Ken Jacquard’s master’s degree has been 56 years in the making.
It’s a journey that has taken him from a long and decorated career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), to the quiet greens of a golf course, and now, at the age of 73, through the virtual halls of McMaster University to graduation day.
And while he won’t be at the Fall Convocation in person to receive his degree, the proud Nova Scotian will be standing tall, with his canine companion by his side, to celebrate graduating from the online Rehabilitation Science course-based graduate program.
The program is designed for learners with an interest in advancing the field of rehabilitation for people recovering and adapting to chronic conditions,?illness?and injury.
“I’m 73 years old and I’m graduating with a Master of Science,” Jacquard says.
“Anything’s possible.”
Living with PTSD
Before Jacquard returned to his pursuit of education, he spent 25 years working with the RCMP. Most of that time was managing a 911 dispatch centre, but he also had stints in criminal intelligence and undercover operations.
Those years were hard, and took a mental toll on him. Studies have validated what many first responders and public safety officers already know — they are at greater risk of encountering traumatic events than the average citizen.
“All those trauma events are like a deck of cards. They keep stacking and stacking. Eventually, the deck of cards falls apart. You get hardened and you get numbed to everything that’s going on.”
Jacquard opened up about his struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: How that numbness crept over him when his sister passed away. The emotional detachment was a red flag for Jacquard, and proved to be the turning point toward seeking help.
“You have to deal with it and learn from it. Now, I have to be careful of triggers. I won’t watch violence on TV or movies.”
Teeing up advocacy
Retiring from the RCMP opened the door for Jacquard to find greener pastures. In his case, the green also came with golf clubs: Jacquard explored a much-needed change of pace by working at a golf course.
It was during this time that he became involved in psychosocial oncology and cancer care advocacy, key themes he would later focus on during his studies. He even took up an advisory role with Nova Scotia Health and its Cancer Care Program.
Jacquard recalls an inflection point, though, that inspired the next steps of his journey.
“A guy I worked with at the golf course came in one morning and he said, ‘Ken, I’m in a mess.’ I said, ‘What’s wrong? He said, “I just had my results of a check up and I have three to six months to live.’”
There’s something you need to know about Jacquard — he is incredibly optimistic. Instead of accepting the darkness of his friend’s diagnosis, Jacquard sat him down and painted a different picture.
“I explained how cancer might not be a death sentence. There are improvements and new treatments being discovered every day, and that instead of dying with cancer, it’s about learning how to live with it.”
Two and half years later, his friend is doing well — they recently met for coffee. It’s been a long road, but the experience has emboldened Jacquard’s passion to help others who are going through the same motions his friend did.
“My friend received both social and psychological help — some of it was with us guys at the golf course. It got him to put foot on the ground and say, ‘This is OK.’ He was all smiles today.”
Turning pain into purpose
Before pursing his master’s, Jacquard needed to complete his bachelor’s degree, something he did at Dalhousie University in Halifax. But he lives several hours away, making the commute challenging.
Not wanting to do that drive again, he began looking for online alternatives. Enter McMaster, where Jacquard was accepted into Rehabilitation Science graduate program.
“The staff, students, professors, everyone was so welcoming and informative. I learned so much during my time at McMaster and I feel so confident as I head into the next chapter of my life.”
Jacquard’s personal experiences and years volunteering were welcomed and valued by his instructors too.
“We were happy to welcome him into our program in September 2022. Since then, Ken has made an impression on many people in the program, myself included,” says Ada Tang,?assistant dean of Rehabilitation Science in the School of Rehabilitation Science.
“Many instructors commented on his insightful reflections during class discussions, stemming from his past experiences and genuine interest in learning.”
Jacquard hopes to focus next on continuing his psychosocial oncology and cancer care advocacy.
“I want to help people navigate their journey through cancer, but I also want to focus on mental health. Fighting cancer is hard. It can be lonely and demoralizing. I want to show people that it doesn’t need to be.”