February 2025

News

Canada and Ukraine join forces to support Veterans

Canada and Ukraine have agreed to share expertise on supporting Veterans and their families, forging a future where those who defend democracy receive the honour, care, and dignity they have earned.

Earlier this month in Surrey, British Columbia, the Honourable Darren Fisher, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Natalia Kalmykova, Ukraine's Minister of Veterans Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

It builds upon the Agreement on Security Cooperation signed last year by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Canada remains resolute in its support for Ukraine, its people, and the Ukrainian Canadian community.

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True Patriot Love Foundation helping employers hire more Veterans

Each year, about 8,200 CAF members transition from the military, with roughly half of them looking for new career opportunities. With proven teamwork, leadership and adaptability, Veterans have the talent to make them valued members on any team.

Darren Fisher, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence recently announced $910,000 through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund to support the True Patriot Love Foundation in its goal of increasing Veterans’ presence in the Canadian workforce.

Minister Fisher made the announcement at the Veteran Employment Symposium, hosted with the foundation during the 2025 Invictus Games. The foundation will use this investment to create a national network of Veteran-ready employers and improve Veteran recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention practices. We launched the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund in 2018 to assist research and projects that support the well-being of Veterans and their families.

Veterans Affairs Canada news release.

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2022 Canadian Veteran Health Survey results

Statistics Canada conducted the first-ever Canadian Veteran Health Survey for us in the fall of 2022. More than 5,000 randomly selected Veterans who said in the 2021 Census that they served in the Canadian military received the survey.

The survey says that the five most common health issues among Veterans are: 

• back problems (43.2%)
• arthritis (40.8%)
• high blood pressure (34.5%)
• obesity (29.7%)
• anxiety (18.4%)

When asked about their health:

• 39.6% of Veterans rate their health as very good or excellent, while 27.1% rate their health as fair or poor.
• 49.1% of Veterans rate their mental health as very good or excellent, while 21.1% rate their mental health as fair or poor.

The report also covers topics such as income, life satisfaction and main activities. In addition to overall results, the report also gives findings for both men and women Veterans. And, where possible, comparisons are made to the general Canadian population. The 2024 cycle of the CVHS is currently underway.

You can read the summary and full report on our website.

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Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Gerry Parris

Gerry Parris served in the CAF for 18 years—a tradition in his family. His sister June served, his father, Gerald was a D-Day Veteran and his grandfather, Seldon served overseas as part of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. When terrorists attacked the United States on 11 September 2001, Gerry was a commissionaire on the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"We had just finished our 12-hour shift and said, ‘we’re going.’”

Gerry didn’t hesitate when the call for help came. He and about 70 other commissionaires rushed to the emergency response.

Black Canadians have proudly served in uniform for over 200 years. Many have had to overcome challenges just to enlist and faced discrimination in the ranks. Despite these barriers, they still put their lives on the line for Canada. Gerry is a prime example of how Canadian Veterans are willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, whether it’s at home or overseas.

Read Gerry’s story here. This month, we encourage you to learn more about Black Canadians in uniform.

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Assembly of First Nations and VAC sign Letter of Understanding—continuing the journey towards healing

We have signed a new Letter of Understanding with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). First established in 2023, the letter outlines our shared commitment to work together in responding to the needs of First Nation Veterans and their families.Honourable Darren Fisher, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, said the letter is a commitment to listening, learning, and working together to improve services for those who served.

We continue to work toward meaningful inclusion and increased awareness of the contributions of First Nations Veterans. We also remain dedicated to providing culturally appropriate supports for Veterans and addressing barriers to access.

The collaboration between AFN and other Indigenous partners is vital to ensuring that the recognition, support, and communication we deliver are equitable and accessible for all.

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Programs and services

Cannabis self-education tool catalogue for Veterans

If you are using or thinking about medical cannabis for chronic pain, finding the right information can be overwhelming. The Cannabis Self-Education Tool Catalogue, developed with the support of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans is here to help.

This catalogue provides a curated list of free, online, self-education tools, including:

• blogs, FAQs and research articles;
• podcasts, videos and interactive courses; and
• dosing calculators and self-assessment tools.

Designed with Veteran input, it presents information that is accessible and credible, with a focus on the unique experiences of those who have served. Whether you're looking for guidance on safe usage and dosing, or potential benefits and risks, this tool puts reliable knowledge at your fingertips. Explore the catalogue today.

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Money matters—Saving for the Unexpected

A 2022 survey showed that most Veterans believe they could come up with $2,000 if an emergency happened. However, one in seven were not confident about their ability to do so.

Budgeting is an important tool to help your financial confidence. While budgets usually account for everyday expenses, they may not include an emergency fund&mdashmoney set aside to deal with the unexpected. At some point, all of us have to deal with a significant auto repair or an emergency trip to the veterinarian. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has lots of great online resources to help with this. Part of the solution could be setting up your own personal emergency fund. Learn more on their website.

If you would like to speak with a certified financial counsellor about your particular financial situation, there are resources in your community to help. For example, Credit Counselling Canada has information specifically for Veterans and their families. Getting help is free and confidential. If you would like to learn more, please visit their Veterans page.

VAC does not provide financial advice. This content is being shared for information purposes only.

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You may qualify for low-cost Internet

You might qualify for low-cost Internet through the Connecting Families Initiative if you meet any one of the following criteria:

• You receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit; or
• You receive the maximum amount of the Guaranteed Income Supplement; or
• You are single with an annual income of less than $4,000, and also qualify for the Old  Age Security (OAS) program; or
• You are in a couple with a combined annual income of less than $8,000 and also qualify for the OAS program.

No application is needed. If you qualify, you will receive a letter from the Government of Canada with steps on how to sign up. To get more information on eligibility, participating Internet service providers and available low-cost plans, or to view frequently asked questions, visit the CFI website.

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Engagement

Action items for change: 2024 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum report

2SLGBTQI+ Canadians in uniform have upheld peace and freedom at home and around the world. They deserve the respect, recognition and rights owed to all Veterans.

We recently published the Discussion and Actions Report from the 2024 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum. This annual forum provides a safe space for 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans to discuss ongoing challenges and opportunities for change.

The report outlines discussion themes as well as action items for the short, medium and long term. These action items include:

• providing support for trusted organizations delivering programs for 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans
• supporting healing events recognizing 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans
• working with CAF to share stories of LGBT Purge survivors.

Read the full report.

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Spotlight on women Veterans

Wenshuang (Wen) Nie

Wenshuang Nie says the decision to join the Naval reserves was made “on a whim.” She came out of her Regina high school gym class and saw three recruiting tables lined up next to each other, one for each military branch. But there was one in particular that caught her eye.

“The Navy was giving the best swag. It was literally a triangular highlighter that caught my attention,” she said.

When a recruiter told her stories of adventure, travel and teamwork, Wen made up her mind: she was going to join the Forces. Her parents, originally from Urumqi, China, were happy—and worried—for their daughter. Her maternal grandfather had served in the Chinese military, so her mother knew the lifestyle.

“They were a little bit worried, because they really didn’t know what I was getting into, and I didn’t either, so it was a bit of a mixed bag.”

Wen is now a member of the first Women Veterans Council and a proud member of Team Canada for Invictus Games 2025. Read her story.

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Women Veterans: Participate in important studies on your health care needs and the transition experience

The Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families is conducting two online research studies about the needs and experiences of women Veterans:

• The association between unmet health and well-being needs and mental health for women Veterans of the CAF and RCMP. Looking to understand experiences in service, health care, and the mental health and well-being of women Veterans. You can help the well-being of women Veterans, like you. Learn more about the study.
• Women’s well-being in post-service life: Evaluating the psychological, social, and systemic factors associated with transition from the Canadian military. The Atlas Institute, working with the Canadian Legacy Project is conducting a study on the experiences of women Veterans during their transition to post-service life. It aims to identify some of the most important factors that impact transition and come up with evidence needed to support the design of programs and services. Learn more about the study.

Participation is voluntary and will take 30 to 60 minutes of your time. Please share this information with your network.

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Commemoration

80^th anniversary of the Italian campaign

From 1943 to 1945, Canadians played an important role in the Second World War’s Italian campaign, fighting alongside Allied forces. It was the first large-scale European land operation in which the Canadian Army took part. They participated in many battles, pushing back German forces and capturing towns. They helped liberate Italy and contributed to the end of the War.

The fighting in Italy was particularly brutal. The Germans made use of the rugged terrain and the fast-running rivers, making the fighting difficult and costly. But still, the Canadians persevered.

In Sicily alone, they fought through 240 kilometres of mountainous country. Canadians ended their campaign in Italy 80 years ago—in February 1945. We remember the more than 5,900 Canadians who sacrificed their lives and those who continued to fight.

Learn more about Canada’s role in the Italian Campaign.

Read the statement from the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.

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Honouring Canadian service in the Americas

Every year, Canadians are invited to send Valentine’s Day cards to Veterans. This gesture is one of the many small ways we can recognize and thank them for their service—and the sacrifices they made for our nation.

Earlier this month, we took part in Winterlude, the annual winter festival in Ottawa and Gatineau, with a visual display featuring the history of the CAF around the world. This included many of the different missions and operations in the Americas, featuring the Veterans who served on them. 

From prairie floods to East Coast storms and ocean rescues. From the Halifax explosion to earthquakes in Haiti. From Canada’s North to NORAD and Nicaragua. Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members have kept us safe, sovereign and strong.

While CAF members have taken part in many missions around the world, this year, we are proud to highlight the service of Canadians on missions in the Americas and at home. A similar display was also present at the Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from 14–23 February.

As part of our Commemoration Strategic Plan, Veterans Affairs Canada is focused on ensuring Canadians understand the service of all Veterans, regardless of where or when they served. Want to learn more about some of the individuals or content featured on our display panels? Visit our website.

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Sharing the love on Valentine’s Day

Veterans from across the country received an outpouring of appreciation and gratitude through the Valentines for Vets program again this year. Canadians of all ages participated in what is now an annual tradition—making and sharing hand-made cards with Veterans in their communities—both in person and online using the hashtag #ValentinesForVets.

In Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Valentines were delivered to members of Team Canada as they prepared to compete in the Invictus Games 2025—an international event supporting Veterans and CAF members’ recovery through sport, recreation and camaraderie.

Learn more about Valentines for Vets and how to participate next year.

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Commemoration calendar

March

March 1: The 2^nd & 3^rd Canadian Divisions commenced the Battle of Hochwald in Germany (1945)

March 2: Operation Laser was first activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, with an escalation to Phase 3 of the operation on March 13 (2020)

March 5: Air raid on Chemnitz, Germany. The RCAF lost 18 of 185 bombers to accidents and enemy defences (1945)

March 10 and 12: The RCAF’s second and third “paper kills” against Japanese balloon bombs were claimed near Ganges Harbour, Saltspring Island, B.C. and Rupert Arm, B.C. by No. 133 Sqdn. and No.6 Bomber Reconnaissance Sqdn. respectively (1945)

March 17: HMCS Guysborough was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off Ushant (1945)

March 23: Start of “Operation Plunder”, Canadian units cross the Rhine River and attack Emmerich and Hoch Elten ridge to secure a bridgehead (1945)

March 23: A Canadian naval convoy on the way to the Caribbean rescued thirteen survivors from the wreck of the Greek bulk carrier Leader L near Bermuda (2000)

March 31: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan officially came to an end (1945)

March 31: HMCS Conestoga, (Galt, ON) the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service training establishment, was paid off (1945)

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