The Man at the Gate

Canadian Military References The Canadian Armed Forces withdrew their units from Germany by 1993, and Canadian Forces Bases in Lahr and Baden closed by 1994. Any references in Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, and 31 to a Canadian military presence in Germany in 1997 are made solely for the purposes of this fictional story. The Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (regular field artillery units of the Canadian Army) was never posted to Geilenkirchen, Germany, and there was no Canadian military operation known as Rebekka. In the mid-1990s, the Canadian military started a project to design and deploy a modern Fire Control System (FCS). In this novel, Noelle’s involvement in that project is fictional. Any deviations from historical fact were made intentionally in service of the story.

Train References VIA Rail does not operate passenger train service between Fredericton and Ottawa. Any references to such routes in this novel are fictional and included solely for narrative purposes.

Rehab Facilities References Rehabilitation facilities do not typically employ security guards. In Chapter 29, Mark refers to “security guards” while describing his arrival at Elmwood. At the time, he had been brought in by the Military Police while intoxicated and emotionally distressed. This description reflects Mark’s subjective perception at that moment. His shame, anger, and inebriation caused the facility to feel punitive and prison-like. The staff he encountered were attendants, not guards, but to him they appeared authoritative — carrying keys, wearing uniforms, and using radios. This portrayal is intended to convey Mark’s state of mind rather than the actual structure of a rehabilitation facility. Airport References Nanaimo is served by a small regional airport, where the screening officers have a reputation for being friendly with passengers and new recruits.

Vancouver Island University References Vancouver Island University (VIU) is located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The university offers theatre studies under a Bachelor of Arts program. In this novel, the length of the program has been altered for narrative purposes.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) In the novel, I depict Nanaimo as not having a local MADD chapter. This was a fictional choice made solely for narrative purposes and should not be taken as a statement about the real-world presence, absence, or organizational structure of MADD in Nanaimo or elsewhere. For accurate and current information, readers in the Nanaimo area can contact MADD Canada at 1-800-665-6233 ext. 317 or email maddnanaimoarea@gmail.com. For all other regions in Canada, contact 1-800-665-6233, email info@madd.ca, or visit madd.ca.