We honour Canada’s fallen and preserve their legacy. One way we do this is by maintaining their gravesites and grave markers, at home and abroad.
About this program
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain the gravesites and grave markers of more than 300,000 fallen Canadian Armed Forces members here and around the world.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the graves of 110,355 Canadians who died for the periods of:
- the First World War - 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921, and
- the Second World War - 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947.
VAC directly maintains more than 250,000 graves of former Canadian Armed Forces members who died outside these dates. These grave markers were provided and installed by the Government of Canada through the Funeral and burial assistance program.
Additional information
VAC inspects Veteran gravesites and grave markers across Canada. A databank containing pictures, GPS readings and conditions of the markers has been established from these inspections and is used to develop the annual grave marker maintenance plan. The grave marker maintenance program supports the Funeral and burial assistance program, which helps pay for funeral and burial services, including a military gravestone, for eligible Veterans.
In the 2018 budget, the Government of Canada invested an additional $24.4 million over five years to address urgently needed repairs. The total number of repairs completed as of 31 March 2023, is 53,378, representing a 98.5% completion rate.
Track the progress of this project
We created a map to track the progress of this project. Click on a province to see how the project is doing.
Total number of repairs that were projected to be completed from 2018-2023: 54,216
The remaining backlog repairs (1.5%) were not attainable due to labour and supply shortages. In addition to the urgently needed repairs noted above, more than 60,000 additional repairs identified throughout the project have also been completed across the country.
You can help
If you know of an eligible Veteran gravesite that requires maintenance or you require additional information about this program, please contact the Grave Marker Maintenance program at cm-mc@veterans.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122.
Related programs
Funeral and burial assistance - A reimbursement of costs to ensure Veterans have a dignified funeral and burial.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial – an online registry that honours Canadians who have given their lives in service to their country.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. What is the Grave Marker Maintenance program?
A1. The Grave Marker Maintenance Program preserves the memory of deceased Canadians who served their country during war and peace by maintaining their grave markers.
VAC directly maintains approximately 250,000 grave markers of former Canadian Armed Forces members. These grave markers are military style markers and were provided and installed by the Government of Canada through the Funeral and burial assistance program.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the graves of 110,355 Canadians who died for the periods of:
- the First World War – 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921, and
- the Second World War – 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947.
Q2. What is the difference between a war dead marker that is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and a Veteran marker that is maintained by VAC?
A2. On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the graves of 110,355 Canadians who died during the following periods:
- the First World War – 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1931, and
- the Second World War – 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947.
VAC directly maintains more than 250,000 graves of Canadian Armed Forces members who died outside these dates and who qualified for the Funeral and Burial Assistance Program.