Last week, the unexpected dismissal of two top executives from Invictus Canada 2025 raised eyebrows as rumors circulated about the event going over budget.
Many speculated that these individuals had been scapegoated.
However, just five days later, a full-blown public relations campaign emerged in Vancouver, leaving many puzzled.
It begs the question: wouldn’t it have been wiser for Invictus to terminate staff after the visit?
Unless, of course, they were hindering the event financially.
The timing of the firings alongside the extensive PR campaign seems rather peculiar.
It appears that the CEO and CCO may have posed obstacles to the visit, as the harkles (a term used to refer to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) had planned engagements outside of Invictus.
Nevertheless, the trip had to proceed, and Invictus, being under the patronage of Prince Harry, had to foot the bill.
Reports indicate that the Vancouver Canucks and Canucks Autism Network (CAN) are proud to host the 5th annual Autism Acceptance Night at Rogers Arena on November 20th, 2023, during the Canucks vs San Jose Sharks game.
This event aims to celebrate inclusion and acceptance, amplifying the voices of the CAN community.
Michael Doyle, president of Canucks Sports and Entertainment Business Operations, expressed the organization’s pride in supporting a cause that holds a special place in their hearts.
CAN has consistently provided life-changing programs for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, while actively promoting inclusivity through training and engagement initiatives within the community.
However, amidst the media frenzy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the focus on autism acceptance during the Canucks game seemed to fade away.
It raises the question of whether Harry stole the spotlight from an autistic child during the puck drop moment.
Originally, an autistic child was intended to perform the ceremony, but somehow Harry and Meghan managed to take that opportunity for themselves.
While Harry has been a fixture in the public eye for some time, grinning at cameras, he could have still made an appearance on the ice alongside the child, acting as an encouraging figure.
He could have handed the child the puck, cheered them on, and even shared a hug or high-five, depending on the child’s comfort level.
This alternative approach would have had a stronger impact and presented better optics.
Unfortunately, Harry did not choose this path.
The harkles overshadowed what was supposed to be a night dedicated to celebrating autism acceptance and the generous donation of 2.2 million dollars towards children’s autism programs.
Notably, Harry and Meghan themselves did not contribute any funds to these programs, despite their presence at the event.
Furthermore, it was Autism Awareness Day, and a talented autistic singer performed the national anthem.
Everyone in attendance respectfully faced forward, except for Meghan, who continuously twisted her head manically while smiling at Harry, who seemed to ignore her.
It is incidents like these that have led serious philanthropists, such as Michelle and Amal, to distance themselves from Meghan.
Invictus, unfortunately, is often more associated with Prince Harry’s physique and attire than with inspiring athletic achievements.