About True North Defender
I started by saving videos. The project grew from there.
I run True North Defender to make Canadian military footage and information easier to find—and easier to understand.
Why I started
True North Defender began with an interest in preserving Canadian Armed Forces videos. Recruitment clips, training footage, occupation spotlights—there was material worth keeping, but it wasn't always easy to find. Pages change, links stop working, and older videos can disappear.
I wanted to help keep that material accessible. It gives people a way to see the equipment, training and work behind the job titles, and it preserves a record of how the Forces have been presented over time.
The archive is still part of what I do. But I've also started making more of my own videos, looking at subjects such as ranks, pay, occupations and equipment. That gives me room to explain the context and spend more time on the questions a short clip leaves open.
Why I built the website
A video is a useful starting point, but sometimes you just want to look something up. What does that rank mean? How does its pay work? Where does an occupation train? What equipment would someone in that role use?
That's what I'm trying to bring together here. You can explore a job, compare it with another, follow its training information and find related videos without starting a new search every time.
If you're considering joining, I want this to help you ask better questions. If you're already serving, a veteran, a family member, or simply interested in the Canadian military, I hope you find something useful here too.
How I approach the information
I use official sources as the starting point, then try to explain things in plain language and connect the information across topics. Where a figure or requirement matters, I want you to be able to follow the source and check it yourself.
Military information changes, and I can get things wrong. If you spot an error, send me the page and, if you have it, a source that explains the correction. That helps me make the site more useful for the next person.
Older footage also needs context. A video can be worth preserving without describing today's equipment, training or policies. For a current decision, check the relevant official guidance as well as what you find here.
Read about the sources and corrections or see what has changed.
A few things you might be wondering
Is this an official CAF website?
No. I run True North Defender independently. I don't speak for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence or the Government of Canada. The explanations and choices about what to feature are my own.
Where does the footage come from?
The project includes archived CAF and DND material alongside my original videos. Check the individual video's description for its source information. If something needs clearer attribution, or you have a concern about material I've used, please let me know.
Can you help me choose an occupation or apply?
The reference tools can help you explore your options, but I can't confirm your eligibility, offer you a position or process an application. For those questions, speak with an official recruiting contact.
Can I suggest a topic or flag a problem with a video?
Yes. Send me the topic or video link and explain what you'd like me to look at. If you appear in footage or have a concern about the rights to it, include that in your message so I can review it.
How can I support the project?
Watch something that interests you, share it with someone who might find it useful, or subscribe to the channel. Useful questions and corrections help too—they show me what needs a clearer explanation.
Have something you'd like me to cover?
A question about an occupation, a piece of footage worth looking into, or something on the site that doesn't seem right—I'd like to hear it.