Some journeys are defined by success. Others are defined by purpose. The remarkable story of Jason Donville is a testament to both.
Like generations of alumni before him, Jason arrived at Royal Roads Military College as a young cadet, where he learned the enduring values of leadership, discipline, resilience, and service. Those lessons would become the foundation of an extraordinary career that would take him from the parade square to the boardroom, and ultimately to the pages of a deeply personal and compelling book.
Following graduation, Jason built an impressive reputation in Canada’s financial sector. Recognized as one of the country’s leading financial services analysts, he earned numerous industry accolades and became known for his insight, integrity, and ability to see opportunities where others saw obstacles. His achievements eventually led him to found Donville Kent Asset Management, where he serves as President and CEO, guiding investors with the same strategic thinking and disciplined leadership that were forged during his time at RRMC / RMC.
Yet Jason’s story is about far more than professional success.
In a world often focused on titles and accomplishments, he has chosen to share something even more meaningful. Through his new book, A Medicine Game, Jason invites readers into a story that explores identity, resilience, healing, and the experiences that shape who we become. It is a powerful reminder that life’s greatest lessons are often found not in our victories, but in the challenges we overcome and the people who help guide us along the way.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought Toronto to a standstill in 2020, Jason found himself living alone in an unusually quiet city. The isolation that so many experienced during that time created an opportunity for reflection. What began as a writing project to stay focused during months of lockdown soon became something far more profound.
As he developed the story of two young soldiers coming of age, Jason found himself reflecting on his own experiences, memories, and emotions. The novel evolved into an exploration of abandonment, friendship, trauma, resilience, and the ways our past continues to influence our lives long after the events themselves have passed.
Drawing inspiration from his extensive reading on trauma, mental health, and human flourishing, Jason became fascinated by two fundamental questions: How do we carry our wounds? And how do we find our way toward a meaningful life?
Those questions became the emotional foundation of A Medicine Game.
The result is a novel that is both intimate and universal, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationships, struggles, and journeys toward healing.
For Jason, writing A Medicine Game was more than an act of storytelling. It was an opportunity to explore the experiences that shape us, challenge us, and ultimately help us grow. In sharing that journey, he hopes readers will see parts of themselves within its pages.
For fellow alumni, Jason’s journey reflects the very spirit of the military college experience. It demonstrates that leadership is not confined to a single profession or path. It is carried forward through every chapter of life, whether building a successful business, mentoring others, giving back to the community, or sharing one’s story to inspire future generations.
As we celebrate the accomplishments of alumni who continue to make a difference across Canada and around the world, Jason’s story reminds us that success is ultimately measured by impact. His transition from cadet to respected business leader, and now author, illustrates the power of lifelong learning, courage, and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
His journey is one of achievement, reflection, and purpose. Most importantly, it is a reminder that every graduate carries forward the values of Truth, Duty, Valour in their own unique way.
A Medicine Game
- Publisher : North Vanguard Press™
- Publication date : Sept. 10 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 292 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1069872172
- ISBN-13 : 978-1069872173
- Order Info: https://www.amazon.ca/Medicine-Game-Jason-Donville/dp/1069872172/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image#detailBullets_feature_div
Some games are played for victory. Others are played for healing.
When Moose and Jonathan, infantry officers in the Canadian Army and best friends since meeting at Royal Roads Military College, deploy to Sarajevo as peacekeepers, they are thrust into the inferno of a genocidal war. Tasked with reopening the city’s airport—a vital lifeline for humanitarian aid—they soon confront the brutal realities of human violence and the fragile boundaries of moral certainty. Snipers deliberately target civilians, often children, while the soldiers who witness these atrocities are ordered to remain neutral, powerless to intervene.
For Jonathan, a Mohawk soldier from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, healing has always meant something different. He carries with him something older than the uniform he wears: lacrosse—the Creator’s Game, known as the Medicine Game when played for healing.
Some wounds cannot be left on the battlefield. And the journey home demands a different kind of courage.
Spanning continents and generations, from Canada’s Pacific coast to the shattered streets of Sarajevo and the living traditions of Six Nations, A Medicine Game is a haunting and tender meditation on friendship, sacrifice, moral injury, and the long road home. Rooted in memory and illuminated by love, it speaks to an ancient truth: we are not healed before we learn to love. Rather, it is love itself that leads us—gently, and sometimes painfully—toward healing.
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