Discussion and actions
March 7-8, 2024
Montreal, QC
Table of contents
- This publication is available upon request in alternate formats.
Introduction
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) would like to start by acknowledging and thanking all Veterans and their families, across Canada, for their service to this country.
From coast to coast to coast, we acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territory of all the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people that call this land home.
We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past. We all have a responsibility to consider how we can, in our own way, move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration. We reaffirm our commitment to improving relationships between nations and improving our own understanding of Indigenous peoples and their cultures.
VAC acknowledges the adversity that women Veterans have faced, and continue to face, in their service and would like to reaffirm its commitment to listen and enact change. Hosting an annual Women Veterans Forum is of the utmost importance for VAC to move forward in addressing the adversity, inequities, and challenges that servicewomen and their families face.
Quotes featured throughout this report highlight anonymous and open discussion that occurred throughout the event, not to be attributed to individuals in the photos included.
Digital artwork was created by an artist/analyst in real time during the event, and refined for presentation in the report.
Figure 1: Graphic visualization providing an executive summary of the VAC Women Veterans Forum 2024
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Transcript - Figure 1
“Executive Summary” and “Forum 2024” are printed in large yellow and green bubble letters across the top of the page. Below this on the left side of the page there is an image / icon of three people with a large speech bubble coming from the group. It reads “an annual meeting to learn, share, and discuss challenges and progress in meeting the needs of Veterans who are women”. The side of the speech bubble blurs into an image of a mountain with a person climbing up it using a rope. The person has noticeably long hair winded into a bun. Beside the rock climber there is an outlined text box that reads “a space to hear about their journey and experiences during service, through transition, and in life after service”. This text box is connected by yellow lines to another which reads “an opportunity to collaborate and ask for change”. There is also a big glowing yellow lightbulb in this textbox. The second text box is connected to a third with the same yellow connecting lines and reads “feedback will be used to improve practices, supports, and future events”. Green arrows flow from the image / icon of the three people on the left hand side of the page to this last text box. In the bottom left corner below, there is a large yellow banner that reads “Themes of Discussion”. The themes are written below the banner in bullet point form:
- Experiences of women in service
- Homelessness
- Recognition
- Service after service
- Physical and mental health
- Research, education, and awareness
A large blue tidal wave connects the banner and bullet points to the right bottom corner of the page where “this discussion built specific action items for change” is written. “Specific” and “action items for change” are highlighted in green and yellow.
About the forum
Objectives
- Meaningful engagement with women Veterans and the stakeholder community
- Learn, share, and discuss challenges and progress in meeting the individual needs of women Veterans
- Develop community-based solutions to drive change and achieve equity
Participants
VAC extended invitations to a diverse group of Veterans and community partners, with the majority of participants being women. All but one panelist were women. In total, 99 individuals attended the Forum in-person, and of those 88 were women Veterans. Another 70 individuals participated online.
Structure
There were multiple sessions throughout the Forum where facilitators posed questions and moderated discussion between expert panelists and the audience. The sessions focused on specific topics, either in smaller groups happening concurrently (breakout sessions), or as a full group (group discussions).
Discussion topics
- Hearing the experiences of women in service today;
- Hearing from community partners about the existing supports (as well as gaps) for women Veterans experiencing homelessness;
- Discussing the role that “service after service” can play in finding purpose and fulfillment after release;
- Discussing the strengths and challenges in recognition of women Veterans;
- Discussing the connection between mental and physical health;
- Generating awareness about the updates made to VAC’s Table of Disabilities and Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines; and,
- Discussing the specific ways in which the female body must be considered in injury and care.
Minister’s welcome
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence opened the Forum. The Minister expressed gratitude to participants and emphasized the importance of open and frank discussions to address tough issues and improve support for women Veterans. The Minister encouraged collaboration and input from participants and expressed eagerness to hear their perspectives over the following days.
New initiatives were announced like the creation of a Women's Health inbox – an additional communication channel for the women Veteran community to communicate with VAC on issues matter to them with respect to women’s health.
The creation of the Women Veterans Council was also announced by the Minister – a platform for women Veterans to offer VAC lived experience and expertise in achieving equity for women in the areas of health, research, access, practice, and policy to support the betterment of all women (still serving and Veterans).
Figure 2: Graphic visualization of the opening remarks at the VAC Women Veterans Forum
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Transcript - Figure 2
In the top left corner of the image there is a microphone with swirling yellows lines and stars encircling the large and bold words “meaningful dialogue”. Below this is written “the microphone is for our Veterans”. Beside this there is a yellow outlined text box that reads “we are here to listen but also to respond” – the word listen is highlighted in yellow and beside it is a drawing of an ear; the work “respond” is highlighted in yellow and beside it is a drawing of a speech bubble. Beside this there is a yellow thought bubble that reads “the path is clearer because of the women who trod before me”. Below this is a red poppy and the phrase “thank you for your service and continuous inspiration”. Below all of this and on the left is a yellow outlined textbox that reads “we can always do better” and “conversations will be taken to heart”. There is a big red heart drawn inside the text box as well. Beside this there are large red bubble letters reading “new initiatives…”. Below this there is a red outline of a cloud that reads “further discourse about pressing issues”. Two red arrows feed into the cloud. The first arrow points from a white envelope and the term “Women’s Health Inbox”. The second arrow points from an icon of people sitting at a table and the term “Women Veterans Council”.
Group discussion: Experiences of women in service today
The first group discussion was a keynote panel, comprised of women currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They shared their lived experiences in service today. They thanked all of the women who came before them, paving the way for a better service experience and openly shared the challenges still faced by women in service.
Panelists called for continued progress in creating a supportive and respectful environment for all members within the military and the RCMP. The specific need for VAC to strengthen its collaboration with the CAF on the experience of women in service was often highlighted. Participants also called for increased participation from the CAF at the next Forum.
“I think that VAC can develop and adapt existing tools to make it easier and help set us up for greater success”
Discussion emphasized that collaboration with Veteran-specific government and community- based organizations is necessary to better support women Veterans. This included mention of building trust and helping Veterans navigate VAC benefits and services to meet individual needs.
Participants suggested the creation of programs that partner with stakeholder organizations in supporting Veterans to navigate the complexities of the resource landscape.
“The reasons that women are leaving is because of reasons like… we don't have fair and equal access to childcare… and [we don’t have] a safe space or a proper, method to report sexual harassment, sexual assault, things like that”
Participants expressed mixed reactions to the updates shared about increased inclusivity in dress code in the CAF. While many felt positively, many also highlighted that the core reasons behind the CAF’s recruitment and retention challenges are factors like discrimination, military sexual trauma (and lack of a safe reporting mechanism), and insufficient access to childcare.
Figure 3: Graphic visualization of the Experiences of Women in Service Today Group Discussion (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 3
There is a large yellow and black outlined text box in the top lefthand corner of the image. It reads “there has been a variety of positive changes for women in the CAF (res and reg force) and the RCMP”. “Positive changes” is highlighted in yellow and has lines emanating from it. Flowing out of the righthand side of the text box and across to the other side of the page is a drawing of waves, coloured in blue. Under the water it reads “progress is slow but the progress made allows this generation to breathe easier”. Coming out of the words under the water is a picture of a snorkel, that surfaces above the waves. Floating around in the air above the snorkel are the words “diversity”, “acceptance”, “safe reporting”, “inclusion”, and “safe spaces”. Also above the water is a grey text box that reads “I have a lot to share and it feels so good to be part of the solution”. Below all of this on the lefthand side is a yellow outlined text box that reads “the dress code is more equitable and allows for self-expression without having to fight or provide cultural proof”. Inside the text box is a drawing of a uniform shirt, a small rainbow flag, and a necklace with a large pendant, as well as a bottle of blue nail polish. Coming from this text box is a blue outlined thought bubble that reads “does dress code reform pull focus from the underlying discrimination that often leads to women’s release?”. Three arrows point to three items written in a yellow outlined text box beside the though bubble. They read: “jumping through bureaucratic hoops”, “isolation in posted communities”, and “impacts of child bearing and care-giving responsibility”.
Breakout session 1: Women Veteran homelessness
This breakout session focused discussion around supports for women Veterans experiencing homelessness. Systemic gaps in accessing immediate, suitable housing were identified by participants and panelists.
“When we look at housing and homelessness, we do know that these are shared jurisdiction issues in Canada, and that we require strong partnerships between government departments and different orders of government”
This spotlighted the need for collaboration among community partners and various levels of government, to remove barriers that prevent women Veterans from falling into homelessness. Participants spoke about how this collaboration can only come from building trust, providing system navigation, and meeting individual needs.
“How do you get that buy in at the shelter level?... I worked with it firsthand and the buy in needs to come from education. There needs to be education to the shelter workers.”
Participants emphasized that women Veterans experiencing homelessness have difficulties coming forward, and investing in research and education is needed to improve identification and support.
Educating the public and raising awareness about the challenges faced by women Veterans experiencing homelessness can also reduce stigma and facilitate community support.
“We know that Veterans don't always identify themselves as such, which could also explain why the shelters don't really reflect the true number of Veterans who are homeless in Canada”
Participants emphasized how peer support workers with shared lived experience can effectively assist homeless Veterans in navigating support systems.
As well, participants cited gender-specific programs that address trauma and take holistic approaches as being essential, encompassing mental health, substance abuse treatment, job training, and childcare.
Figure 4: Graphic visualization of the Women Veteran Homelessness Breakout Session (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 4
Along the lefthand side of the image there are three blue outlined text boxes connected by a line. The first text box has an image of a house that is crossed out in the center. On one side it reads “women Veterans are at least 4x more likely to experience homelessness”. On the other it reads “women Veterans that experience homelessness report difficulty transitioning as a factor”. Red arrows come out of these statements in the text box to the phrase “these identities are a compounding experience”. The words “homelessness” and “identities” are written in red. The second text box on the lefthand side reads “many women Veterans do not identify as Veterans”. The word “Veterans” is highlighted. The third and final text box on the lefthand side has an icon of a person sleeping in a bed under a roof, and reads “women are under-represented in the shelter community and report re-traumatizing experiences and lack of child support services available”. In the top righthand corner of the image is a picture of grey boxes labelled one, two, and three. There is a red outlined text box with three separate arrows pointing from it to each of the individual boxes. The text box reads “services are working alongside each other but not together”. There is also a blue speech bubble coming from the boxes that reads “where the government can’t act the community can and vice versa”. Below is written “successful collaboration will require building trust and community partnership”. There are red lines emanating from that phrase. In the bottom righthand corner there is a final blue outlined text box that reads “services should: include families, meet Vets where they are, and reduce cognitive load”. Each of those items in the list are written beside a big red check mark.
Breakout session 2: Recognition
This breakout session focused on recognition and commemoration of women Veterans. Also at the Forum, participants co-created a piece of pottery curated by artist Lynette Peters. Each individual piece was a unique expression of the woman Veteran who created it. Many chose to symbolize their heritage, culture, service experience, or powerful words to describe the strength of a woman. These individual pieces will be brought together, and the finished pottery will be donated to the National War Museum of Canada to honour and celebrate women Veterans.
The importance of collaboration between Veterans, artists, policymakers, and community organizations to amplify women's voices was clearly stated by participants. Highlighted in discussion was how art can play an important role in bridging understanding between military and civilian worlds and giving voice to women’s narratives of war.
Participants discussed preference for initiatives like art installations, public education campaigns, and platforms for storytelling to highlight the diverse roles and sacrifices made by women Veterans.
“I really feel like one of the first stages of recognition is allowing us to have our own voice, make our own choices, and decide how we want to give back, not just [to] the women Veterans community, but to Canadian society”
Panelists expressed difficulties in identifying with the Veteran label, despite their service, due to factors such as not having combat experience, assumptions about their roles, difficulties in being acknowledged for their service, and the need for more representation of women in military history.
Panelists also emphasized the importance of recognizing further diversity within the women Veteran community, including First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and women of colour. Veterans called for more inclusive commemorative efforts that reflect the full spectrum of Veterans' backgrounds and experiences.
“When it comes to memorial space, there's no acknowledgment of the Métis soldiers [at] the monument. I think that with all monuments….there's a lot of voices that are not included”
Crucially, panelists also touched on the impacts of discrimination and societal barriers faced by women in their adjustment to life after service. They shared how this profoundly affects their experience of recognition – most women don’t see themselves as Veterans after they leave service. To strengthen resources for women Veterans, panelists called for stronger emphasis on self-care, self-worth, and empowering oneself and others to overcome obstacles and claim recognition.
Figure 5: Graphic visualization of the Recognition Breakout Session (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 5
This image has three pictures with yellow outlined text boxes below them. The text boxes are connected by a yellow dotted line. The first picture starting on the lefthand side is of a circular yellow mirror with an icon of a person looking into it, a question mark shown reflecting back in the mirror. The text box below reads “Veterans must reform their identities after service before they can feel truly recognized and acknowledged”. The second picture is of three different coloured arrows (red, yellow, and blue) that stem from the same place and diverge in different directions. The text box below reads “Veterans are diverse and representation in commemorative activities needs to reflect this”. The last picture is of an artist’s pallet and paintbrush, music notes, and a red heart. The text box below reads “community engagement in art can be pivotal to healing, understanding, and social wellness”.
Breakout session 3: Service after service
This breakout session focused on adjusting to life after service. Leaving military service often leads to a feeling of isolation and loss of identity. Women Veterans shared challenges transitioning out of a highly structured career in the military and finding a new path that values their past contributions.
Panelists voiced difficulties with program navigation, managing physical and psychological injuries, and facing pressures to quickly reintegrate into the workforce.
Participants highlighted the need for support from VAC and other third-party service providers, particularly around health concerns that may affect employability. They suggested the development of programs to support creative endeavours and entrepreneurship.
Lastly, it was emphasized that Veterans value volunteerism and community engagement for re-establishing their sense of purpose after service, and their well-being.
Figure 6: Graphic visualization of the Service After Service Breakout Session (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 6
Along the lefthand side of the image are blue outlined waves with an orange raft atop them drawn above from a bird’s eye view. There is a grey paddle in the raft and a life preserver trails behind it, attached to the raft. Written in black among the waves are the words “adrift”, “lost”, “need for purpose”, “sexism”, and “trauma”. There are three text boxes along the righthand side of the image, the waves flowing into them. The first reads “transition is more than a career change”. The second is highlighted in blue and reads “women Veterans need supports tailored to their unique situation and history”. The last is highlighted in red and reads “engagement with the community can be key to re-establishing purpose”.
Group discussion: Physical and mental health
There were two group discussions with different panelists that focused on the health of women Veterans – injury, physical health, and mental health were discussed. Research has demonstrated the interconnectedness between physical health and mental health and the need to address both.
“We need a lot more research about the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, what some of the impacts of different conditions are across [these aspects], and how we can have more holistic assessment and treatment of those conditions”
Participants highlighted a range of health issues faced by women Veterans, including musculoskeletal injuries, and the impacts of ill-fitting military equipment. Emphasis was also placed on reproductive health factors like conditions associated with the uterus and ovaries, childbearing, the menstrual cycle, and menopause.
“Women Veterans require tailored services to address their concerns”
Participants discussed specific research gaps and barriers in mental health care for women Veterans, stressing the stigma associated with seeking help and the importance of tailored resources and interventions to meet their needs.
“It's difficult to articulate a need for help while you are clearly on the outside functioning”
Participants discussed concerns around conscious and unconscious bias and discrimination against servicewomen that have led to care avoidance, adverse health outcomes, and misdiagnosis or dismissal of serious health concerns. They advocated for enhanced support to understand the linkages between their complex health conditions and their service.
“Survivors describe reactions to military sexual misconduct as having physical health reactions like headaches, fatigue, chronic pain, sexual difficulties, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, and reproductive health and MSK problems”
Panelists also highlighted the need for support services for women Veterans who are single mothers or caregivers, as women disproportionately perform the caregiver role.
Figure 7: Graphic visualization from the Connection Between Physical and Mental Health and the Female Body: Injury and Care Breakout Sessions (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 7
There are two large stacks of brown cardboard boxes on either side of the image. The stack on the left features one box with an outline of a human head with a scribble in place of the brain. The other boxes read “OSI”, “MST”, “Mood Disorders”, and “PTSD”. The stack on the left features one box with an outline of a heart and heartbeat. The other boxes read “Cancer”, “MSK”, “Bruxism”, and “Chronic Pain”. In between the two stacks there is an open box with yellow highlight and lines flowing out of it into two statements. The first statement is above the open box and reads “mental and physical health cannot be separated into boxes”. The other statement is split on either side of the open box and reads “health must be considered and assessed holistically”.
Figure 8: A second Graphic visualization from the Connection Between Physical and Mental Health and the Female Body: Injury and Care Breakout Sessions (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 8
In the top lefthand corner of the image there is a picture of Fallopian tubes and ovaries beside a yellow cloud-shaped text box that reads “women Veterans’ reproductive health needs are not being met”. There is then a big yellow arrow that feeds into another yellow and black outlined textbox that reads “but women’s health is about so much more than reproductive differences”. There’s a small graph icon and it also reads “there is a global lack of data on women’s health”. Below all of this there is a picture of a computer screen with a red plus sign, illegible text, and a magnifying glass pressed against the screen, magnifying a heartbeat symbol. Split across either side of this picture is a yellow cloud-shaped text box that reads “women’s health conditions often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed – for women Veterans this is exacerbated by discrimination and stigma associated with seeking help in the military. Three yellow dotted lines point from this larger text box, to three smaller ones below it, each with its own picture. There are also grey speech bubbles that read “be a man!” and “just toughen up”. The first of the three text boxes along the bottom of the image shows icons of three people with a magnifying glass on one. It reads “unique screening procedures are needed to combat conscious and unconscious bias of providers”. The second shows a pink brain and a speech bubble coming from it that says “it’s all in your head” in large text. It reads “women Veterans’ physical symptoms are often dismissed and/or perceived as mental health concerns”. The final text box shows a yellow file folder with “record” written on it. There is a red line crossing the folder out. It reads “women Veterans experience barriers accessing services because their conditions may not be documented correctly – particularly during service”.
Group discussion: Research, education and awareness
While there was not an explicit group discussion or breakout session associated with this topic, the topics of research, education and awareness came up frequently across each session.
“I have heard the word research so many times, and I understand the importance of research… What I would like to ask is if some of the research that you do could be shared with us, so we know what is happening”
Participants expressed a desire for VAC to provide greater transparency on challenges and changes made to programs, benefits, and services that affect women Veterans. This included mention of promptly communicating research findings and changes to policy and practice because of advocacy such as the Forum.
Participants also asked for a mechanism whereby women can provide input and advice to VAC on their research priorities.
Participants stressed the importance of training community members to provide support to Veterans. They mentioned that this training must include military culture, trauma-informed approaches, and cultural sensitivity.
Participants urged healthcare providers to ask the right questions and develop better relationships with Veterans, to understand their needs beyond surface appearances.
“I would like to know what the Canadian Forces Health Services and VAC are doing to combat conscious and unconscious bias”
Women Veterans shared that they are generally more truthful in discussing their injuries and challenges with their healthcare providers in a safe and trusted space.
Feedback from participants at the Forum made it clear that more clarity on VAC’s program eligibility criteria and the Table of Disabilities was needed among the community. An ad hoc session was added to the agenda to discuss the Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines and changes underway at VAC.
VAC has a team of specialists to review and update the Guidelines and Table. Examples of progress made at the time included: new entitlement eligibility guidelines on sexual dysfunction and an updated version of the table of disabilities on urinary and sexual and reproductive health.
A commitment was made at the Forum to deliver a dedicated virtual session on this topic for all Forum participants. That session subsequently occurred on April 3, 2024.
Figure 9: Graphic visualization from an ad hoc session (Women Veterans Forum 2024)
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Transcript - Figure 9
There are two parts to this image, each encircled by a yellow outline. The first part has a heading highlighted in red that reads “VAC Disability Benefit Tools”. There is a flow chart drawn from the heading with red arrows connecting five steps:
- The first step shows a picture of a paper airplane and reads “claim application”
- The second step shows a picture of a decision tree and reads “determination of disability”
- The third step shows a picture of a checklist and reads "entitlement-service relationship”
- The fourth step shows a picture of a magnifying glass and reads “assessment”
- The fifth step shows a picture of an open envelope with a document in it and reads “decision letter”
Also in this part of the image and below the flowchart, there are two large red highlighted and outlined cloud-shaped text boxes. They each have a picture beside them. The one on the left shows a picture of a checklist with one item checked off. It reads “entitlement eligibility guidelines” then has a small red arrow pointing to “policies adjudicators use to make decisions about claims”. The one on the right shows a picture of a blank table with a red arrow drawn around to indicate rotation. It reads “table of disabilities” then has a small red arrow pointing to “supports the assessment of medical impairment for eligible service-related conditions”.
A yellow dotted line connects down to the second part of the image, which has a yellow highlighted heading of “what we’ve heard”. There are three other yellow-outlined text boxes connected to the heading text box by yellow dotted lines. Each has a picture above them. The first text box, starting from the left, shows a grey maze with a red arrow indicating the turns required to exit out the other side. It reads “complex health issues experienced by women Veterans need representation in these policies”. The second text box shows a picture of a heart – half of it red, and the other half the texture of a brain. It reads “we need to understand and streamline linkages between mental and physical health concerns”. The third text box shows a judge’s mallet & gavel and reads “the simplification of adjudication and other claims-related documents needs to be an ongoing movement.
Action items
While we were able to address some concerns and answer questions at the Forum, VAC is committed to taking action for long term impact.
Organized by topic, the following commitments are being addressed by VAC in the specified timeline.
This list is not meant to be exhaustive, and changes are ongoing. Its purpose is to set goals and promote transparency and accountability.
Approximate timeline from March 2024:
- Short term (<6 months)
- Medium term (6-12 months)
Some action items were asked as part of the National Stakeholder Summit, those action items are reflected in the National Stakeholder Summit 2024 Report.
| Action items | Short term | Medium term |
|---|---|---|
| Create a Women Veterans Council to advise VAC on key issues | ✔ | |
| Create an online hub for research about women Veterans | ✔ | |
| Support research efforts around Veteran homelessness, moral injury, and a longitudinal health study | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term |
|---|---|---|
| Share diverse narratives of women Veterans’ experiences | ✔ | |
| Collaborate with educational institutions to develop programming on women Veterans’ service experiences | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term |
|---|---|---|
| Devote funding to women-specific programs and initiatives with community partners | ✔ | |
| Promote women Veteran storytelling platforms | ✔ | |
| Consult women broadly on topics for the next Women Veterans Forum | ✔ | |
| Expand the number of exhibitors at the next Women Veterans Forum | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term |
|---|---|---|
| Train frontline staff on conscious and unconscious bias | ✔ | |
| Customize service approaches to be specific to women Veterans | ✔ |
Appendix A: Forum feedback
As is standard procedure after an event, VAC sent attendees an electronic evaluation to provide feedback about the event.
- 73% attended in person
- 27% attended online
Key results are reviewed in this section, and all 74 responses have been retained. Scores were on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest score.
Values presented are average scores:
| Feedback | Average score |
|---|---|
| I had sufficient opportunity to voice my opinion and ask questions | 3.3 |
| Participating increased my understanding of the supports in place for Veterans | 3.7 |
| The content was well structured and organized | 3.7 |
| I had sufficient opportunity to network | 3.8 |
| The panelists and speakers were engaging and knowledgeable | 4.1 |
| I found the content relevant and informative | 3.8 |
| Participating met my expectations | 3.7 |
Survey respondents gave the highest average score to the engagement and knowledge of the panelists and speakers. Respondents also rated the content relevance, clarity, and organization highly, though they shared that they felt there were stakeholders missing from the conversation.
“Having the VAC Minister there for the full 4 days, showed dedication and interest in Veterans and their families - this makes me optimistic that she is listening. All of the VAC staff was very welcoming and open to listening and taking feedback. I do hope that the appropriate changes can be made to the system for more ease of navigation and access to benefits in a timely manner.”
Survey respondents provided additional insight into their feedback through written responses.
While respondents acknowledged the need for individuals to have a safe space to share their trauma and “feel heard”, many voiced that frequent focus on individual challenges, rather than systemic issues, was upsetting to others in the room. Respondents suggested that VAC incorporate more trauma-informed approaches in their event planning to ensure conversations are conducted sensitively, with a focus on promoting wellness and minimizing potential triggers for participants. Related, respondents also asked to establish rules of conduct for the event and implement effective time management strategies – this approach will be used for future forums.
Respondents asked for fewer panelists during the breakout sessions and for the opportunity to repeat breakout sessions to maximize participation and so more meaningful and in-depth conversation can occur.
Respondents made many suggestions for future topics of focus, among them:
- Sessions where individuals can meet with VAC staff on how to access VAC programs, benefits, and services
- Sessions that include success stories of transition, employment, inspiration, and finding new purpose
This detailed feedback provided by respondents will be incorporated in the planning of the next Forum in 2025, including the valuable recommendations for future events that were outlined.