Andrew Armstrong arrived in Montreal at the age of six, and his early school years were anything but easy. Instead of encouragement, his report cards were filled with disheartening remarks:
“Lazy.”
“Doesn’t pay attention.”
“Disruptive in class.”
It was a familiar pattern. Andrew recalls that when teachers asked him questions verbally, he could respond effortlessly. But as soon as a piece of paper was placed in front of him, everything changed. He fell silent. “The teachers, none of them really had any idea what was going on with me,” he explains.
It wasn’t until he transferred to Saint George’s School in 1964, a private institution, that the pieces finally began to fall into place. Andrew was diagnosed with dyslexia, an explanation for years of frustration that had gone unnoticed. But even with a diagnosis, Andrew’s journey was far from over.
Rather than letting dyslexia define him, Andrew found his stride by pursuing his passion. After attending CEGEP at John Abbott College, he joined the Canadian Coast Guard, an organization that would shape the course of his life. “I went from barely passing in Quebec to four years at the Canadian Coast Guard College, finishing in the top three of my class overall,” he recalls.
Andrew’s officer career with the Canadian Coast Guard, spanning from 1976 to 2010, saw him rise through the ranks and make significant contributions. He played a key role in developing policies for the Coast Guard’s 150-ship fleet and eventually served as the National Director of Operations. In this role, he led the National Emergency Operations Center, where he was tasked with coordinating swift responses to emergencies, protecting lives, safeguarding the environment, and addressing threats to Canadian security. His distinguished career culminated as the National Coordinator of Marine Security for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where he was responsible for one of the most critical security operations in Canadian history.
Despite an illustrious career, Andrew’s dyslexia was—and still is—a constant companion. It never disappeared, even as he achieved professional success. “You put a piece of paper in front of me, and to this day, I become mute,” he admits. “I can talk a lot. As a sailor, I can tell tons of stories, but writing them down slows me down. That was, and still is, an issue.”
Even in retirement, Andrew’s drive has not faded. He now dedicates his time to helping others, serving as a volunteer first responder, an on-call firefighter, a yoga instructor, a doping control officer with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports, and an International Technical Official with Triathlon Canada.
Yet, dyslexia continues to present daily challenges, even in the simplest of tasks. “When I’m writing a text to my daughter, she’ll sometimes come back with five or six question marks, asking, ‘What are you trying to tell me, Dad?'”
Andrew Armstrong’s story is a testament to resilience. Dyslexia may have shaped his path, but it never stopped him from navigating it with purpose.
To listen to Andrew Armstrong’s story, tune in to Dyslexia Canada’s Spotlight: Mark it Read series, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you typically access your podcasts.