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Dave Lavery coined 'Canadian Dave,' was released three weeks ago after being held captive by the Taliban for 77 days. Lavery is sharing what got him through that gruelling situation.
"I was born in Winnipeg in 1960," says Lavery. "Right now we're living overseas in Dubai. I'm now in Perth, Ontario visiting family and I'll be heading off to Vancouver. It's so good to be here with this foundation."
Lavery is a veteran of the Canadian airborne regiment and a former United Nations security advisor. He flew to Winnipeg recently to attend the Illuminating Hope Gala in support of the Joy Smith Foundation, held at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights on Feb. 20, 2025. This was just weeks after he was released from captivity.
"Fortunatly and unfortunately, I've been through a lot of crisis and crisis management," says Lavery in an interview with CHVN before the gala. "I've had great experience in training and helping others. I hate to say it's been a great opportunity in the past to get me prepared for what actually happened to me."
Since 2021, Lavery has helped evacuate hundreds of Afghans vulnerable to reprisals because of their work for Canada’s military. It was this work that brought him back to Afghanistan in November last year.
Taken Captive
On Nov. 11, 2024, Lavery landed in Kabul, Afghanistan. While he hadn't had much trouble in the past, on this day the Taliban seemed to be waiting for him. They took Lavery into custody after finding over a dozen visas and plane tickets for two Afghan families on is person.
"My wife just got out as the Taliban were knocking on doors looking for her. She got out the next day, early morning, and then the Taliban were looking for her."
When Lavery was detained, he had no idea what happened to his wife and if she was okay for the following months.
"You rely on all your training. It's about mental stability and the ability to calm yourself down. Believe in something, your faith and hold onto it. Rely on your instincts and your tribe, as I call them, my family and friends. When I was in isolation, laying on that floor, in that cell, by myself, I felt the love and care. The people that you surround yourself with, they're everything. I knew nothing about my wife but my mental state convinced me to say, 'She's okay.'"
Taking time to think about seeing his family again, even though he had no certainty about it, also helped Lavery keep going.
"It's all about faith and your resilience to life. I have a grandson coming in and I was hoping to be able to see him, and now I'm going to be able to see Braden come into this world. You hang on to these things, but also live day to day, not anything further."
V.I.P. and Powerful reunion
On Jan. 26, 2025, after having spent over two months in captivity, Lavery was released in what many called 'record time.'
"Being reunited with my family was everything that everybody wants. You should not be taken away from your family for an unfortunate event, I was innocent and taken from them for 77 days of my life. I felt so much guilt."
As Lavery landed a free man, he noticed there were delegation waiting. His first thought was that there must be a V.I.P on the plane before realizing he was the important person they were waiting for.
"The minute I got to see them when I got off that plane and catch my breath. You know I just sat there at the top of the plane with the door open and breathed in that fresh air."
After meeting with the Foreign Minister and clearing customs, he saw his family waiting for him.
"My wife and my son were there," says Lavery. "They came running. My wife came running and she hit me like a vicegrip and wouldn't let go. It was so deep."