Welcome to Outsider Reviews. I’m Pat, the founder and the guy behind the wheel.

For 19 years, my life was dedicated to the Canadian Armed Forces. I started my career as an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. From there, I moved into paratrooper reconnaissance, eventually deploying to Afghanistan in 2008-2009 as a weapons detachment commander. Earning the Airborne Soldier of the Year award across the country was a defining moment for me, and it pushed me to take on a new challenge: switching trades to the Military Police and specializing as a close protection operator.

Becoming an operator meant surviving a brutal "hell week" selection process and enduring an intense three-month course down in Virginia and North Carolina. Following that specialized training, I returned for further deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq as an operator. Throughout my career, a major part of my specialized skill set involved highly advanced driving courses, and I eventually became an operator and driver instructor myself. I simply loved driving and pushing vehicles to their absolute limits.

After nearly two decades of service, my military career came to an unexpected halt. Service-related injuries—specifically to my knees, my back, and a dominant hand reconstruction surgery—forced my medical retirement in November 2024.

As I transitioned out, I started watching car reviews on YouTube and quickly realized I couldn't relate to a single one. They were all coming from traditional journalists obsessing over things I just don't care about. I don't give a damn if a vehicle's interior is made of rich mahogany; I care about the practicality, the capabilities, and the fun factor of the ride.

So, I decided to do it myself. Three years ago, Outsider Reviews was born on YouTube. Now, having been fully retired from the military for almost two years, I get to dedicate my time to evaluating vehicles for real people who actually drive them.

This website is the next step in that journey. I’m looking forward to taking this as far as I can, and I’m glad you’re along for the ride