The People Behind the Mission
Nova Gold's team continues to grow across every discipline. The operators, scientists, leaders, and advocates who make this mission possible come from every corner of the service community. Their ranks expand with every new partnership, every expedition, and every person who answers the call.
— Chaplaincy —
Anchored in Something Greater.
At Nova Gold, we believe that healing touches every part of a person. For many who have spent their lives in service, reconnecting with faith, purpose, and inner strength is as much a part of the journey as anything else. Our chaplaincy is here for those who want it, walking alongside without agenda, and without judgment.
The Reverend Paul Richards
REVEREND, RCMP VETERAN (RET.)
The Reverend Paul Richards is a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer who served for more than three decades in communities across Canada and on international assignments. His distinguished career included service in Kosovo, the Philippines, and Afghanistan, where he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to leadership, humanitarian service, and the well-being of others under challenging conditions.
Following his policing career, the Reverend Richards was ordained as an Anglican priest, dedicating his ministry to spiritual care, grief counselling, mental health support, and serving veterans, first responders, and their families. Today, he continues that mission internationally through humanitarian work in Ukraine, partnering with local leaders and veteran organizations to support rehabilitation, deliver humanitarian aid, and provide pastoral care to those affected by the ongoing war.
A lifelong advocate for veterans and those who serve, the Reverend Richards is the volunteer Padre of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Regimental Association and the RCMP Veterans Association. He also contributes to veteran education through The Memory Project, sharing the experiences of military veterans with students across Canada.
His lifetime of public service, pastoral leadership, and humanitarian commitment reflects the mission of the Nova Gold Foundation and its dedication to supporting those who have served.
David Peters
CHAPLAIN , USMC VETERAN
David W. Peters served as an enlisted U. S. Marine and U.S. Army chaplain, deploying to Iraq in 2005. After his deployment, he ministered to wounded service members in the amputee, neurological, orthopedic, and psychiatric wards at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. He is the author of several books about war and the trials of homecoming. His memoir about Iraq, Death Letter: God, Sex, and War has been adapted for film and his most recent is Post-Traumatic Jesus: A Healing Gospel for the Wounded. An avid runner and ultramarathoner, David is currently writing a book about the theology of running.
David is ordained in The Episcopal Church, and has led Pilgrimages of Reconciliation and Remembrance, as well as retreats for veterans and their families. He is the father of three sons and one cat, and currently lives in Austin, Texas where he works in education and as a history guide. His great love is preaching at area churches and at the Trinity Center, a ministry to homeless neighbors.
David brings to the Nova Gold Foundation a unique combination of military service, pastoral leadership, and a deep understanding of the invisible wounds of war. His commitment to restoring hope, purpose, and spiritual well-being aligns closely with the Foundation’s mission to provide holistic healing and renewed purpose for veterans, first responders, and their families.
Purpose. Service. Heritage. Recovery.
