Summary of consultations on the future of remembrance

Final report

Executive Summary

Background

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has developed a draft 2020-2030 Strategic plan for commemoration to serve as a blueprint for commemorative programming. The goal of the plan is to invite Canadians to understand and appreciate the contributions and sacrifices made by those in uniform, and to make sure that all Veterans and their family members feel recognized. To see that the plan is inclusive and relevant, it was developed, in part, from feedback obtained through a series of consultations.

We asked

Between May and July of 2021, VAC invited all Canadians including Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, Royal Canadian Mounted police (RCMP), other persons involved in international peace support operations, their families, Veterans organizations, and the general public to share their thoughts on the future of remembrance in Canada.

Consultation feedback was gathered through surveys (Let’s Talk Veterans and direct surveys to stakeholder organizations), roundtable meetings, direct emails and VAC’s Facebook channels.

The questions generally focused on representing diversity in commemorative programs; meaningful ways to recognize Veterans; the commemoration of security, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations; and feedback on a CAF around the world approach.

You said

Over 1,800 Canadians shared their thoughts on how we can evolve our remembrance programming. Several themes that emerged from the analysis of the consultations include:

Increase diversity

We heard that commemorative efforts should highlight both diversity as well as commonalities in service in a balanced way. While many participants shared an interest in increasing the awareness of diversity of those who served, some felt overemphasizing diversity may distract from the shared experience of service. Participants also called for further recognition of the diversity (service types [army, navy, air force, police security], gender, race, sexuality, and Indigenous representation, etc.) and the variety of ways all Veterans have contributed to CAF missions and security and peacekeeping operations. Other suggested areas of focus include transparency of messaging surrounding sexual misconduct and racism and recognition for living Veterans—not only those who died in service.

Expanded scope

Participants supported the continued recognition of Veterans of the World Wars and Korean War but noted the scope of remembrance should place greater emphasis on post-war conflicts, operations and service. For example, a significant number of participants mentioned Cold War service (as part of NATO deterrent forces stationed in Europe), international United Nations peacekeeping missions and other CAF international missions as service that could be commemorated. Participants also supported recognizing and commemorating domestic operations such as the defence of North America, sovereignty protection, search and rescue, and emergency disaster relief. Generally, support for the CAF around the world programming was strong. Some Veterans noted that their service and sacrifice should be recognized not only through public events, but also through improving benefits and support programs.

Engagement

We heard many different ideas for engaging Canadians in remembrance. Participants want to learn about Canada’s military history through personal and compelling Veteran stories and interactive digital experiences such as social media platforms, short video clips, live-streaming of commemorative events, and interactive digital experiences (virtual memorial or battlefield tours), and that these formats may speak to younger generations. Participants encouraged more interaction between Veterans and youth, with a focus on active youth participation in commemorative events and activities. To evolve remembrance, participants suggested VAC should increase collaboration with stakeholders, schools and other organizations (such as museums) to improve educational tools and learning initiatives. Some participants noted that making Remembrance Day a statutory holiday in all provinces would allow more Canadians to commemorate.

We will

Using the feedback from these consultations, we will refine the objectives, goals and deliverables to finalize the draft 2020-2030 Strategic plan for commemoration. We will continue to use many of the individual suggestions and comments provided to shape future commemorative programming and activities.

Help Canadians understand

We will help Canadians understand how those who served our country have helped advance peace and security around the world by adding Cold War and peacekeeping (as well as lesser-known operations) into remembrance programming; prioritizing educating youth on Canada’s military history; and engaging Canadians through social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter), television, radio and other digitized content.

Inspired Canadians to recognize

We will inspire Canadians to recognize the service and sacrifices of all who have served our country in uniform by recognizing the diversity of different roles and branches within the military; adding broader gender, race, sexuality, and Indigenous representation when portraying heroes and contributors to Canada’s military history; and increasing VAC partnerships with stakeholders, other organizations and schools to plan and deliver commemorative initiatives.

Preserve and maintain

We will preserve and maintain Government of Canada memorials, including the Books of Remembrance and Veteran grave markers, in a sustainable and dignified way by adding educational and interactive components to memorials to make them more accessible and relevant to the public.

Background

VAC is developing a ten-year strategic plan that will serve as its blueprint for future commemorative programming. The 2020-2030 Strategic Plan for Commemoration is aimed at ensuring that Veterans feel represented and recognized by encouraging Canadians to learn about and honour all who have served across Canada’s military history. The plan, currently in draft format, was broadly circulated for feedback to various stakeholders, Veterans, serving CAF members and the general public. Groups and individuals were offered opportunities to provide their input on the plan. Feedback will be used to finalize and implement the plan.

Note: Future planning should also consider results of the related consultations with educators regarding the future of remembrance in the classroom conducted by VAC in fall 2020.

Overview of consultations

Through numerous consultations, VAC worked to reach a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• Serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, in all branches, and in both regular and reserve units;
• Veterans (any released CAF member);
• Members and former members of the RCMP, municipal police forces or civilians who served in international peace support operations;
• Family members of the above;
• Veteran stakeholder groups; and
• Members of the public including Canadian youth, new Canadians, academics and Indigenous Canadians.

By the numbers

• Let’s Talk Veterans survey: 1,818 respondents (1739 in English and 79 in French);
• Stakeholder surveys and emails: 35 survey responses (30 in English and 5 in French) and numerous emails;
• Roundtables: 24 participants, four roundtables (three English and 1 French);
• Facebook: 1,523 comments on posts with a call to action to complete the survey on Let’s Talk Veterans.

VAC developed tailored internet survey platforms, live forums, media announcements, recruitment strategies, questions and information packages for the above groups. VAC’s Commemoration Division developed the consultation questions in collaboration with VAC’s Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach team and VAC’s Strategic Communications team. VAC tested surveys with the public before launch.

Consultation activities fell into the following four broad categories:

1. Stakeholder consultations (June - July 2021)

Six distinct sub-sets of stakeholders were consulted: the Minister’s Commemoration Advisory Group (CAG); national Veteran service associations; Veteran mission-specific alumni associations; LGBTQ2+ and Indigenous Veteran advocacy groups; Canadian military museums; and CAF service alumni associations. Below is an overview of the contributing consultation activities covered in this analysis:

1. CAG stakeholder emails

   • The Commemoration Advisory Group is a group of 10-12 appointed members with a broad range of expertise and experience in commemoration. This group meets with and is consulted regularly by the Minister of Veterans Affairs on numerous issues from 2019 until April 2021. Its members were involved in the development of the original strategic plan orientation and direction and were invited to provide specific comments on the draft version by email.

2. Round tables

   • Twenty-four representative Veterans’ associations, academics, LGBTQ2+ and youth delegates were invited to a series of virtual round table discussions. The Department provided invitees with background information on the initiative, a copy of the strategic plan and summaries and links to information on VAC’s existing commemorative programs prior to discussions.

     Four round tables were held: three English and one French. Each had five to six invitees that included an academic, member or representative of an Indigenous Veteran association, representative of a LGBTQ2+ Veteran association, representative of a national Veteran advocacy association and a youth delegate. Sessions were led and mediated by VAC management and were approximately 1.5 hours in length. Stakeholder questions developed for the VOXCO survey (below) were used as a basis of discussion. Sessions were recorded and session notes prepared from the recordings.

3. VOXCO survey

   • National Veteran service associations, Veteran mission specific alumni associations, Canadian military museums, and CAF service or trade alumni associations were invited to participate in an online survey hosted on the VOXCO survey platform. The Department identified and contacted over 150 Canadian Veterans’ organizations or military museums by email. VAC invited stakeholders to review the proposed approach by viewing a short video outlining the concept and reading an overview or the full consultation draft of the strategic plan. A link to the VOXCO survey was provided in the email.

     Examples of invitees include: the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada, the Canadian Afghanistan Veterans Association, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones, Service Women’s Salute, le Musée Royal 22e Régiment, the RCMP, and the Naval Association of Canada. Thirty-five (35) survey responses were received from various stakeholder groups.

     The survey was open from 8 July to 29 July 2021, and consisted of nine open-ended questions soliciting information, opinion, advice, and recommendations. Two reminder emails were sent to invitees while the survey was open.

2. Veterans, CAF members and civilian consultations – Let’s Talk Veterans survey (June - July 2021)

Veterans, CAF members, RCMP and municipal police force members and civilians who served in international peace support operations, their families, and the public were invited to share their views via the Let’s Talk Veterans online engagement platform. The LTV page included hyperlinks to background information, documents and a video explaining VAC’s expanded approach to commemoration and existing commemorative programs, its products and services.

The survey included approximately ten demographic questions (age, gender, service type, etc.), and twelve multiple choice questions (i.e., agree-disagree) with unlimited space provided to record comments, opinions, ideas and suggestions. The platform was accessible from 18 June – 12 July 2021. Individuals did not have to register or identify themselves to participate, therefore all responses were anonymous.

Promotion of the survey included a call to action to complete the survey and a link to the Let’s Talk Veterans web page. The survey was promoted in 47  posts on VAC social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter); articles in  The Royal Canadian Legion online newsletter and the online Canadian Armed Forces’ Maple Leaf;  the online My VAC Account for Veterans, members of the CAF or RCMP and their  family members; and on VAC’s website, veterans.gc.ca. Emails were sent to the VAC stakeholder network and to registered users on the Let’s Talk Veterans platform. All information, posts and sites were published in French and English. There were approximately 12,000 total site visits to the Let’s Talk Veterans page and more than 1,800 responses to the survey.

3. Facebook comments

Promotion of the LTV survey on various VAC social media pages (notably Facebook), generated approximately 4,000 comments. Although unsolicited and not part of a planned scientific survey, approximately 1,500 comments provided meaningful suggestions, ideas, and sentiments (the remainder being off-topic or spam). Where there were common themes with the general consultation feedback, we included this feedback.

4. Additional emails

Promotion of the Stakeholder VOXCO survey and LTV public survey generated several dozen emails sent directly to the Commemoration Division’s email address. The documents and comments received in this way are included in this analysis.

Objectives of analysis

Forum Research was engaged to complete an in-depth analysis of all consultation data to assist with the development of the 2020-2030 Strategic plan for commemoration. Specifically, VAC sought a summary of public consultation findings on commemoration in general, an analysis of comments relating to the strategic plan as a document and a demographic analysis comparing respondent proportions to known data to inform future consultation work. This report and Executive Summary are the key deliverables for this work.

The objectives of Forum Research’s analysis were to:

1. Summarize the findings from the commemoration consultations;
2. Verify that VAC’s strategic plan is aligned with its members’ and the public’s expectations; and
3. Identify patterns in comments, themes and suggestions to assist with refining, finalizing and implementing the strategic plan.

Analytical approach

1. Qualitative analysis

   • The Facebook data and open-ended responses from the LTV survey (text data) were coded. Coding is a process where text responses are analyzed and quantified to better understand what people are thinking/saying. Each response is assigned “codes” that allows for grouping of specific phrases and ideas and quantification of the results. One response can have more than one code as it could represent several ideas or phrases. The coding process helps identify overall themes, enabling the development of recommendations based on qualitative data.

     Emails, round tables and paragraph-form responses from the VOXCO survey were analyzed by senior qualitative researchers to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the text data gathered through qualitative methods. Individual responses were organized by themes in Miro, an online whiteboarding tool to find themes within and between the three consultation activities. This analysis was consolidated into an overall stakeholder feedback summary.

2. Round tables

   • All quantitative responses were combined and reported on in collective form. Descriptive frequencies and significance testing was used to discover insights and themes across responses. Forum Research checked for differences between those who identified as Indigenous, new Canadian, racialized Canadian, LGBTQ2+ and with a disability in response options pertaining to diversity and inclusion and reported any significant patterns. Forum Research also used demographic data from Statistics Canada to identify any patterns across groups of interest (LGBTQ2+, Indigenous peoples, new Canadians, racialized Canadians or visible minorities, individuals with disabilities) as well as between age and gender groupings.

Research considerations

Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this document may not add up to the totals provided. For example, in some cases, the sum of all question values may add up to 101% instead of 100%.

Tables and charts generally exclude “don’t know” or “prefer not to say” responses, unless these make up a significant amount of responses.

Because the majority of feedback received was open-ended in nature, rather than specifying percentages, we use terms such as “many”, “some”, and “few” to describe the number of respondents who made similar comments.

The individuals that were consulted (e.g., stakeholders, Veterans, CAF members and the general public) for the purpose of providing feedback on the plan, chose to participate on their own. Therefore, we cannot make statistical claims about the results or make conclusions about the opinions of the general population.

Let's Talk Veterans survey demographics

VAC made an effort to recruit widely across targeted populations. Specific demographic information was not available for many consultation activities (i.e., emails, roundtables, Facebook comments, etc.) however, analysis of demographics collected from the 1,800+ respondents to the LTV survey provides some insight. Highlights are presented below.

Overall, a diversity of Veterans, CAF members, and members of the public were consulted through the LTV survey. New Canadians, LGBTQ2+, Indigenous peoples, and persons with a disability were well-represented in the survey.

However, there was a significant gap in the number of racialized Canadians/visible minorities engaged through the survey as compared to the general population (4% in the survey vs 22% in the population).

Table 1

Respondents identify as…	LTV Survey				National Data
	Total	Veterans	CAF Members	Member of the public	Veterans	CAF MembersFootnote 1	General Population
New Canadian	2%	2%	1%	3%	N.A.	N.A.	4%Footnote 2
LGBTQ2+ individual	5%	4%	7%	7%	N.A.	N.A.	4%Footnote 3
Indigenous person	7%	7%	7%	4%	N.A.	3%	5%Footnote 4
Racialized Canadian/Visible minority	4%	4%	5%	6%	N.A.	9%	22%Footnote 5
Person with a disability	20%	27%	7%	8%	36%Footnote 6	N.A.	22%Footnote 7

In addition to the gap noted above, compared to the general population, people in the 16–29-year age range were somewhat underrepresented while those from the 30–49- and 50–69-year age ranges were overrepresented. Lastly, compared to national data, the survey engaged fewer Air Force and Army members, but more from the Reserves.

Table 2

Age	LTV Survey			National Data
	Total	Veterans	Member of the public	VeteransFootnote 8	General population (2016 census)
0-15	--	--	--	0%	18%
16-29	5%	1%	13%	2%	17%
30-49	28%	21%	35%	25%	13%
50-69	51%	61%	41%	41%	14%
70 +	12%	14%	8%	33%	6%

Key themes

Respondent feedback on key aspects of the strategic plan support goals I to III. Most stakeholders, Veterans and members of the public reacted positively to the proposed Canadian Armed Forces Around the World regional approach. Of those who provided detailed comments, many confirmed the need for a broader inclusion of missions and recognition of peacekeeping, both of which are consistent with the spirit of the approach.

The top three themes from all consultations combined that directly relate to the strategic plan and some of the top comments or suggestions raised for each are as follows:

1. Commemorative efforts should highlight diversity as well as shared experiences in service.
   • Focus more equally on living Veterans and not just the fallen.
   • Broaden commemoration to include all the services (Army, Navy, Air Force and the Reserves) and recognize the diversity of roles and the variety of ways all Veterans contributed to CAF missions around the world and here at home.
   • Continue to find ways to increase awareness of the diversity of those who served. Some racialized Canadians and visible minorities, LGBTQ2+, Indigenous peoples and women note that they have been underrepresented in VAC’s commemorative programming.
   • While many respondents agree with the current portrayal of diversity in commemorative programming, a significant portion had concerns that an overemphasis on diversity may distract from the overall shared experience in service.
2. The scope of remembrance should be expanded to place greater emphasis on more modern missions and service.
   • Although most Veterans of the World Wars and Korean War are no longer with us, we must continue to recognize their service and commemorate their battles and sacrifice. However, going forward, the scale of commemorative activities should reflect the passage of time and not overshadow recognition of those who served in more recent conflicts and missions.
   • Future commemorative efforts should focus more on post-war conflicts and operations. Among missions that must be brought to the forefront, a significant number of respondents cited Cold War service (as part of NATO deterrent forces stationed in Europe) and international UN peacekeeping/coalition or NATO peace support.
   • In Canada, operations such as defence of North America, sovereignty protection, search and rescue and emergency disaster relief are equally important and should also be commemorated and recognized.
3. Canadians, especially youth in schools, should be educated through personal and compelling Veteran stories and interactive digital experiences.

   Note: Comments on public education focused on the education of youth, primarily through school systems, and the inclusion of learning materials on more recent conflicts and CAF operations in addition to traditional military history (i.e., World Wars, Korean War, etc.).

   • Reach Canadians on a personal level by sharing accessible and compelling stories of Veterans, both traditional and post-Korean War service.
   • Engage Canadians, particularly youth, by using more innovative digital formats, such as social media platforms that are popular with youth, short video clips, live-streaming commemorative events, and interactive digital experiences (virtual memorial or battlefield tours).
   • Encourage more interaction between Veterans and youth, with a focus on active youth participation, such as having students interview Veterans and co-participation in commemorative events.
   • VAC should collaborate more with stakeholders, schools and other organizations (such as museums) to optimize educational tools and learning initiatives.

**Although not related to items covered in the proposed strategic plan, a fourth major theme about provincial holidays also emerged. A noteworthy number of respondents felt that if Remembrance Day was a statutory holiday in all provinces, this would enable more Canadians to take the time off to commemorate. Some respondents also expressed a desire to have a month for remembrance, or to have separate holidays for those who have served versus those who gave their lives, such as in the USA (Memorial Day and Veterans Day).

Findings by topic

Canadian Armed Forces around the world programming theme

Overall, stakeholders responded positively to VAC’s proposed approach to widening the scope of commemorative programming by focusing on CAF contributions in a different area of the world each year. In general, the feeling was that it is long overdue and respondents are looking forward to seeing it happen.

Within the Veteran and CAF member population, half of respondents expressed their approval of the approach, and many added extra comments. These included suggestions to highlight lesser-known operations and a broader variety of missions, with less focus on traditional wars (i.e., the First and Second World Wars).  

Most members of the public also approve of the approach. They emphasized the importance of honouring those who served in post-Second World War actions; lesser-known missions such as Bosnia and Croatia, the Cold War, and those involved in peacekeeping or non-combat missions; and highlighting that many CAF missions are not combat related.

Few respondents (10% of Veterans and 6% of the general public) stated that they disagree with the overall approach or some aspect(s) of it. Those opposed to the regional approach included some who recommended leaving Remembrance Day alone to ensure all the fallen/all Veterans are recognized every year and others who felt that focusing on one geographic region per year may mean excluding missions with milestones during that year.

Commemoration today

Commemoration today summarizes themes from the LTV survey that explored what makes Veterans feel recognized, how Veterans and the general public participate in commemorative activities, and any barriers to doing so.

Feeling recognized

Veterans and CAF members who completed the LTV survey were asked about what makes them feel recognized. Remembrance Day and Remembrance Day services were the most common contributors to Veterans feeling recognized, followed by commemorative events. Commemorative events cited included parades, cenotaph services, events at a local Legion, and reunions. For many Veterans, feeling recognized comes from a combination of more formal events or commendations (e.g., medals or awards) and informal recognition, such as receiving thanks or media coverage of events. Some Veterans expressed that they felt their hardships should be recognized not only through public events, but also by receiving the benefits and support programs they feel are merited.

Participation in commemorative activities

Veterans differ somewhat from the public (non-Veterans or active CAF members) in the ways they participate in commemorative activities. Nearly all Veterans who responded to the LTV survey take an active role in at least one commemorative activity such as Remembrance Day services, church services, school assemblies, and private reunions. Other popular activities include marching in parades, volunteering and discussing experiences with friends, family, and other Veterans.

Most non-serving respondents also attend ceremonies, events, or services; however, they generally take a less active role in commemoration.  Additional activities for this group include educating themselves, reflecting privately, or wearing a poppy. Some undertake more active roles by volunteering or assisting with remembrance activities or campaigns.

While stakeholders were not asked about their individual participation, they did provide examples of specific activities and events they are involved in that are aimed at recognition. These include a variety of commemorative events for various battles, reunions, educational initiatives, recognizing local Veterans, and gathering stories from Veterans for educational purposes or connecting them with schools to allow them to share their stories with youth.

Barriers to participating

Approximately 40% of Veterans and their families indicate they did not face barriers to participating in remembrance activities. More than half of respondents from the general public indicated no barriers. Both groups mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic as a top barrier for participating in remembrance activities. Members of the general public also cited work-related reasons, such as not being able to take time off. Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in all but four provinces (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia); as many respondents reside in Ontario and Quebec, they do not receive paid time off.

Changing landscape

Changing landscape explores themes related to diversity and the target audiences for VAC programming.

Portraying diversity

Diversity was consistently mentioned throughout the consultations as an area in need of improvement. Stakeholders feel that the 10-year strategic plan for commemoration needs to facilitate development of stronger relationships between the Veterans they work with and their communities; focus on diverse relationships; and encourage diverse Veterans to share their experiences with their peers. Many would like to see more gender, race, sexuality, and Indigenous peoples represented in the stories of significant heroes and contributors.

In the LTV Survey, a question related to diversity was only posed to Veterans and family members. Forty-one (41%) percent of respondents agreed that VAC has done a good job of portraying diversity in its commemorative programs. Regardless of whether they agreed or disagreed that VAC has done a good job, respondents would like to see more broad gender, race, sexuality, and Indigenous representation in the portrayal of significant heroes and contributors. Others highlighted that the CAF lack diversity, and this must be addressed first.

Respondents also urged VAC to look for ways of increasing awareness of the different roles of those serving; they feel it is important to promote awareness of different roles within Canada’s Armed Forces and how each  member contributes to the service. At the same time, some respondents felt that highlighting diversity goes against the values of serving in uniform, and that everyone should be treated equally. These respondents gave accounts of how they served as one regardless of their backgrounds and indicated that they therefore felt that commemoration should be about the unity of military personnel and their collective service.

Those Veterans and their families who identified as women, LGBTQ2+, Indigenous or racialized Canadians, had split opinions on VAC’s portrayal of diversity:  36% agreed and 35% disagreed that VAC did a good job portraying diversity, while 26% indicated they did not know. Some mentioned that  stories of Canadians of visible minority groups should be told more often.  Others felt that their service mattered above their identity, hence the unity of military personnel should be central to commemoration. Looking more closely at the results from this specific cohort:

• Nearly 4 in 10 women (37%) agree that VAC portrays diversity well, stressing the importance of recognizing visible minorities. However, 3 in 10 (30%) believe VAC could do better in their representation of women and minority backgrounds. This group mentioned their experiences with racism and sexual misconduct during their period of service and asked that VAC reflect on the transparency of messaging around these issues in commemoration messaging and activities.
• Indigenous respondents are equally divided between agreeing (39%) and disagreeing (41%) that VAC does a good job displaying diversity. Responses from both sides favour unity of all service members rather than a focus on differences in their identity, however, some respondents mentioned that they would like to see Indigenous service members depicted together with those from other ethnic backgrounds to showcase their involvement in teamwork. They believe that this depiction will demonstrate unity while still ensuring Indigenous representation.
• A number of racialized Canadians (50%) disagree that VAC is showcasing diversity well. They prefer to be portrayed by their efforts as “soldiers” rather than their racial background, as the latter prioritizes race above their service contributions. Since the 23% who agree that VAC is portraying diversity well shared a wide variety of opinions, a collective narrative cannot be identified for this group.
• Three in 10 (32%) respondents who identified as LGBTQ2+ agree that diversity is portrayed well by VAC, while 4 in 10 (39%) disagree with this. Since members of this group also identify as either a racialized minority or Indigenous, their responses are captured in the points above.

Engaging youth

Comments on the topic of engaging youth often touched on education. Many respondents commented on ways to improve the school curriculum (a provincial responsibility) by teaching more military history and encouraging more interactive experiences. Suggestions included use of social media, contests, virtual tours of memorial sites, or in-person participation in local events. Several respondents emphasized the importance of Veterans speaking with students at schools to share their experiences. Others noted that this approach needs to be made more relevant to today’s youth who have very limited knowledge of early wars. Suggested ways to make engagement with commemoration more relevant include encouraging active participation of youth by attending events or taking part in school projects involving Veterans to ensure deeper learning and understanding. Lastly, social media was highlighted to engage youth through short video clips and interactive content.

Engaging new Canadians

Survey and stakeholder feedback on new Canadians was limited; however, those who provided comments indicated that education and awareness are the best ways to engage this group. Examples of comments include suggestions of building awareness about why poppies are worn; encouraging participation of new Canadians in Remembrance Day ceremonies; and educating new Canadians on Canada’s military history, especially as it relates to their home countries. Outreach to Veterans was a common general suggestion that aligns with the idea of education. Suggestions centered around Veterans’ visits to schools or new Canadian communities, in person or virtually, to tell their stories or recording videos to provide to schools. Other ideas suggested including CAF and Canada’s military history into the Canadian Citizenship process, and ensuring tools and materials are available in multiple languages to reflect the Canadian population.

Expanding programming

Expanding programming explores the plan’s new focus on highlighting Canada’s contribution to international peace, security and humanitarian goals through the stories of those who served.

Recognizing Cold War service

Stakeholders, those who served, and their family members are in favour of recognizing Cold War service. In general, acknowledging their service and showing respect were deemed important. Respondents suggested communicating the scale and scope of Canadian service during the Cold War and the importance to Canadians of the contributions of CAF members and their families serving during that time. The recommended types of communication included interactive content, such as documentaries and exhibits, as well as educational literature. Other suggestions included providing medals and pins to those who served.

Recognizing peacekeeping

Respondents were in favour of commemorating the United Nations, NATO, and coalition peace support operations. Stakeholders also indicated that more needs to be done to include Veterans of these operations in commemorative programming. Those who provided comments highlighted the importance of education because of the lack of awareness of peacekeeping operations. Detailed information about UN/ NATO and coalition missions including where the mission occurred, the names of each mission, and information on who served and died were deemed important pieces of information to share.

Domestic CAF operations (i.e., disaster or emergency relief)

To reduce bias in responses, CAF members and Veterans were not asked to respond to questions designed to gauge support for the commemoration and recognition of domestic CAF disaster or emergency relief operations.  The question was directed solely to members of the general public.

Most members of the public do believe that CAF operations within Canada should be commemorated. They highlighted the importance of acknowledging service men and women’s efforts to protect and serve the country. Some, however, believe in recognizing all types of service equally. They did not see a difference between domestic operations,  foreign operations, or routine day-to-day service. A smaller group of respondents thought that domestic operations (i.e., disaster or emergency relief ops) do not pose special risks or dangers as they are not combat missions, and therefore do not merit special attention.

New ways to commemorate and recognize

Respondents emphasized that all forms of technology should be used for the greatest impact on commemoration. This theme was closely tied to learning materials and education; therefore, these themes are presented together in this section. Some respondents suggest using social media to build awareness of commemoration. One example is to live stream events such as parades or key commemorative services (e.g., at Vimy, Juno Beach) on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitch or to feature them on TV and radio for those without internet access. Other uses of social media include posting shareable short video clips or memes, providing information, and promoting anniversaries of various missions. Social media was mentioned often in the context of engaging youth with interactive content.

In addition to social media, both digital and multimedia tools were highlighted as not only effective ways of reaching youth, but also of improving access to information that is not currently available to Canadians.  Examples of such tools included documentaries or short vignettes, and opportunities for Veterans to tell their stories to various groups (youth, new Canadians, the public). Virtual reality was suggested as a means of providing experiences like interactive walking tours of battle grounds, military demonstrations, story maps, or tours of monuments, museums, and cenotaphs. Lastly, several respondents indicated that VAC should seek more partnerships with other organizations to optimize educational tools, and to better collaborate around education and commemoration initiatives.

Other themes

Remembrance infrastructure

Remembrance infrastructure includes monuments, site visits, accessibility, and visitor experience. There were no consultation questions focused specifically on infrastructure, but some feedback was volunteered. Only a few respondents recognized the plan’s commitment to enhancing military memorials. Some of those respondents commented on monuments and memorials in the context of how Canada could improve on commemorating the Cold War and peacekeeping operations by creating more monuments or making them more accessible. Technology was recommended by some stakeholders as well as LTV survey respondents to make memorials and cenotaphs more accessible and relevant to the public, providing interactive experiences for those unable to visit in person as well as educational experiences for youth.

Designated Veterans Day/Month

A number of LTV survey respondents commented that a barrier to attending Remembrance Day activities is that they have to work. If Remembrance Day was a statutory holiday in all provinces, this would enable many to take the time off to commemorate. Other respondents expressed a desire to have a month for remembrance, or to have separate holidays for those who have served versus those who gave their lives, such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day in Australia or Memorial Day and Veterans Day in the United States.

Caring for Veterans

A recurring theme from the LTV survey was taking care of Veterans. Throughout the survey, primarily Veterans and their families indicated that the best way to recognize Veterans is to ensure they and their families are looked after through benefits and monetary support, by providing disability support services and general support programs, and by processing disability claims efficiently. A small number of respondents representing the general public also voiced similar opinions on caring for Veterans in their responses to various survey questions.

Linkages to VAC’s strategic plan for commemoration

In the following section, we draw conclusions pertaining to the strategic plan goals (excluding VAC internal-oriented Goal IV) based on all of the information gathered through consultations.  Respondent observations and suggestions are summarized below.

Goal I.

Help Canadians understand how those who served our country have helped advance peace and security around the world.

Objective 1.1 – Create opportunities to commemorate and recognize all who have served our country.

The general sentiment from stakeholders on VAC’s CAF Around the World approach was that it is long overdue, and respondents are looking forward to seeing it implemented. Respondents applauded the addition of the Cold War and peacekeeping to VAC’s commemoration cycle, as well as lesser-known operations. Broadening the variety of missions was well-received, as was the reduced focus on traditional battles and wars. A small but notable portion of the public disagrees with commemorating domestic operations and those behind the scenes due to perceptions of lower risk and breadth of impact.

Objective 1.2 – Provide innovative learning materials to help educators teach youth about Canada’s military personnel in the world, including their roles, achievements and sacrifices.

Respondents agreed that education around Canada’s military history is a priority for youth. They did not specifically mention VAC in relation to educational materials but suggested various ways educational content could be broadly improved. Social media was often mentioned in the context of channels for engaging youth with interactive content. In addition to social media, digital means of sharing information and for education were highlighted as effective ways of reaching youth. Examples included informative documentaries or short vignettes, and opportunities for Veterans to tell their stories. While some respondents highlighted the importance of innovation, understanding needs and preferences of youth was not top of mind for respondents in these consultations.

Objective 1.3 – Expand and enhance use of digital technology to engage more Canadians.

VAC was not highlighted by respondents as an important information source. Respondents emphasized generally that all channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitch and on TV and radio) should be used for the greatest impact, so focusing exclusively on the VAC website may miss the mark when it comes to reaching the broadest audience. Social media provides the opportunity to share short video clips proactively and on an ongoing basis throughout the year, or to live-stream events on popular channels. Emphasis was put on placing content at users’ fingertips rather than waiting for them to visit the website.

The sharing of materials about Canada’s military history through digitization of content was a common theme. Some respondents mentioned the creation of TV or radio documentaries and videos based on historical or combat footage. Topics suggested included “a day in the life” of those who served or highlighting Canada’s role in domestic and international missions. Virtual reality was also suggested as a means of providing opportunities for interactive walking tours of battle grounds, military demonstrations, story maps, as well as tours of monuments, museums, and cenotaphs. These ideas build on Objective 1.3 and could be incorporated into future iterations of the plan.

Goal II

Inspire Canadians to actively recognize the service and sacrifices of all who have served our country in uniform.

Objective 2.1 – Support and deliver commemorative programming, activities and events in Canada, focusing on CAF missions around the world and recognition of military milestones across Canadian history.

Numerous respondents of all backgrounds pointed out that it is important to recognize the different roles and branches within the forces, as diversity exists within the type and amount of contribution in addition to demographic differences. The broadening of the diversity of missions commemorated as described and defined in the plan was well-received, as was the reduced focus on traditionally marked battles or wars. Respondents still urged VAC to look for ways of increasing awareness of the different roles of those serving; they feel it is important to promote awareness of different roles within the CAF and how each military member contributes to the service. Conversely, some respondents gave accounts of how they served as one, regardless of their backgrounds, therefore commemoration should be about the unity of CAF personnel and their collective service.

Many respondents would like to see more broad gender, race, sexuality, and Indigenous representation in the portrayal of significant heroes and contributors. Some highlighted that the CAF lack diversity, and this must be addressed first. Those Veterans and their families who identified as women, LGBTQ2+, Indigenous or racialized Canadians, had split opinions on VAC’s portrayal of diversity. Similar to thoughts around the diversity of missions, some diverse respondents mentioned that stories of Canadians of visible minority groups should be told more often, while others felt that their service mattered above their identity, therefore the unity of CAF personnel should be central to commemoration programming.

Community was a common theme that emerged in the consultations. Creating opportunities for Veterans to tell their stories to local youth and building deeper relationships with youth also fits well with Objective 2.1. Many respondents feel that the commemorative strategy needs to facilitate development of stronger relationships between Veterans and their local communities. This supports the strategic plan’s idea of bringing the remembrance experience to Canadians where they live.

Objective 2.2 – Continue to support and encourage youth involvement and leadership in commemorative activities.

Comments on the topic of engaging youth were very much in line with this objective. They often touched on the need for more education on Canada’s military history, as well as connecting students with Veterans in interactive ways. Some emphasized the importance of Veterans speaking with students at schools to share their experiences, but others noted that this approach needs to be made more relevant and engaging for today’s youth. Respondents highlighted the importance of finding opportunities for active participation, such as taking youth to events, having them volunteer at events, or school-project based interactions with Veterans to ensure deeper learning and understanding. Other ideas included contests and virtual tours of memorial sites.

Objective 2.3 – Continue to commemorate key First World War, Second World War and Korean War milestones.

Respondents agreed with continuing to commemorate First and Second World Wars and Korean War milestones; however, they emphasized a desire for broader inclusion of missions in the CAF Around the World programming, especially peacekeeping missions, which is in line with the overall spirit of the plan.

Objective 2.4 – Support organizations in planning and delivering successful commemorative, restoration or construction initiatives.

This topic was only explored with stakeholders, and they provided feedback on three areas of focus for collaboration: connecting with other agencies/organizations (with a similar footprint); museums/historical exhibits; and schools.

Stakeholders expressed a desire for VAC to have more partnerships and work with other organizations to better collaborate and educate. Stakeholders commented that communication between VAC and similar smaller agencies or organizations needs to improve, especially when their objectives are the same. Connecting with smaller or more localized organizations will allow communities to grow and create opportunities for civilians to better understand Veterans and their histories.

Museums and organizations developing exhibits were also brought up as possible collaborators as they already specialize in the sharing of history. VAC could partner with these groups to create interactive events that engage with civilians. Some participants suggested that VAC could partner with museums to spotlight Veterans and historical events that align with their current exhibits/themes.

Partnering with schools was mentioned consistently by stakeholders. Education and awareness were a common theme found in responses. Stakeholders feel that connecting with youth and impacting their education will keep commemoration relevant and allow it to evolve and grow as time passes. Some stakeholders commented that VAC should be in contact with diverse groups to develop education programs that involve connecting schools with diverse Veterans and giving them a platform to share their experience.

Finally, consultation feedback from new Canadians was limited; however, those who provided comments indicated that education and awareness are the best ways to engage new Canadians.

Goal III

Preserve and maintain Government of Canada memorials, including the Books of Remembrance and Veteran grave markers in a sustainable and dignified way.

Objective 3.1 – Maintain, preserve and present the Government of Canada’s international monuments, memorials and battlefields in accordance with our commemorative integrity statements so they may be enjoyed for all time.

Comments related to the Remembrance Infrastructure theme provide some insight into this statement from Objective 3: We will foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment. For the few respondents who commented on monuments and memorials, most were focused on how Canada could improve on Cold War and Peacekeeping commemorations by adding permanent information to existing monuments or adding content to memorial services. Technology was recommended by some stakeholders and LTV survey respondents to make memorials more accessible and relevant to the public by providing interactive experiences for those unable to visit in person as well as educational experiences for youth. All of this feedback is in line with Goal III.

It is important to note that no international consultations have been undertaken, therefore feedback of those who visit overseas memorials was not obtained. As Canadians account for only approximately 10% of visitors to these memorials, the perspective of most visitors to these sites is missing from this report. However, VAC conducts regular visitor experience surveys to gather feedback on international monuments.

Objective 3.2 – Develop and enhance Government of Canada military memorials in Canada.

Very few respondents commented specifically on military memorials in Canada. Those who did mentioned that they visit the memorials as part of their Remembrance Day activities. A few respondents praised VAC for their commitment to commemorating Canada’s mission in Afghanistan with a new monument.

Objective 3.3 - Ensure the maintenance and preservation of Veteran graves in Canada.

No feedback specific to this objective was received.