Laval, Quebec
Dr. Kavanagh founded Operation Veteran, in association with the Canadian War Museum, after he and his son witnessed a Second World War Veteran who did not have enough money to pay for a meal at the War Museum’s cafeteria in April 2009. Soon after this encounter, Dr. Kavanagh established Operation Veteran to ensure that all Veterans visiting the museum would be provided a complimentary meal every day of the year. Thanks to fundraising efforts from schools and private donors, more than 4,000 Veterans have benefited from this program so far. Over the past four years, support for the program has grown tremendously to now include schools from all 10 provinces and three territories. Educating youth is another important element of Operation Veteran and the program supports the Museum’s online modules, which engage youth across the country in remembrance. In addition, Dr. Kavanagh annually invites students from across Canada to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial followed by a special tour of the Canadian War Museum. The students’ fundraising efforts cover their travel expenses to Ottawa in order to participate. Operation Veteran continues to enlist more schools, while significantly expanding the scope of its online educational activities.