 A former professional soldier, Scott Taylor has been editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps since 1988. Throughout the mid-1990s, this little independent magazine embarked on a campaign to expose crime and corruption in the upper echelons of the Canadian Forces. After exposing a number of top-level cover-ups and scandals while defending the rights of the rank and file soldiers, Scott was dubbed the “Voice of the Grunts” by the Globe and Mail, a “Bone in the Brass’ Throats” by the Toronto Star, and a “One Man Army” by the Toronto Sun.
Since the inception of Esprit de Corps, Scott has logged over one million air miles as a war correspondent reporting from such global hot spots as the Persian Gulf, Cambodia, Western Sahara, Croatia, Bosnia, Iraq, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Macedonia, South Ossetia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan.
Since August 2000, Scott has made a total of 21 trips into Iraq to report on the effects of the UN sanctions, the ravages of depleted uranium following the 1991 Gulf War, and the heightening tensions with the United States. In March 2003, during his last trip prior to the United States’ intervention, Scott Taylor was asked to leave Iraq for fear of his being a spy for the Israeli Mossad. Following the swift U.S. victory, Scott returned frequently to Iraq to view first-hand the ongoing humanitarian crisis plaguing this still embattled country. Then, for five harrowing days in September 2004, he experienced the rare occasion when "getting the story becomes the story." Held captive by Ansar al-Islam mujahedeen in northern Iraq, his release generated a wave of international media coverage. He then returned to Iraq in 2005 in order to brief the U.S. soldiers on the Turkmen people of the country.
Scott regularly appears in the Canadian media as a military analyst, and is the recipient of the 1996 Quill Award for outstanding work in the field of Canadian communications. That same year, he also won the Alexander MacKenzie Award for journalistic excellence.
A weekly columnist for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, he is also a columnist for Embassy Magazine and has contributed to the Ottawa Citizen, Maclean’s magazine, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun, Reader’s Digest, and the Global television network as well as several international publications which include the Magyar Nemzet, Indian Defense Review and Al Jazeera. He also serves as an advisor to the CBC Radio play "Afghanada." Scott also gives presentations to The Executive Committee (TEC) and was named their 2006 Speaker of the Year. In 2008, London based Press TV declared Taylor to be the 'unembedded journalist of the year'
  Taylor is the author of seven best-sellers. His titles include Tarnished Brass: Crime and Corruption in the Canadian Military, Tested Mettle: Canada’s Peacekeepers at War (both with Brian Nolan), Inat: Images of Serbia, Diary of an Uncivil War: The Violent Aftermath of the Kosovo Conflict, Spinning on the Axis of Evil: America's War against Iraq, and Among the 'Others': the forgotten Turkmen of Iraq which deals with his experiences in northern Iraq, published in October 2004 by Esprit de Corps Books. In the spring of 2009 Douglas and MacIntyre published his first memoir entitled Unembedded: Two decades of Maverick War Reporting. On April 19 t010 Esprit de Corps Books published his latest work entitled Unreconciled Differences: Turkey Armenia and Azerbaijan. |
  Since her arrival at Esprit de Corps offices in February 1991, Julie Simoneau has worked through a number of different staff positions. From her initial employment as 'receptionist' to her present role of 'managing the office' Simoneau has capably preformed such varied tasks as journalist, accountant and graphic artist. However, it was as the company's finance officer that 'Jules' displayed her true talent. Throughout the monetary 'lean years' (1992-2002) she was able to successfully ward off the legion of creditors long enough to steer the corporation back into the black. |
  Les Peate's military career began when, as an army cadet, he was poised to prevent a German invasion of his homeland, armed with an 1880's Martini-Enfield carbine (but no ammo). The success of this was evident as the Nazis were obviously deterred from invading Britain. Later Les joined the British army, perhaps his most notable exploit being to pass out on his first Buckingham Palace guard. He later served with no particular distinction as an infantryman in the Far East and later in Korea.
Following his release he became a "bobby" in England for a couple of year until, lured by the high pay he remembered from his Canadian contacts in Korea, he joined the Canadian Army in 1954, serving for 16 years in the Canadian Provost Corps, the Royal Canadian Regiment and eventually the Canadian Intelligence Corps.
After leaving the Regular Force in 1970 he worked with Employment and Immigration Canada until retiring in 1992.The last 10 years were spent in Emergency Planning. He also spent 15 years in the Reserves (CIC) finally hanging up his uniform (the tie and socks of which still fitted) in 1986. Since 1992 he has been active with the Korea Veterans Association (of which he is National Vice-President), as a Vice-Chairman of the National Council of Veterans Associations in Canada, and as a member of a number of committees and working groups on veterans' issues. He is also a regular contributor to Esprit de Corps on the Korean War, veterans issues and other matters. He is partnered by a patient spouse (Joyce) who also helps out at this magazine, and is a slave to a ginger cat.
He has recently become a published author with his book The War That Wasn't: Canadians in Korea, detailing the lives of Canadian soldiers in the trenches of Korea.
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  An air gunner in WWII with Bomber Command, Norm Shannon flew 52 operations over Europe with 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF. He later graduated in journalism from the University of Western Ontario. As editor of an industrial magazine, he has twice won the International Council of Industrial Editors Award.
Norm was Public Relations Director for the Royal Canadian Legion for almost 20 years. He shared an Award of Merit for a television documentary with late Budge Crawley in 1969. He produced ten films in the "Canadians at War" series and contributed to numerous radio documentaries and CBC television dramas. A charter member of Esprit de Corps "Old Guard," he has written hundreds of articles for major newspapers and magazines in Canadian military history. |
 Writer, satirist, and all-around disgruntled voter, Michael brings a civilian’s view and a critical wit to the realm of military commentary. In his column, Nickerson Rants, he takes aim at the powers that be with a wary eye and a sharp word for politicians’ motives and their penchant for survival over substance. Michael was born in London, Ontario. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University (always a critical achievement for the budding editorialist). His writing has appeared in a range of publications, including The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. You can contact Michael by way of email at
CLOAKING
, and read more of his work on his website, www.nickersononline.com |
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 David Pugliese, a journalist with the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, has been writing about military affairs and the Canadian Armed Forces since 1982.
In the mid-1980s Pugliese was the Canadian correspondent for the Washington-based Armed Forces Journal International. Since 1990, in addition to his work at the Ottawa Citizen, he has worked as a correspondent for the weekly U.S. publication Defense News.
Pugliese’s reports from Bosnia and Croatia in 1995 earned him a National Newspaper Award nomination for international reporting. His examination of the 1996 Canadian Forces mission to Zaire resulted in an investigative reporting award from the Canadian Association of Journalists. That was followed a year later by a similar award for his article in Saturday Night magazine about a series of killings of civilians by police SWAT teams.
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 Colonel (ret'd) Drapeau served for 34 years in the Canadian military (army), retiring in 1993 as Director, National Defence Headquarters Secretariat as well as Secretary, Armed Forces Council. Upon retirement, Michel accepted a 2-year appointment as an executive in the Public Service. Since then, Michel has gained a national profile as a media analyst and columnist on military affairs. He now operates his own law practice in Ottawa. His practice deals with security and military law, access to information and privacy law, human rights law, and civil litigation.
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 Warren Ferguson's interest in the military began with his father's stories about being an electronic tail gunner in a B-52 bomber with the American Strategic Air Command. This led to years in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where he first picked up a rifle, won the top marksmanship trophy at Penhold summer camp one year, and began a lifelong interest in sport shooting and gunsmithing.
It was natural for Warren to join the 15 Service Battalion while going to university and he was trained both as a Vehicle Technician and as a Weapons Technician. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he took senior level Russian language, Eastern European Studies, History, Political Science and Sociology courses.
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 Marlee Wasser began her foray with Esprit de Corps, Canadian Military Magazine as an intern in November 2008 and officially joined the team following her graduation from Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communications two years later. In addition to her experience with the magazine as a writer, copy editor and interim circulation manager, Marlee has freelanced for CBC Radio and worked as a communications consultant for various organizations, including Peace Brigades International-Canada and The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Marlee is also a proud alumni of Carleton University's independent student weekly, the Charlatan, which she contributed to throughout her four years in journalism school, including one year spent running the paper's op/ed section. Marlee's favourite things include learning languages, listening to radio podcasts and playing Risk.
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Eric Leclerc began his journalism career in 2001 as a contributing features writer for the Simcoe Reformer. Since then, he has produced radio, print, television and online media in Kingston, Hamilton, Toronto, Halifax and in Ottawa with Esprit de Corps since 2009. Eric holds a graduate degree in journalism from the University of King's College in Halifax as well as a degree in political studies from Queen's University. Eric has been travelling around North America and Europe since 2001 and for the time being, makes his home in Toronto, Ontario.
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Megan Brush is an intern at Esprit de Corps. She is a third year journalism student at Carleton University. Coming from a family with a history in the military, she has always been interested in learning about and reporting on Military affairs. At University, she has developed an interest in international affairs, history, and politics with a concentration in international war law. Beyond university, her love for history has taken her to several parts of Europe, including Normandy, France to see Juno Beach and the Vimy memorial.
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After close to ten years working as a professional sailor and educator on sail training ships, six of themas a Captain, Jason decided to return to school after the birth of his son to pursue a career in writing. Jason is in his final year at Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program.
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