who brought something along, whether it be food, sweets, something to drink, it all paired perfectly with the moose chili!

Take a look at some photos that captured the day:

Upcoming Events

Check out some of the upcoming events we’re hosting during the month of December.

Client Appreciation Night: December 11

Join us on Thursday, December 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn ballroom on the lower level to celebrate YOU, our clients. We appreciate you so much!

Like any other Cape Breton event, there will be lots of delicious food, live music by Bethany June, and a good ole classic raffle, some of the prizes include:

• Gift cards for vehicle detailing

• Exclusive VFH merch (Stanley lunch boxes and thermos, VFH jackets, golf shirts, gym bags, crossbody bags, mugs, and toques)

• Chicken Shack gift cards

• Birkenstock sandals

• Bamboo sheet sets

• Vaporizers from Vapes for Vets

• Lots of surprises ;)

If you have any questions, let us know when you’re in the office next or give us a call.

Christmas Movie Night: December 17

Join us for lots of laughs and yummy treats as we get into the Christmas spirit! Feel free to dress for the occasion by wearing red or green, an ugly Christmas sweater, or whatever you would like.

Reminder: Clinic holiday closure

Introducing our newest team member: Shannon MacQueen

VFH Functional Mushrooms launching December 10

VFH is launching a new line of natural mushroom-based wellness products designed to support your memory, sleep, mood, and immune system. These non-psychoactive products are safe, effective, and now available. Reach out to our team to learn more or explore at v4healingproducts.com.

What are functional mushrooms?

Functional mushrooms are specific species of mushrooms known for their health-enhancing, non-psychoactive properties. Unlike traditional culinary mushrooms, these are used for supporting immunity, mental clarity, energy, and resilience to stress; all key wellness areas for our veteran clients.

They’ve been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are now gaining scientific support in modern wellness.

Why they’re a fit for VFH Clients

Our Veterans are managing chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, immune dysfunction, and brain fog — all of which functional mushrooms can help regulate gently and naturally, especially when combined with trauma-informed care and lifestyle tools.

Some benefits you may experience:

The Better Than Principle - Three Simple Steps to Lasting Change

Linda Joy Rose, Ph.D aka Dr. LJ is an international trainer, therapist and author of eight self-help books. She is the founder of the Natural Wellness Academy which has been certifying individuals with the passion to help others in unique Mind-Body Spirit coaching programs since 2013. She has appeared on many television programs as a healthy living expert and is a contributing writer for several magazines.  Check out her website for more information: www.naturalwellnessacademy.org.

Our very own Juliane is a mentor for their online program and felt this article was great to share with you.

“Change is indeed hard, not only because of the supremacy of the subconscious mind in the battle of the wills, but also because we are hardwired to stay stuck due to many factors. By the time we reach 13 years of age, most of our beliefs and attitudinal patterns have been set in place, deep in the recesses of the subconscious mind. 

This is our programming, which compels behavior beyond our conscious awareness. Through repetitive thoughts, feelings, and experiences, our neurochemistry deepens the grooves in the brain, making behaviors even more entrenched and resistant to change. Willpower, which we attempt to activate when we desire change, resides in the part of the mind (conscious) that is 6-7 times weaker than the power of our programming (subconscious). This is why so many of our best self-improvement intentions fail after a few weeks or even just a few days. “

Holiday recipes

Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350° F.

• In the bowl of your mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth, at least 3 minutes

• Beat in extracts and egg.

• In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients.

• Important: If the dough looks crumbly keep mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer. If the dough still looks too dry or stiff for your mixer, turn out the dough onto a countertop surface, flour surface as needed. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.

• DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH.

• Divide into workable batches (2-3 chunks), roll out onto a floured surface, and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).

• Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

Snack Mix

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, combine 16 cups of various crackers/pretzels.

• In a liquid measuring cup, add oil and seasonings, stir together to blend well. Pour over snack mix and stir to coat. Allow to sit for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

• Spread snack mix on the largest sheet pan you own and pop into a 250-degree oven for about 15 minutes. You may need to do this part in batches!

• Allow to fully cool before storing away in a sealed container.

Festive Christmas Punch

Instructions:

• In a large pitcher or punch bowl, pour the cranberry juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Stir gently to blend the flavors together.

• Slowly pour in the ginger ale to add fizz to the punch. Stir lightly to preserve the bubbliness.

• Add cranberries and orange slices to the punch bowl for a festive presentation.

• When ready to serve, fill individual glasses with ice cubes. Ladle the punch into each glass, ensuring every serving includes a few cranberries and a slice of orange for added flair.

Serve and enjoy this delightful Festive Christmas Punch Mocktail with your family and friends. It’s best enjoyed fresh and fizzy!

Team Tidbits: Juliane Nowe

Each month we will be highlighting a member of our core team so you can get to know them a little better!