Capt. Rev Gerald Van Smeerdyk is an ordained Minister of the the Christian Reformed Church and has served as Chaplain to the Canadian Armed Forces since February 2008. He served as associate pastor to churches in Michigan and California and as Senior Pastor to churches in Southern and North Western Ontario. As military chaplain, he has served in Ottawa, Edmonton and Suffield. He has deployed in support of military exercises and domestic operations on the prairies and in the far North, and has deployed overseas in support of international operations.
Gerald and his wife Cora have been married for 38 years and live in Redcliff, Alberta. They raised 4 children, Jessica, Nathan, Steven and Crystal (Nathan and Crystal are deceased) and have 3 granddaughters. Having decades of experience in serving ill, injured and dying parishioners and military personnel, and having recovered from PTSD and severe physical injuries himself, Gerald has a passion for providing pastoral care alongside of the clinical care provided by physicians and mental health care workers.

 The 4 dimensions of wellness are intertwined and inseparable.