April 26, 2016
1300 – 1400 (EDT)
Commemoration Advisory Group Members
- Richard Blackwolf, Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members Association
- Linda Brunet, Encounters With Canada
- Steven Clark, Royal Canadian Legion
- Dr. Steve Harris, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence
- Michel Houle, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
- Commander Dan Manu-Popa, Canadian Joint Operations Command, Canadian Armed Forces
- Dr. Lee Windsor, University of New Brunswick Gregg Centre
Record of Discussion
Hélène Robichaud, A/Director General, Commemoration, provided opening remarks for the meeting (teleconference) of the Commemoration Advisory Group.
- A brief description was provided of Veterans Affairs Canada’s Canada Remembers Program, including in-Canada and overseas commemorative events, Veterans Week, learning resources, public information such as the Heroes Remember online feature, the Commemorative Partnership Program, the Funeral and Burial Program, as well as memorial and cemetery maintenance.
- Upcoming milestones to be commemorated include the 2016 centennial of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel and the 2017 centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
- Veterans Week 2016, including Remembrance Day, will be a key moment for remembrance activities.
- The commemoration of modern-day conflicts remains an important file.
- The Commemoration Advisory Group will not replace other discussions with the broader Veteran and stakeholder community.
- The Group will meet two or three times per year and experts will be called upon when needed to provide information to the members.
Members were asked to introduce themselves and invited to raise any idea or issue with the Group.
- It was asked that at the next meeting a discussion on the Group’s Terms of Reference take place.
- It was suggested that advance notice be given so people wishing to travel to commemorative events, such as Beaumont-Hamel (for example) have an opportunity to make arrangements early.
Forward Agenda
- Next meeting (face-to-face), possibly in July.
- Discussion of the Terms of Reference for the Group.
- Selection of a co-chair by the members of the Group.
- Discussion of the commemoration of the 2017 centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
- Discussion regarding the National Memorial to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan.