Veteran and Family research training program
Overview
Researchers are increasingly seeking to integrate lived experience into studies pertaining to Veteran and Family well-being, as Veterans’ and Family members’ valuable insights often help to enrich research. To help the community build their skills and comfort with research so they can contribute more effectively, the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families is offering a free research training program designed to equip Veterans and their Families with the research knowledge and skills they need to collaborate and advise on studies, from study development to sharing findings.
Based on community feedback, this flexible program offers two different ways to participate — a workshop series and a nine-week online course.
Workshop series
Composed of four online workshops taking place between October 2025 and March 2026, these introductory sessions will build awareness of how research is conducted, increase understanding of the importance of integrating lived experience into research, familiarize you with current and key findings in Veteran and Family well-being research, encourage conversation about research between people with lived experience.
- Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
There will be four (4) workshops held via Zoom.
- While it is strongly encouraged, it is not mandatory to attend all four workshops.
Please complete the expression of interest form to be added to the registration list.
Online course
This course includes both self-directed and live trainings for nine weeks between January and March 2026. It is designed to equip you with a strong understanding of key research concepts, build your capacity for engaging with academic and peer-reviewed literature, empower you to formulate meaningful research questions, explore effective strategies for knowledge sharing and help you confidently navigate your role within peer and community research contexts. You will also be invited to optionally participate in a study about its impact.
- Module 1
- Self-paced course work: Week of January 26, 2026
- Live class: Monday, February 2, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Module 2
- Self-paced course work: Week of February 9, 2026
- Live class: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Module 3
- Self-paced course work: Week of February 23, 2026
- Live class: Monday, March 2, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Module 4
- Self-paced course work: Week of March 9, 2026
- Live class: Monday, March 16, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Module 5
- Self-paced course work: Week of March 23, 2026
- Live class: Monday, March 30, 2026, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastern time
- Five (5) live classes held via Zoom
- Five weeks of independent self-paced course work ahead of each live class
- Use of Moodle, a virtual learning platform, to access course information and instructions, scheduling information, discussion forums, videos and course materials
- Regular readings
- Regular assignments
- Optional participation in a study about the course’s impact
Please complete the expression of interest form to be added to the registration list. Registration is based on a first come, first served basis and space is limited.
You will be notified within approximately 10 business days after the expression of interest closes whether your registration has been accepted. If you have been selected, you will be invited to confirm you participation and, from there, you will receive your login credentials and further details. If there is more interest than space available, a waitlist will be created.
If you have been offered a space in the course and will no longer be taking the training, please contact us as soon as possible at researchtraining.atlas@theroyal.ca so that we can open up your spot for another participant.
Colleen Reid, PhD
Colleen Reid, PhD, is a research consultant who holds a faculty position at Douglas College and adjunct professor positions at Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia. For over 25 years, Colleen has engaged in community-based participatory research projects focused on health, well-being and social justice for vulnerable groups. She is committed to using participatory and arts-based approaches to enable the voices, stories and wisdom of lived experience to shape the direction and outcomes of research.
Connie Uetz
Connie Uetz served in the Primary Reserve from 1987 until her release in 2013 as a Sergeant. She spent her career as a Resource Management Support Clerk, Recruiter and Military Career Counsellor, and as a Tactical Civil-Military Cooperation Operator on two tours in Afghanistan. Connie joined Atlas in September 2024 as a Peer Researcher with the Research Training Program where she has been able to grow and share her love of research and it’s benefits to the Veteran and Family community.
This training is intended for Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Veteran Family members.
To be eligible for the training program, you must:
- Be over the age of 18
- Be comfortable communicating in English
- Live in Canada
- Be a Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (per Veterans Affairs Canada’s definition) OR a Family member* of a Veteran
*Atlas defines Veteran Family as parents, siblings, partners/spouses, dependent and adult children, as well as carers (related or not), friends and peers, taking into account who the Veteran identifies as significant to their mental well-being.
This training is offered at no cost to Veterans and their Families.
Spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to those who meet the eligibility criteria. We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity. Atlas is attentive to the diversity of our network and welcomes expressions of interest from those who self-identify as women, persons with a disability/ies, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and all other Indigenous Peoples, racialized and/or 2SLGBTQIA+.
Atlas is committed to providing an accessible environment for participants in the trainings we offer. Part of this commitment is ensuring that material is compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
