Wear it with Pride!
Nick Stroesser's Corporal4Life offers inspired garb for military veterans and all Canadians
When Nick Stroesser retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2014, he was in search of ways to outwardly show his pride for his nation and the Canadian military. “I was looking for shirts and hats that I could wear that showed my pride in service, without being too in your face about it,” he explains. After looking high and low, a conversation with a good friend and fellow veteran served to change the trajectory of his post-service life and led to him launching his own apparel company—Corporal4Life.
“I had a great upbringing in a loving family,” recalls Stroesser. “I played sports, did well in school—less well after Gr. 10,” he jokes. One day, as his high school career was ending and he was searching for what to do next, his parents happened upon an advertisement in the Windsor Star for the Reserves and suggested it to Stroesser as a career path. During a relatively peaceful time in world affairs, Stroesser enlisted with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment—just prior to the summer of 2001.

The young man soon found himself in the Afghan theatre, where he served his country with honour. Now a firefighter in Windsor, his retirement from the military in 2014 has not spelled the end of his pride in serving, his loyalty to his brothers or sisters in the Canadian Armed Forces, or his need to give back. After his fateful conversation with his friend, Stroesser founded Corporal4Life Apparel in 2015.
Corporal4Life, a veteran-owned apparel company, is on a mission—a mission to provide patriotic Canadian clothing and accessories and help spread pride across Canada and its Armed Forces.
“I like to call our product line Veteran-Inspired Patriotic Apparel,” explains Stroesser. “While we started out as a way for veterans and serving military members to show pride, we quickly grew to include products for military supporters and then to all proud Canadians.”

With sharp designs and witty Military Canadianisms, Corporal4Life’s apparel is one-of-a-kind, featuring slogans like “Kandahar Ball Hockey”, “Ruckin’ Eh!”, “Army4Life”, and “BeerBorne Fine Pilsner Beer” on shirts, hoodies, tumblers, decals, and many more items, their products are a hit with active military, veterans, first responders, and civilians alike. Stroesser’s company even has a coffee line through Pro Patria Coffee and a craft spirits line through Black Galley Distilling—collaborations with fellow veteran-owned companies.
“The look is definitely military—colours, sayings, designs—but having stores and kiosks in shopping centres has proven that our apparel appeals to a wide range of people,” states Stroesser. “We make clothing and accessories that stand out and have a meaning. We also take pride in the fact that we donate 10 per cent, at minimum, of all profits to veteran, first responder, and local causes throughout the year.” Among the many charities that Corporal4Life contributes to are service dog organizations, veteran food banks, and veteran social clubs. “Locally, we work with Adopt-A-Vet Canada, we have also donated to the local Red Cross, The Downtown Mission, as well as Crimestoppers, and a St. Clair College golf tourney. Lastly, we sponsor a professional MMA fighter, Nick “Fury” Felber, who is a veteran, as well as a local race car driver, Nathan Greenaway, also a veteran.”
Stroesser says that the response among military members was positive from the get-go, and knowing so many vets and serving members helped him expedite the word of his new apparel company.

“We learned that our products appeal to almost everybody when we set up our first kiosk at Devonshire Mall,” he explains. “We have loyal repeat customers that have never served a day and don’t know a single military member, we have customers that have served their entire adult lives in the military, and everyone in between. We have proven that our products are one-of-a-kind.”
Stroesser adds that his military experience was a perfect base for setting up his business. “My military skills have helped me not only start and grow my business, but those skills have allowed me to hire on short notice, manage a team, and pivot when things don’t go the way they were supposed to,” he says. “The military has given me skills that have brought me further in life and business than I ever could have imagined.”
Stroesser says he can see Corporal4Life becoming the biggest and most recognized brand in Canada. He believes in his product, like he does his brothers-in-arms and his country—and he wants to help his fellow Canadians show their pride as well.
“Corporal4Life wants to make Canadians proud to be Canadian and ensure those who serve our country and communities are taken care of after their service ends.“

For more information on Corporal4Life and their “Patriotic Apparel For All Canadians”, please visit their website at www.Corporal4Life.com.