February 2024

Commemoration

Funding available for No. 2 Construction Battalion commemorative projects

Applications are now open.

Are you planning a project that commemorates the legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion? You can apply for dedicated funding though the Commemorative Partnership Program on our online portal.

No. 2 Construction Battalion was created on 5 July 1916, during the First World War. It was a segregated non-combatant unit and the first and only all-Black battalion-sized formation in Canadian military history.

Throughout the war, members of No. 2 Construction Battalion faced overt and unspoken systemic racism, and showed resilience, determination and strength in the face of adversity.

Applications for both Community Engagement and Community War Memorial projects commemorating the legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion are being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until 31 March 2024.

The creation of this dedicated funding responds to one of the recommendations from the National Apology Advisory Committee, to create a long-term legacy fund that creates ongoing opportunities for education, remembrance and honouring.

Check out our website to learn more and apply!

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Winterlude in Ottawa

100 years of the RCAF

From February 2-19, Winterlude was in full swing in Ottawa and Gatineau. This year, our ice sculpture and display focused on the 100^th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The display highlighted important dates and people who helped shape the RCAF we know today.

The display and ice sculpture were near the National War Memorial in Ottawa. If you were in the National Capital Region, we hope that you were able to check it out to learn more about 100 years of trailblazing and heroic achievements.

In 2024, VAC will host events to recognize the service and sacrifice of RCAF service members over the past 100 years. To learn more about the centennial, visit the RCAF 2024 webpage.

We also had a snow sculpture and commemorative exhibit in Winnipeg, as part of the Festival du Voyageur between February 16-25, at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

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Commemoration calendar

Early February:

First elements of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group arrived in Afghanistan, 2001

February 1:

Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force unified to form the Canadian Armed Forces, 1968

February 8:

Operation Veritable began during the Second World War, 1945

February 21:

Canadian soldiers come under attack for the first time during the Korean War, 1951

February 25:

CAF began Operation Mobile in response to unrest in Libya, 2011

February 28:

The Gulf War ended, 1991

Upcoming dates:

March 7:

PPCLI soldiers attacked Hill 532, one of Canada’s earliest actions of the Korean War (1951)

March 10:

Ceremony marking the 10^th anniversary of the end of Canada’s mission to Afghanistan at the National War Memorial

March 10:

The Battle of the Rhineland ended during the Second World War (1945)

March 12:

Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan ended. (2014) [10^th anniversary]

March 13:

Canada’s peacekeeping mission in Cyprus began (1964) [60^th anniversary]

March 24:

First CF-18 Hornet airstrikes took place during NATO operations in Kosovo (1999)

March 31:

The Battle of Hart’s River took place during the South African War. (1902)

March 31:

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan ended during the Second World War. (1945)

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Programs and services

New Peer Support Service for sexual misconduct and military sexual trauma

The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC), in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), is welcoming those who may be interested to participate and provide feedback on a peer support service for those impacted by military sexual trauma.

The Formal Peer Support Group has eight 90-minute virtual sessions and two informal sessions through Microsoft Teams, available in either English or French. The group emphasizes confidentiality, active peer engagement and helps to increase social support. Learn more at the Formal Peer Support Group web page.

If you are interested in participating, please register for a Formal Peer Support Group by emailing SMSRCPSP-CSRISPSP@forces.gc.ca.

If you have experienced sexual misconduct or military sexual trauma during service and need immediate support, please call SMSRC’s 24/7 line at 1-844-750-1648.

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Access to professional financial advice

If you received a lump-sum award from Veterans Affairs Canada and would like to receive professional guidance to help you manage your finances, we can reimburse you for these costs.

If you apply within 12 months of receiving your award decision, you can receive up to $500 to get advice from a financial professional on how to invest and manage your lump-sum and even whether a lump sum or monthly payments may be better for you.

Some of the awards which qualify you for this financial advice include:

• Disability Award,
• Critical Injury Benefit,
• Detention Benefit, or
• Death Benefit for survivors.

Some costs for professional services do not qualify for repayment, including:

• tax returns,
• annual commissions or fees on your investments, or
• travel costs.

Here are some tips to help you manage a tax-free lump-sum payment.

Do you qualify?

If you receive a lump-sum that is five percent or more of the maximum Disability Award, you can be repaid for what you spent on financial advice.

Note: Submit the invoice to us and we will reimburse you. Unfortunately, we cannot pay the provider directly.

Download the request for reimbursement form. Then drop it off at a VAC office. You can also mail your completed form directly to the address listed on the form.

Call us at 1-866-522-2122 or contact the staff at any VAC office if we can assist you with this application.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada can give you more information about financial planning. Call 1-866-461-3222, or e-mail info@fcac.gc.ca.

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Veteran’s story

Former RCMP officer shares healing journey

Please note, the name of the author, location and other details are withheld to preserve privacy. Printed with permission from the author.

I retired in 2019 after almost 30 years in the RCMP. After retiring I was not experiencing the “relief” I was expecting after a long career of operational policing. Increasingly, I was irritated, anxious, grumpy ... and angry. I did not sleep well and reached a point in 2021 where I realized something was wrong. It was a slippery slope, and the world was closing in on me. Luckily, I had the support of my wife and family to reach out to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for assistance.

It started with a simple email asking for help. Within a short time, I was contacted and before long I was answering screening questions over the phone and found myself on a list for an assessment with an OSI clinic. It was all so easy once I took the first step to contact VAC. During the waiting period I received several calls from VAC staff, just checking in and letting me know I had not been forgotten. There was an in-person assessment within several months of my coming forward followed by a treatment program that started several months later.

Throughout the waiting period I continued to receive wellness calls. I found these to be reassuring, letting me know that whatever else was happening, I was not alone. When I started the treatment program, I found that the program was built around me and moved at a pace I was comfortable with. My therapist never pushed me. He explained the process and what I could expect and never, ever set timelines. He and the OSI clinic would be available to me for as long as necessary. All of the therapy I got was explained in language I could understand, and I felt was tailored to suit my needs. Sessions were weekly and offered in person or remotely via the internet. I was much more comfortable in person and VAC authorized my expenses for travel. This allowed me to focus on the therapy and my health.

Although my clinic visits are less frequent, I still attend the OSI clinic, and expect to transition into a maintenance program in the community. I could not have wished for a better outcome with the therapy. My health, both physical and mental have improved greatly. I sleep better, and no longer am anxious and angry at events around me. The OSI clinic and its staff and programs have allowed me to develop strategies to deal with the daily events in life that had become so difficult to deal with. My wife has been my biggest supporter, but without “tools” from the OSI clinic I do not believe I could have ever climbed out of the hole that I was descending into.

I learned that there is no magic pill to fix the problems that had developed over many years. The solution was based upon my desire to get better and improve my health and my life. The “pact” I made was to put in whatever work was necessary using the “toolbox” the OSI clinic provided to address the problems. I learned that the situations that caused my problems cannot be undone or forgotten but that I had the power and ability to move beyond them looking forward, not back.

While I am now much better, I understand down days as normal; I can move beyond them. I wake in the morning looking forward with excitement to what the future will bring.

I wish to express my gratitude to the people at the OSI Clinic as well as to VAC staff who assisted me.

I would encourage Veterans to acknowledge that while our experiences leave scars, there is nothing to fear in asking for help. My biggest hurdle was realizing there was a problem and reaching out for help. Once I did that the rest fell into place. When asked, we “ran towards the fire.” Our greatest challenge, then, is to ensure that we “come out the other side.” The commitment to get better comes from within us. The ability to get better only comes when we take advantage of the resources designed to help us. The OSI Clinics offer those necessary resources.

Current and former members of the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces may be eligible for support and treatment from one of clinics in VAC’s network of OSI clinics. Family members may also receive support. Learn more today and contact VAC by phone or through your My VAC Account.

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Spotlight on Women Veterans

Black Excellence in the CAF: Sergeant (Retd) Joan Buchanan

In 1985, Joan Buchanan was looking for a challenge. She tried to join the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) but was turned away and told she did not have military potential. However, Joan is a determined individual, and she returned. She referred the recruiter to the Employment Equity Act, which states that “no person shall be denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability.”

From there, she wrote the aptitude test, and met all tactical, physical and medical requirements. Two years later, she was offered a position as an administrative clerk and became the only woman of colour in her battalion.

Despite the barriers she faced as a Black woman, Joan excelled throughout her 27-year career in the CAF. She was a model soldier with a stellar record, which included a NATO Service Medal for her time in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a South-West Asia Service Medal from her service with NATO and the General Tommy Franks Commendation for volunteer services while serving at NATO Headquarters Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida from 2002 to 2003.

Joan faced several injustices throughout her career that she believed were directly linked to her race and gender. She decided to take action. In 1997, she joined the Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group with the Department of National Defence. The group identifies systematic issues within the Canadian Armed Forces and recommends ways to address them. As the co-chair, Joan fought to make the Forces more inclusive. “The idea was to try and change the archaic mindset with concrete examples, whereby transparency was lacking,” Joan specified. She also became the first Black woman to hold the President of the Mess Committee position.

Joan retired from the CAF in 2014 and joined the Department of National Defence. To learn more about the inspiring journey of Sergeant (Retd) Joan Buchanan, visit our website.

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Dr. Courchesne’s Health Corner: Experiencing racial discrimination and injustice can lead to trauma, as well as chronic stress, anxiety, and depression among Black women Veterans. These health impacts can be heightened in a military environment, where women of colour often face unique challenges. Empowering black women and breaking down systemic racial and gender barriers can positively impact the experience of Black women Veterans. If you or someone you know is experiencing similar discrimination and related health impacts, support and understanding is available–visit our website for details.

Dr. Cyd Courchesne is Chief Medical Officer at Veterans Affairs Canada.

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Love in the CAF

Growing up, Keven Beaudry and Linda LeBlanc’s houses were 30 feet apart in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec. Their fathers were best friends and Keven hung out with Linda’s brother. He used to tease her.

Fast forward to 1988, Keven, who joined the military as a 17-year-old artillery gunner with 5 RALC in Valcartier, QC, had just arrived home from his deployment to Cyprus. He cruised around their hometown in his new red Toyota Corolla.

This time, the pesky childhood neighbour turned Linda’s head in a new way.

“It was just like ‘wow,’ he was different,” she remembers with a laugh.

He picked her up for a date in his dream machine and the rest, as they say, is history. They were married in blue jeans by a Justice of the Peace two years later.

“We just wanted to get married so bad,” Linda said. They spent the next 34 years building a family, (three children Steven 29, Mathew, 27 and Elizabeth, 26) and moving around the country with the military. Keven moved from Army to Air Force, first as an aircraft technician, then as a flight engineer, did three more tours – Kosovo, Bosnia and Haiti – and spent eight years flying Search and Rescue out of Greenwood, Nova Scotia. He retired in 2021 with 36 years, rejoined in 2022 and is still serving in the reserve.

Linda, who had “started over” many times as a military spouse, decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces too. She was a 39-year-old mother of three when she left for basic training on Mother’s Day in 2009. She started as a Logistics Officer and after 15 years of service and lots of promotions, Linda is now a Major and the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Second Mission Support Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec.

Their oldest son, Steven also felt the call to serve his country. Cpl Steven Beaudry is an AVN Technician at 401 Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta.

With retirement on the horizon, the couple are considering a picturesque last post with a new build on their property overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the town where they grew up. Talk about full circle.

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Engagement

Sharing the love on Valentine’s Day

This year, Canadians continued the tradition of expressing their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation through the Valentines for Veterans program.

We encouraged participants to give their valentines to Veterans in their community or share them online. Some cards were hand delivered, including to Veterans in long-term care facilities, while others were sent as e-cards.

Canadians shared photos of their Valentines on social media using the hashtag #ValentinesForVets.

Check out some of these valentines on our Facebook page, and see how Canadians showed their appreciation and thanks to those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedicated service, sacrifice and commitment.

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Every Veteran has a Story

In early December, we sent out a request asking Veterans from a diverse range of ages, genders and career backgrounds to participate in a Services for Veterans outreach campaign. Over 60 Veterans and still-serving personnel responded to the call. The “cast” was narrowed down to four people with 100 years of combined military experience to be featured in the campaign.

All four Veterans said their transition out of the military wasn’t easy, and adapting to the services offered by VAC took time. However, each Veteran indicated that continuing to support and advocate for their comrades is undoubtedly an essential part of their journey toward wellness.

Francesca Colussi of Toronto, Ontario, served in the Royal Canadian Navy, both Regular Force and the Reserves. Francesca is an LGBT purge survivor and identifies as a member of the 2SLGTBQI+ community. As a member of the Military Veteran Business Network, Treble Victor, and a highly successful entrepreneur, Francesca says the decision to put her name forward was easy. “I saw the call out and wanted to help.”

Al McFarlane of Barrie, Ontario, felt the same way. “Anything to do with Veterans, I’m in.” Al, who served in the Army and Royal Canadian Air Force, is also an Invictus athlete. He says it’s important that Veterans know there is help from VAC and to go get it.

Jocelyne and Clint Eastman are both Indigenous and hail from Edmonton, Alberta. Jocelyne served in the Navy, Army and Air Force; Clint served in the Army and Air Force. They are former members of the Defense Indigenous Advisory Group, which provides advice and guidance on most Indigenous-related issues to senior military leadership. The Eastman’s agree awareness activities like this are very important. Jocelyne admits, “The outreach campaign won’t reach everyone, but it will help.”

The group was pleased that real Veterans—and not actors—were featured in the ads. In fact, each of them either made suggestions, advised on changes to the set, or brought their own military bits and pieces to make the sets more authentic and personal, earning them the additional title of “on-set subject matter experts.”

Look out for Francesca, Al, Jocelyne, and Clint in the Services for Veterans ad campaign—on various platforms and media— that started on February 26.

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