It was an impactful 2025 Invictus Games for Maj. Dr. Paul Dhillon. The Sechelt-based physician and Canadian Armed Forces reservist was part of the medical team that staffed the two clinics and five venue medical stations for the event held in Vancouver and Whistler from Feb. 8 through 16.
Dhillon's assignment as games chief medical officer gave him “more insight into adaptive sports and ways to help my patients on their own journey to recovery after injury," he told Coast Reporter in a Feb. 18 email.
The 2025 Invictus Games brought together more than 500 competitors –– wounded, injured and sick military service personnel, both serving and veterans –– from more than 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports.
More than 500 people were treated during the games for minor medical issues, Dhillon said, noting, “I think we did so much extensive planning that we didn't actually have any major medical surprises."
Emotionally impactful
“I think the most unique thing that happened was the emotional nature of the games. So many of the people on my team found themselves unexpectedly emotional when they started to hear the stories of the participants and the effect that the games had on people from all over the world,” he wrote.
Dhillon noted “one of the stories that really stuck with me was a small 6-year-old boy who came to watch one of the wheelchair sports.” That youngster was using a mobility aid himself, and employed some of the skills he saw used on the court to propel himself back to and into his mother’s vehicle; something he had not done unassisted before. It was a moment of pride for the child, his mom and for the medical staff who heard about the event. Dhillon said members of the medical team wanted to mark that accomplishment and arranged to get him tickets to the closing ceremony as well.
“It was a real example of how the power of sport and seeing yourself in the future or in a more positive light had an effect on this young kid literally for the rest of his life.”
Dhillon was able to take some time away from his medical assignment to experience events in both games locations. “I was able to buy my kids and wife tickets to the opening ceremony and they were also able to attend the seated volleyball. It was a really unique chance for my kids to be there with me not only at work but to see people with disabilities competing in sport.
“I think hearing the messages at the opening ceremonies about the foundation of Invictus and what it has become was really emotional for people I think there weren't a lot of dry eyes at that opening ceremony…and it's really inspiring to see people taking that positive risk in a controlled environment to challenge themselves and to achieve and potentially do something that they never thought they could do.”
One of Dhillon’s favourite competitions to view was the skeleton. He said it is particularly impressive to watch the athletes “throw themselves down that ice at that incredible speed….and then to see people's smiles as they got off their sleds."
Repeat ready
Asked if he would consider taking on a similar assignment at a future event, he responded ‘I'd love to be involved again…It is such a unique event to be a part of and I think my team had an exceptional time and I know there's a number of them that are hoping to volunteer in Birmingham in 2027. It's not often that you get to work in an international medical team and we had volunteers from across Canada the USA and other nations all coming to volunteer at the games and to have that unity of purpose even for that one week was incredible.”
Dhillon shared a few statistics about the 2025 games medical team. It was made up of 200-plus trained first aid personnel including medically-trained firefighters, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, specialists and first responders. In addition, 77 therapists, 40 physiotherapists, 25 registered massage therapists and 12 chiropractors were included. There was also a psycho-social services group made up of 38 personnel including psychologists, clinical counsellors, peer support workers and 19 PADS dogs and their handlers.
