Report on discussions and actions
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 do this to reaffirm our commitment to improving relationships between nations, and to improving our own understanding of Indigenous peoples and their cultures.
The National Stakeholder Summit (Summit) – which took place 5-6 March 2024 in Montreal, QC – was a forum for presentation, open discussion, and networking. The Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence announced the Summit will be held biennially, every two years, to maintain open dialogue.
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 through further analysis of event transcripts.
Figure 1: Graphic visualization providing an executive summary of the VAC National Stakeholder Summit 2024
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Transcript - Figure 1
“Executive Summary” and “Summit 2024” are printed in large yellow and green bubble letters across the top of the page. Below this title there is a grey cityscape across the length of the page. Along the skyline of the cityscape and continued beneath it, read the words “a time for the Veteran community to come together to connect, discuss, and plan for change”. The word “Veteran community” is highlighted in green, and arrows point in amongst the buildings of the cityscape listing the various stakeholders of this community:
- Veterans
- Service members
- Families
- Service providers, including local health systems as well as community based organizations
- Researchers
- Advocates and other supportive groups
- Government departments
Below the cityscape from left to right there are first green arrows that create a circle. Beside this symbol is written “VAC’s Ministerial Advisory Groups work year round to make recommendations that improve programs, benefits, and services for Veterans”. Yellow lines encircle and connect this to the right side of the page where it states “Summit is a time to share about this work and gain perspective from the wider community” – a green eye is drawn beside the words “gain perspective”, which is highlighted. Yellow lines also encircle this statement and connect to a statement below that reads “feedback will be used to improve future events, practices, and supports”. In the bottom left corner, there is a large yellow banner that reads “Themes of Discussion Impacting Veterans’ Well-being”. The themes are written below the banner in bullet point form:
- Recognition
- Homelessness
- Transition
- Research
- Employment
- Families
- Peer Connections
- Access to Supports
- Inequities
- Education & 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.
About the summit
Objectives
- Listen to stakeholders about how to better support the Veteran community on core issues
- Exchange ideas and create stronger connections among stakeholders and community partners
- Understand how the larger stakeholder community’s insights relate to those of the Advisory Groups
Participants
In total, there were 171 in-person participants and an additional 117 virtual participants.
When the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence presented the National Veterans’ Employment Strategy, there were a further 195 virtual participants.
Participants’ backgrounds spanned many disciplines, but all were either Veteran stakeholders, Veterans themselves, and / or representatives from community-based organizations (including non-profit and advocacy organizations).
Throughout this report there are tables that highlight the stakeholder groups to which the Summit’s presenters and panelists belong.
Discussion topics
- Exploring commemorative programming with a focus on the service and sacrifice of modern Veterans;
- Outlining what supports are in place to establish trust and support for Veterans who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness;
- Listening to community partners share the opportunities that exist to better support Veterans and their families through transition;
- Generating awareness of work and new research on addressing chronic pain and improving the health of Veterans and their families;
- Sharing supports available to military families in communities across the country;
- Hearing from community partners on their lived experience in the power of connecting with peers;
- Receiving an overview and update on the National Veterans’ Employment Strategy.
Minister’s welcome
In her opening remarks, Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor shared her commitment to listening and meeting with Veterans and applying what she learns from those conversations to make services and benefits work better for Veterans and their families. In her address she expressed thanks to her six Ministerial Advisory Groups and asked participants to prioritize several things throughout the Summit: listening to one another, learning from one another, improving connections between Veterans, and exploring the resources that are out there to support Veterans and their families.
Figure 2: Graphic visualization of the opening remarks at the VAC National Stakeholder Summit 2024
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Transcript - Figure 2
At the top of the image there is a timeline with the years 2019 and 2024 marked. The marking for 2024 is bolded and highlighted in yellow, stating “together in Montreal – VAC National Stakeholder Summit”. Above the marking for 2024 there is a blue alarm clock that is ringing. Beside it is written “first summit in five years… long overdue”. To the left of the clock there is a speech bubble reading “thank you for your advocacy”. To the right of the clock there is a red poppy with the words “thank you for your service” encircling it. Below the timeline there is several text boxes and symbols that will be described from left to right and top to bottom. The first text box reads “sharing and discussing the findings from VAC’s Ministerial Advisory Groups is a priority”. Drawn in the text box are several speech bubbles with large red exclamation points and question marks. The next textbox depicts a blue megaphone and reads “the Summit will now take place every 2 years”. The next textbox has a large red maple leaf and reads “this government is committed to working with our partners to address current and emerging issues for Veterans”. Yellow lines encircle this text box and a large image of the earth, which also has an arrow depicting the earth’s rotation. Text beside the earth reads “collaboration is ongoing, with CAF, DND, community partners, etc. to improve service delivery, strengthen transition services, and improve online tools and data sharing between departments”. There is also an icon of shaking hands drawn on the other side of this text.
Keynote panel: Invictus Games athletes
For the Summit’s keynote panel, former Invictus Games athletes and family members shared how the games provided them with a sense of belonging and a safe space to express themselves after service. Panelists highlighted the recognition they received from competitors and supporters in other countries. Being thanked for their service on the international stage through the games was highlighted as a key positive influence on their overall wellness.
Figure 3: Graphic visualization from the Invictus Games Keynote Panel at the VAC National Stakeholder Summit 2024
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Transcript - Figure 3
The top lefthand corner of the image shows “Invictus Games” printed in light red bubble letters. The letters I, A, and M are in yellow so the phrase “I Am” appears highlighted. Below this is the phrase “compassion in the room” with red hearts encircling it. To the right of the bubble letters is a marathon finish line, with words underneath stating “the spirit that cheers on the last one across…”. Below all of this are two textboxes. The first reads “creating community for those with service-related injury / illness”. The word community is highlighted and has two outstretched arms (like a hug) growing from it. The second text box reads “enabling Veterans to take off the mask that they’ve built during service and show true emotion”. Within the text box there is an icon of two masks, one behind that shows tears falling, and one in front (covering the majority of the one behind) that has a smile.
Breakout sessions
These sessions had facilitators who posed questions and moderated discussion between expert panelists and the audience. Each panelist shared a brief introduction about their organization at the beginning of the session before responding to specific prompts and questions, generating discussion.
Recognition
The Commemoration Advisory Group worked on initiatives related to recognition and commemoration. They focused on identifying success stories, potential gaps, and potential challenges related to recognition of “modern Veterans” – those who have served after the Korean War (post-1953).
This Advisory Group was committed to identifying innovative ways of recognizing service, going beyond the culturally embedded practices of commemoration for major wars and conflicts.
Figure 4: Graphic visualization from the Commemorating Modern Veterans Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 4
A textbox with red accents and a red maple leaf in the top left hand corner. It matches other textboxes throughout the report – one for each Ministerial Advisory Group. To the right of the maple leaf is the title “Commemoration Advisory Group”. Below is printed “focused on VAC’s engagement with Canadians in paying tribute to all those who have served Canada”. The word “all” is highlighted. Below this is a rough timeline highlighted in blue. The years marked are 1910, 1930, and 1950; and at the end of the timeline is a yellow magnifying glass over the words “modern Vets”. Printed along the year markings is the phrase “major wars and conflicts”.
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Lockyer | Directorate of History & Heritage (DND / CAF) | Sarah Lockyer is a forensic anthropologist who works to identify remains of those who served in historical conflicts and educate communities about their stories. |
| Tim Cook | Canadian War Museum | Tim Cook is a historian who hosts a program for sharing Veterans’ stories at one of the world’s most respected museums for the study and understanding of armed conflict. |
| Angèle Séguin | Théâtre des Petites Lanternes | Angèle Séguin is a playwright, bold artist, and committed humanist who promotes the arts in individual and societal healing. She launched a milestone theatre production that reflects Canadian service members on stage. |
| Diane Pitre | Rainbow Veterans of Canada | Diane Pitre is a Veteran and advocate for the rights, benefits, and recognition of all 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans and purge survivors. |
| Russell Grosse | Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia | Russell Grosse is a historian and native of the historic Nova Scotia multi-generational Black community of Cheryl Brook, who hosts programs and events focused on art and education about Black Veterans. |
| Mike McGlennon | Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada | Mike McGlennon is a Veteran and advocate for Canada’s contributions in the Persian Gulf and for special duty area Veterans who are not officially considered “wartime Veterans”. |
Group discussion
Discussion emphasized the importance of recognizing all Veterans and ensuring that commemorative focus is maintained on the varying experiences that Veterans have, from war time to modern day missions.
“There are so many people who have yet to be recognized because we're all familiar with our commemoration practice… [it] has been so very much focused in a certain way for a century. It's culturally embedded in the way, in the fabric of how we understand the nation. And as a result, there's some people we've forgotten”
Participants expressed the need to “modernize” commemorative efforts in order to fully acknowledge diversity in Veteran service (and commemorative experience). Participants asked VAC to do more than just talk about the past.
“The theme or thread that runs through [commemoration] is education because so few Canadians are familiar with the nature of service… [Particularly on] a range of missions that often went under the political radar, under the media radar… And it's all about capturing every mission and every type of service”
Reformation of public education about Canadian military history, serving member, and Veteran experiences was identified as central to achieving equity in recognition and commemoration.
“Really focusing on the individual, on the human connection, on the emotional connection, really sort of brings that sort of commemorative aspect forward for a lot of people”
Several Veterans spoke about groups they felt still have not been equitably recognized and commemorated, including:
- Women
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Indigenous
- Black and races other than white
- Those who have served in modern combat (Gulf War, Afghanistan, Rwanda)
- Those lost to suicide
- Those who served in domestic deployments
- Reservists
“I think it gives Veterans’ identity. When you think of marginalized communities like the Black community, Indigenous communities, I think that families and the Veterans… never saw themselves as Veterans… I think that the work that's being done now, in commemoration [of] individuals rather than groups… I think creates an opportunity… where we then can get that personal connection and get a greater understanding”
Figure 5: Graphic visualization summarizing the Commemorating Modern Veterans Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 5
At the centre of the image is an open cardboard box with yellow rays shining out of it. Printed in large capital letters coming out of the box is the phrase “we need to start thinking outside the box”. There are three phrases printed and highlighted above this that intersect with the rays as well. They are in an arch from left to right:
- Balance recognition of wartime and modern service
- More than just a Remembrance Day ceremony
- Recognizing a Veterans’ legacy and not their name on a list
Veteran homelessness
The Care and Support Advisory Group worked on initiatives related to Veteran homelessness. They focused on identifying concrete actions and strategies that can be used to re-establish trust amongst the Veteran community at risk of or experiencing homelessness. VAC is working on a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness among all of Canada’s Veterans, including equity-deserving communities such as Indigenous and women Veterans.
Figure 6: Graphic visualization from the Veteran Homelessness Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 6
A textbox with red accents and a red maple leaf in the top right hand corner. It matches other textboxes throughout the report – one for each Ministerial Advisory Group. To the left of the maple leaf is the title “Care and Support Advisory Group”. A bold arrow comes from the title to the words “ensure access to appropriate care and support for ALL Veterans”. To the right of these words is a ticked checkbox. Below this is written “specific focus and holistic support is needed for Veterans experiencing housing instability”. To the left of this phrase is an image of a home with a red “X” through it and to the right is an image of a couch.
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Lowther | Veteran Emergency Transition Services (VETS) Canada | Debbie Lowther is a military spouse and the co-founder of VETS, a charity that assists homeless Veterans and provides support to those facing difficulties of any kind. |
| Morgane Huguet | Old Brewery Mission | Morgane Huguet is a counsellor and program coordinator who works directly with Veterans experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. |
| Marla Newman | Good Shepherd Ministries | Marla Newman is a social worker who provides a broad range of compassionate programs and services to enhance quality of life for the homeless. |
| Alan Mulawyshyn | Veterans’ House Canada | Brigadier-General (Retired) Alan Mulawyshyn operates Veterans’ House Canada – the only federally registered non-profit organization that provides permanent and supportive housing to homeless Veterans. |
Group discussion
“A Veteran’s journey is personal… Each Veteran is an individual and if we are going to be working together to end homelessness for Veterans, that needs to be first and foremost… a personal journey, and we need a relationship first model that is founded on trust.”
Participants clearly expressed the significant need for improved care and support for Veterans experiencing housing instability and / or homelessness, including but not limited to:
- Brick-and-mortar infrastructure
- Wraparound services that consider all facets of health and well-being
- A “no one size fits all approach”
- Re-building trust with the Veteran community
“We have to demonstrate that we can be an anchor for these people and that we are trustworthy in the way that we offer our services, and that we can really be with them all along the path… [If we] have a complement of services and supports… that will allow us to build trust with Veterans”
Figure 7: Graphic visualization summarizing the Veteran Homelessness Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 7
The top left of the image shows a person looking into the mirror with several speech bubbles coming out, reading respectively:
- How long did you serve?
- Did you deploy?
- Inside or outside the wire?
Below there is a text box that reads “Veterans may not identify with this term or be aware of the support that this makes available to them”. Coming from this textbox is a road that extends to the other edge of the page that reads “it’s a journey”. There are three location pins on the road. The first is service, the second is release, and the third is transition. Below the service location pin, there are bold letters stating “we need to focus on prevention”. Above it, there is a text box that contains a picture of an open book and it reads “education about transition and benefits after service, and their requirements, needs to start early”. At the end of the road there is a text box reading “community partnership to deliver all needed services in a coordinated manner”. There is also the word “jurisdictional barriers” in the text box with a large red strike through it. Below the road there is an image of a forest and mountain that reads “homelessness is prevalent in rural communities and most resources are in urban centers”.
Transition
The Service Excellence and Transition Advisory Group worked on initiatives related to Veterans’ transition experience from military service to post-military life. They focused on studying the supports and services available for Canada’s Veterans, as well as concrete actions that can be taken to improve the transition process for CAF Veterans, RCMP members, and their families.
Figure 8: Graphic visualization from the Transition Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 8
A textbox with red accents and a red maple leaf in the top right hand corner. It matches other textboxes throughout the report – one for each Ministerial Advisory Group. To the left of the maple leaf is the title “Service Excellence and Transition Advisory Group”. A thought bubble comes out of the title, reading “What are the gaps or challenges we should consider in care and support of Veterans?”. Below the thought bubble is a magnifying glass with the phrase “need for focus on transition”. In the bottom corner of the text box is a road with a car on it. At one end of the road is “CAF” and at the other end is “VAC” and written and highlighted between them is the phrase “smooth collaboration”.
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Noonan | Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Transition Group | Colonel Lisa Noonan offers personalized, professional, and standardized casualty support and transition services to all CAF members and their families. |
| Lorne Brett | Shaping Purpose | Lorne Brett is a Veteran and advocate who offers online courses made for Veterans in transition. For eligible Veterans, this is covered by VAC. |
| Hélène LeScelleur | Quatre-Chemins | Captain (Retired) Hélène LeScelleur offers bilingual online and in-person community events and workshops for those going through transition. |
| Namita Joshi | True Patriot Love Foundation | Namita Joshi is a leader at True Patriot Love Foundation, which funds research and community-based programs focused on supporting military members, Veterans, and their families. |
| Tara Jones | Agilec | Tara Jones is a leader at Agilec who provides services for Veterans including: interview preparation, career assessments and coaching, resume, cover letter and document development, and more. |
Group discussion
Discussion started with a shared understanding that transition is a profound period of identity adjustment, when Veterans need to find a new sense of purpose. It was cited as a journey that is unique to individual Veterans and that always requires support long before release.
“The way we kind of socialize people [in the CAF] in order to get the level of commitment and dedication we want out of them… that made them more vulnerable as they started to transition to civilian life”
The challenge of finding a family doctor was frequently mentioned and referenced as central for successful access to VAC benefits and services.
VAC is exploring the accessibility of telemedicine for Veterans, to fill the healthcare gap experienced during transition. This was discussed and supported by participants.
“There's stigma for taking on Veterans, especially if they have had mental health injuries, mental health conditions… [It is important] to kind of break down those barriers and encourage [providers] to take [Veterans] on as patients”
Participants also advocated for more education of providers about taking on Veteran clients to improve access and military cultural competence for Veterans in the civilian health system.
It was discussed that coordination of between VAC and the CAF is paramount for seamless transition of care before and after release. Veterans shared that while these governmental departments should lead these efforts, other federal, provinical/territorial, and municipal governmental departments, community-based organizations, and educational institutions were also identified as having a role to play.
“While some people may have had similar journeys, know where they'd like to go, how they'd like to get there… what support [is needed] is different for everyone. Early engagement [with transition services] prior to release has been proven to be very valuable to help develop comprehensive transition plans”
Stakeholders and Veterans acknowledged significant progress, but voiced that the pace of release, burdensome paperwork, access to providers, and training or lived experience in military culture remain as barriers.
“My benefits for my medical didn't go through because somebody didn't fill out the paperwork when I released. Like there's no accountability, but I'm always held accountable”
Participants highlighted the importance of streamlining the administrative process of release, specifically medical paperwork that is required, so that the burden is shifted off of Veterans.
Figure 9 and 10: Graphic visualization summarizing the Transition Breakout Panel
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Transcript - Figure 9
In the top left corner a text box reads “the CAF makes major decisions on behalf of service members about location, occupation, and services”. Beside this text there is an icon of a person exiting a door with a briefcase in their hand. There are two thought bubbles coming from their head reading “what am I going to do?” and “what is my purpose?”. There is another text box beside it that reads “attempting to make these decisions at transition can be overwhelming”. The word “overwhelming” is highlighted. In the bottom left hand corner is an image of a person laying on a couch. Beside it is written “Veterans are prone to experience decision fatigue, feelings of paralysis, and feeling irrelevant”.
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Transcript - Figure 10
Central in the image is a large building with a path leading up to it and a sign. The sign reads “Rx (prescription) required”. Below the building it reads “barriers to service access during transition come in many forms…”. Above the building there are highlighted red clouds that read respectively:
- Provider capacity and competency
- Provider availability
- Confusing paperwork
Veteran health research
The Mental Health Advisory Group worked on examining research evidence and taking action to improve Veteran mental health. This session welcomed panelists from the Canadian Institute for Military Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families to share the progress they are making in health and well-being research on behalf of the Veteran community.
Figure 11: Graphic visualization from the Veteran Health Research Panel
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Transcript - Figure 11
A textbox with red accents and a red maple leaf in the top right hand corner. It matches other textboxes throughout the report – one for each Ministerial Advisory Group. To the left of the maple leaf is the title “Mental Health Advisory Group Mandates”. The mandates are written as follows:
- Take action to improve the mental health of Veterans experiencing addiction
- Identify how VAC can commemorate Veterans who have died by suicide
- This bullet point depicts a Venn Diagram (two overlapping circles) with “TBI” written in one circle, and “PTSD” written in the other. Beside the diagram reads “interaction and symptom overlap between conditions”
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Held | Canadian Institute for Military Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) | Dr. Nicholas Held is a senior scientist involved in CIMVHR’s leading work in military and Veteran health research, and strong international collaboration to better understand the health and well-being of those who’ve served Canada. |
| Ramesh Zacharias | Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans | Dr. Ramesh Zacharias is a physician who is committed to research and knowledge translation around evidence-based treatments for Veterans experiencing chronic pain. |
| Fardous Hosseiny | Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families | Fardous Hosseiny is a leader for Atlas Institute’s work focused on the mental health of Veterans and their families, including research, education, and sharing information. |
Group discussion
Participants expressed concern that research knowledge is not being operationalized in their communities. Some voiced concern that researchers are not collaborating effectively to enrich findings and avoid duplication of work. Veterans asked for prioritization of research knowledge to action, including understanding how to implement new knowledge in the policy framework.
“My concern that I would like to raise today is the apparent overlap between each of your centre’s work. I’m concerned that there’s a lack of communication and collaboration between your organizations”
Veterans also highlighted that the support landscape is difficult to navigate – specifically, knowing who to go to for addressing their different concerns. Veterans asked that researchers and service providers be accountable as they build their skills in trauma-informed care, deepen their understanding of military culture, and learn about culturally appropriate care.
“You can't tell a six-month-old what terrorism means… Those violent words aren't spoken to a child… I'm having those hard conversations now when she's 15 years old, ‘Why was my dad in Afghanistan and what does the Taliban mean?’ And I need some support, right, to, to have these conversations. And when I reach out to psychotherapists and to counselors, they do not possess military cultural competence”
Veterans spotlighted several areas that require further research, including moral injury, institutional betrayal, the impacts of military recruitment, and the impact of service- related exposures on their health.
“We know we're damaged… I can attest to numerous others in this audience that I know firsthand who have also been impacted young with cancer post-Afghanistan”
Figure 12, 13 and 14: Graphic visualizations summarizing the Veteran Health Research Panel
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Transcript - Figure 12
There is an image of a microscope beside an outlined and highlighted title that reads “Canadian Institute for Military Veteran Health Research”. Below this in the center of the image is an icon of the earth with the words “five eyes collaboration” encircling it. On either side of the icon reads the phrase “there are many similarities in military service experience amongst the five eyes; the collaboration promotes international collaboration to steer research priorities by working together”. There are two arrows pointing from the center icon to two other phrases in the left and right corners respectively. On the left there is a heart icon and the phrase “advance research for military Veteran and family well-being”. On the right there is an icon of a document and the phrase “create rapid policy recommendations for emerging issues in this population”.
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Transcript - Figure 13
In the top left corner there is an outlined and highlighted title that reads “Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families”. Beside this a text box reads “focused on Veteran mental health in the overburdened and difficult to navigate Canadian health system”. The word “focused” has a magnifying glass instead of the “o” and the terms “overburdened” and “difficult to navigate” are written in red. Below this there is text that reads “approach is… trauma-informed, equity-focused, and informed by military culture”. Below this there is a ticked checkbox in red that has text beside it reading “engagement with Veterans and families informs research priorities”. From this text there is a red arrow feeding into another textbox that reads “research, educate, and inform in the best way” and has several icons: a piece of paper, a Wi-Fi signal, a pause / play button, and an open book. Above this is an image of a home with a heart inside. In a square around the house is the phrase “keeping family at the center of all work”.
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Transcript - Figure 14
In the top left corner there is a highlighted and outlined title that reads “Chronic Pain Center of Excellence”. There is a speech bubble coming from the title. In the speech bubble there is a pocket watch with a circular arrow that indicates ‘around the clock’. In the speech bubble it reads “I remain extremely optimistic in our continued ability to find evidence-based treatments for Veterans with chronic pain”. Beside this there is a textbox that reads “chronic pain caused by discrimination needs recognition and specific treatment”. The word “discrimination” is highlighted in red. Below all of this in the bottom lefthand corner is a yellow highlighted text box with the phrase “engage the community about the overburden of chronic pain for Veterans”. The words “overburden of chronic pain” are in a yellow cloud that is piled on the back of a person, who is visibly struggling to carry it. There are three arrows coming from the yellow text box with phrases that read as follows:
- Promote awareness
- Guide and conduct relevant research
- Move knowledge to action
Beside this there is a coin that says “for women Veterans service is like flipping a coin”. An arrow points to further description, reading “50% experience chronic pain” and “50% experience mental health issues”. Between these two statistics there is a bridge connecting the phrases that reads “sexual and psychological distress”.
Families
The Advisory Groups on Families and Policy worked on initiatives related to family, and joined efforts to explore how VAC can better support and include military Veteran family members.
Figure 15: Graphic visualization from the Veteran Health Research Panel
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Transcript - Figure 15
A textbox with red accents and a red maple leaf in the top left hand corner. It matches other textboxes throughout the report – one for each Ministerial Advisory Group. To the right of the maple leaf are the terms “Policy Advisory Group” and “Families Advisory Group” with red highlighted linkages between the two and the term “strategic partnership”. Below this is an image of a pillar with the following written beside it: “Families are known for taking care of Veterans, but have their own unique challenges, culture, and identity”. There is a blue square bracket beside this text that points to large red letters stating: “attention, resources, research required”. At the bottom of the box there is a large blue question mark and text that reads “How can VAC better support and include military Veteran family members. Beside this there is an image of blue arrows passing through a sheet of material and the words “through a lens of health equity”.
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Patricia Lingley-Pottie | Strongest Families Institute | Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie is a nurse, researcher, and leader who offers a virtual system of evidence-based mental health and well-being care for children, youth, adults, and families in Canada that takes a family-centric lens. |
| Phillip Ralph | Wounded Warriors | Captain (Retired) Phillip Ralph specializes in group-based Operational Stress Injury (OSI) programs for Canada’s Veterans, first responders, and their families. |
| Polliann Mahar | Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families | Polliann Mahar is a military spouse and advocate who focuses on research for families of those who’ve served, and mobilization of this knowledge into action. |
| Steve Critchley | Can Praxis | Steve Critchley is a Veteran who offers specially designed equine-assisted therapy for Veterans and first responders living with OSIs (and their spouses). |
Group discussion
During the discussion, it was made clear that family members are impacted by the health of serving members and Veterans not just during their service, but throughout their lifetime. Furthermore, service impacts family dynamics in nuanced ways.
“When you're deployed, the people you're shoulder to shoulder with are your family… Then we send you home, and now you're supposed to take the people that are at home as your primary family. This does have an effect on kids and [the family].”
Social connections and networking were cited as critically important in reaching most Veterans and families.
Veterans also asked that they be allowed to identify and define who their individual family members are, beyond the traditionally defined “nuclear family”.
“Children’s ability to communicate to their family members about difficult emotions in validating ways and bolstering social support and understanding of PTSD is protective… and minimizing the risk that trauma can have in families.”
The need for research and programming for military children and youth was highlighted in the discussion. Programming that the panelists spoke about considered neurodivergence among military children and youth and examined evidence of intergenerational transmission of trauma from parents to children (for a range of physical and mental health conditions, including chronic pain).
“When I think about the lived experiences of RCMP officers and our families, they're so similar to CAF… So, I just really hope that these services do become available for RCMP. And that word gets out that we are Veterans as well.”
Veterans voiced the need for consideration to be given to the experiences of RCMP members, service spouses, caregivers, and any others that support Veterans.
Figure 16: Graphic visualization summarizing the Veteran Health Research Panel
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Transcript - Figure 16
In the top left corner there are outlines of three people, one of them smaller, perhaps a child. A red heart pops out above them. Then there is blue bubble letters that read “Families”. Directly to the right of this there is a phrase that reads “support needs to come from the whole community, making someone aware of the resources available to them can save their life”. “Whole community” and “save their life” are capitalized. “Whole community” is capitalized and has two arrows pointing out from it, as well as a symbol of a megaphone making noise. After “save their life” there is a heartrate symbol from an ECG. The remainder of the infographic has four cloud-shaped text boxes, with phrases and images in them.
The first reads “operational stress injuries are experienced on multiple levels by all individuals in a family network”, then highlighted, “how do we break this cycle?”. There is also an image that features “OSI” in bubble letters, with arrows encircling all the words “Veteran, family members, spouses, children” and the phrases “symptom triggers” and “multigenerational effects”. There are lines as if to indicate where to cut, and small scissors drawn cutting through the encircling arrows.
The second text box says “Veteran parent or caregiver conditions can impact children uniquely”. Beside it there is an image of a blue pacifier. Dotted lines fan out around the phrase with the following written at the end of each line, “self-blame”, “domestic violence”, “isolation”, “stress & walking on eggshells”.
Connecting the second and third text boxes is a small image of a silhouette of a child’s head with their brain large and glowing. There is also text that reads “many children of Veterans are neurodivergent and learn, think, and perceive differently”.
The third text box has a picture of a large tropical houseplant with a watering can beside it pouring water into its blue clay pot. Text reads “while there are clear impacts on children and family member health as a result of service, there is also resiliency – with skills, family members can support Veterans and protect themselves”. “Resiliency” is highlighted.
The fourth text box says “more educational and skill building courses for families are needed that focus on communication” – “communication” is highlighted. There are speech bubbles drawn in the text box coming out of the words.
There is a last phrase along the bottom of the infographic under the text boxes that reads “families don’t need things to be dressed in roses or performative commemoration”. The word “roses” is in bubble letters and a large rose blooms in place of the “o”.
Peer connection
The final breakout session explored peer connection in detail. Stakeholders spoke about the importance of peers in the healing journey for “equity-deserving Veterans”.
Please note that the term “equity-deserving Veteran” throughout this report is defined as any Veteran, or group of Veterans, that is experiencing inequity.
| Name | Organization | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy Priestman | The Pepper Pod | Cathy Priestman is a Veteran and leader at the Pepper Pod, who builds a safe community for women Veterans through in-person retreats and other peer connection programming. |
| Shoba Ranganathan | The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) | Shoba Ranganathan is a leader at the SMSRC, and supports programming that connects serving members, Veterans, families, and caregivers - who have experienced or are experiencing sexual misconduct - with available supports. |
| Jamie Lefevre | MAMAWI Facebook Group | Jamie Lefevre is a servicemember who works with other Indigenous servicemembers and Veterans to connect through Facebook, share their experiences, and support one another in their healing from occupational stress injuries. |
| Kareth Huber | Rainbow Veterans of Canada | Kareth Huber is a Veteran and advocate who uses storytelling to connect 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans and purge survivors so that they realize they are not alone in their journey. |
Group discussion
Participants emphasized that equity-deserving Veterans need to be prioritized and included in new programs, policies, and research, with consideration given to their historical under- representation in these areas.
For many Veterans, but especially for those who were equity-deserving, access to benefits and services was a key issue and was described as “difficult to navigate”.
Veterans voiced the need for a central and easy to navigate resource directory that would connect them with all needed programs, benefits, and services.
“You guys are putting so much emphasis and focus on structured supports, when there is so much more that's available out there in informal peer support… [it can be] more effective and it's more lifesaving with members… having the informal supports”
Participants shared the need for government and community-based peer support programming for all Veterans, but particularly for equity-deserving Veterans healing from trauma, discrimination, and / or service-related injury.
Some limitations identified, included but not limited to:
- Lack of national programs
- Need for sustained funding to community programs
- Increased need for informal (versus formal) peer support programming
Figure 17: Graphic visualization from the Peer Connection Panel
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Transcript - Figure 17
Central in this image is a large silver zipper that seems to be closing for an outline of a person, who has a question mark on their head. Their red shirt reads “informal peer support is critical for Veterans”. There are arrows showing upward motion of the zipper and each side of the unclosed zipper end is labelled. One reads “provincial / territorial health systems” and the other reads “service and insurance providers”. There are two text boxes at the bottom of the infographic. The first states “with multiple stakeholders being involved in service provision, there are gaps” – “gaps” is highlighted. The second states “VAC and community based organizations are working to ‘close the seam’ for Veterans”. “Close the seam” is highlighted.
The voices of equity-deserving Veterans
The Summit participation included diverse representation from equity-deserving Veteran communities including those who identify as Indigenous, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The following subsections highlight their voices and input into discussions.
The voices of Indigenous Veterans
Indigenous Veterans and those who support them spoke to their heterogeneity as a group and expressed the need for better inclusion and reflection in policies through further engagement and research.
“We're not a homogenous group… My experience is not the same as any First Nations people, of which there are hundreds of nations, with very different lived experiences”
They also shared the need for a safe space to connect with VAC to obtain support and services that honour their Indigeneity.
Specifically highlighted was the desperate need for more culturally appropriate programs, benefits, and services.
“Finding a space where I'm actually not going to be harmed again in the same ways that I'm currently trying to heal from is very challenging”
During the Summit, there was a Sharing Circle for Indigenous Veterans where senior leaders at VAC were able to hear, reflect, and receive action items for change.
“The transition with Indigenous people that were in residential schools and then put in the army and then the trauma that they experienced when they came out… They have to experience both traumas, from the residential school and plus the army, and nobody really looks at it because they don't really want to tell their story”
The steps VAC has made towards reconciliation in the preceding year were discussed, including the work of the recently established VAC Indigenous Veterans Engagement Team. This team was created to connect directly with Indigenous communities around the country to build trust and increase awareness of VAC programs, benefits, and services for Indigenous service members, Rangers and Veterans.
Figure 18: Graphic visualization summarizing the voices of Indigenous Veterans and their input into discussions
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Transcript - Figure 18
In the top lefthand corner is a bolded text box that states “the Canadian military is connected to the historical mistreatment of Indigenous peoples and resulting inter-generational trauma”. Along the left side of the infographic, and coming from the text box, is a picture of a large blue flowing river with outlines of trees on either side. Highlighted and written amongst the water is the phrase “this inequity is perpetuated now through denial of coverage for culturally appropriate treatments”. Along the river bed is several phrases written with arrows flowing and connecting between them: “residential school”, “military”, “assimilate”, “carried through families”.
There is a blue square bracket beside the trees and an image of a fingerprint being erased by a large pink eraser. There is text that says “this systematic erasure of Indigenous identity left many not identifying as a Veteran, and not knowing where to turn”. There is a pink arrow pointing out of the river’s end that connects to a cloud-shaped text box that reads “treatment that relies on traditional culture, spirituality, and ceremonies is needed”. There is a dotted line connecting to another could-shaped text box that reads “particularly for mental health concerns and chronic pain”. Beside each is an image – a brain, and a blue bottle of pills.
Along the right side there is a final cloud-shaped text box that encircles a colourful compass. There is text that reads “many Indigenous Veterans live in northern, rural, and/or remote locations where service access is limited”.
The voices of 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans
During the Summit 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans shared their experiences of discrimination, physical, and mental abuse based solely on gender and/or sexual orientation. For most, these experiences during service profoundly affected their health and well-being.
“When the apology happened and we won our class action suit, suddenly we were allowed to be Veterans. Suddenly we were allowed to have benefits. Suddenly the world changed. But we also still didn't know about each other… Bringing a bunch of [purge] survivors together for the first time and seeing the look of shock on their faces, they realize that they're not alone anymore and they don't have to be silent anymore”
Survivors of the LGBT Purge spoke up about the need for increased organizational awareness and education about the impact that this period of systemic discrimination still has on members of this community.
Overall, stakeholders expressed that there is still much education needed for those providing supports to ensure that re-traumatization and barriers to access do not occur for gender and / or sexually diverse Veterans, and purge survivors.
The voices of Women Veterans
This Summit brought together more women Veterans than any previous Summit. Women courageously shared their lived experiences and highlighted the need for meaningful application of sex and gender-based analysis. The discussions highlighted that women Veterans feel there are “limited seats at the table” for them – the impact of this was a cited competitive culture and decreased connection between service women and women Veterans.
“I still find it taxing to re-enter a system where I believe there's a lot left to do to better support women, gender diverse individuals, and those who experience military sexual trauma”
Figure 19: Graphic visualization summarizing the voices of women veterans
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Transcript - Figure 19
The left of the image shows the silhouette of a head with a tight bun – the brain highlighted. There is a large hand pointing to the head, attached to text that reads “women are often told ‘everything is in your head’”. The text attached to the hand is connected by a dotted line to text attached to the head. This text reads “particularly symptoms from trauma, assault, sexism, unfairness at work, and ‘othering’”. Coming from all of this is a large yellow arrow pointing to the right of the image, and text that says “we need to change the narrative”. There is a yellow highlighted text box on the right hand side and an image of a table with many seats. In the center of the table is a female gender symbol. The text inside the box reads “we need to hear women and make more space for them…
- At decision-making tables
- In research
- In policies
- In programs, benefits, and services”
Presentation: National Veterans’ Employment Strategy
The Summit’s final presentation focused on the launch of the National Veterans’ Employment Strategy. Minister Petitpas Taylor provided participants an overview of the strategy that was created based on extensive consultation with the Veteran community, Canadians, Veteran-friendly employers, unions, and industry leaders.
It was built on a shared vision: that Veterans experience a smooth transition to the civilian labour market, where they find opportunities for meaningful employment in the career of their choice.
The strategy’s four objectives:
- Improving and expanding supports and services for Veterans, including recognition of Veteran skills and experiences
- Supporting employers by promoting Veteran hiring/retention, increasing employer engagement and military cultural competence, and establishing a network of Veteran-friendly employers
- Establishing the Public Service as a leader for Veteran employment, improving the hiring process, and creating shared prioritization for Veteran employment across all levels of government
- Building strategic partnerships, focusing on those that are community-based
Many incredible organizations that support Veterans were profiled and highlighted in the presentation, as was the clear need to strengthen their collaboration. Emphasis was placed on the importance of the strategy being “evergreen” and adaptable, prioritizing consideration for the unique experiences and needs of equity-deserving Veterans.
The Strategy built upon an existing foundation of supports already in place at VAC that include:
- The Veterans Employment Unit
- Career Transition Services
- Education and Training Benefit
- Vocational Rehabilitation Program
The idea that transition and post-service employment looks different for each and every Veteran underscored the discussion. It was also acknowledged that for some Veterans, employment may be mainly about finding purpose after service. The discussion highlighted the need for the strategy to consider employment equity and consider opportunities for Veterans that meet their individual needs.
Veterans shared that employment opportunities differ for commissioned and non-commissioned officers. While Veterans of different ranks have access to the same VAC programs, participants voiced that career prospects for commissioned officers were more plentiful and generally less physically challenging. Veterans offered specific ideas for change including innovation of hiring practices and ensuring the translation of military trade certifications to equivalent civilian credentials.
RCMP Veterans and their family members spoke up about the fact that VAC considers retired RCMP members as Veterans and provides them certain benefits and services, yet their unique needs do not appear to be emphasized in the strategy. They asked for strengthened collaboration between VAC and Public Safety Canada in the provision of programs, benefits, and services for RCMP Veterans.
Figure 20: Graphic visualization summarizing the voices of women Veterans
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Transcript - Figure 20
The base of the infographic shows a large historic building made of pillars. Written across the roof in bold green letters is “VAC National Employment Strategy”. There are various phrases written underneath the roof, as if they are supporting it. Written first from left to right is “census data” and a generic image of a bar graph. Then, “identifying and providing adequate support and services to Veterans”. Next, “educating employers about the value and ‘how to’ of hiring Veterans”. Next, “establishing the federal public service as a leader for Veteran employment”. Next, “improving and developing strategic partnerships between VAC and stakeholders”. Lastly, written underneath an image of many raised hands and speech bubbles is “extensive Veteran community consults”.
Above the building as if resting on top of it are a series of text boxes. The first is shaped like a large briefcase, and has “employment at transition looks different for every Veteran” written on it. The writing continues into a large green arrow, stating “and depends on military service characteristics, sociodemographics, and other factors”. From this there is a speech bubble that reads “there is no ‘one size fits all’”. The next series of text boxes are all in a cluster and connected my dotted green lines. They read as follows:
- Next to an image of a shining lightbulb, “a Veteran may want to try something new after service”
- Next to an image of an award ribbon, “they may want to transfer their skills or qualifications”
- Next to an image of an old school sand timer, “they may be ready to retire or have many working years left”
- “They will have varying levels of physical and mental abilities that may require support”
- “Some are unable to work and may need support finding new purpose” – purpose is highlighted”
- Lastly, and boldly highlighted is: “need for a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the unique employment-related needs of releasing CAF members”
Action items
While some questions and concerns were rectified at the Summit, VAC also committed to taking action for long term impact. Organized by theme, the following commitments are being worked on in the specified timeline. This list was not meant to be exhaustive, and changes are ongoing; its purpose is to set goals and promote transparency and accountability.
* Some of the following action items were requested both at the National Stakeholder Summit and again at the Women Veterans Forum, those items are identified by an asterisk
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educate the community about the importance of recognition for service, regardless of type or duration | ✔ | ||
| Create educational materials that tell a more inclusive story of service | ✔ | ||
| Create educational materials that highlight the role and sacrifice of military families | ✔ | ||
| Create commemorative programming that is dedicated to individuals’ service and stories | ✔ | ||
| * Develop educational programs bridging the military-civilian gap, by sharing diverse narratives of women Veterans' experiences to foster public understanding and appreciation of their contributions | ✔ | ||
| Build recognition of the impacts of service (e.g., illness, injury, trauma) into commemorative practices | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promote support available to at-risk and homeless Veterans in northern and rural areas | ✔ | ||
| * Identify risk factors for homelessness while members are in service so that a safety net of support can be established/identified prior to release | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provide more training to transition staff on Reservists needs and challenges | ✔ | ||
| Place Indigenous Transition Advisors in Transition Centres across Canada | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
|
* Follow through and translate research knowledge to Veterans, especially where military, Veterans, and families participated in research studies |
✔ | ||
|
Share collaborative research about military, Veteran, and family health done within Five Eyes countries |
✔ | ||
|
Share CanPraxis evidence surrounding intergenerational trauma |
✔ | ||
|
Prioritize research on:
|
✔ | ||
|
Sustained commitment of funding to community partners who support Veterans and their families |
✔ | ||
|
* Create a central repository for all military and Veteran health research within VAC’s website |
✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families in delivering training to health professionals on military culture | ✔ | ||
| Enrich peer support programming for families | ✔ | ||
| Provide specific mental health supports for RCMP families | ✔ | ||
| Tailor supports and services to accommodate family dynamics | ✔ | ||
| Create a new Veteran-based definition of “family” | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share results from relevant McMaster University studies | ✔ | ||
| Conduct a roundtable discussion with the community on healing from Indigenous Trauma | ✔ | ||
| Develop alternative Indigenous healing services | ✔ | ||
| Create a directory of Elders in communities across the country for transitioning members to be connected with | ✔ | ||
| Increase availability of health professionals (doctors) in rural and northern areas to complete VAC paperwork | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch a de-bunking campaign to dispel common myths about accessing VAC benefits | ✔ | ||
| Simplify processes for Veterans in accessing benefits and understanding their entitlements | ✔ | ||
| Review the $20,000 earnings limit for the Vocational Rehabilitation program | ✔ | ||
| Direct federal funding to provinces and territories to improve Veteran access to mental health services | ✔ |
| Action items | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop a repository of Veteran community partners on VAC’s website | ✔ | ||
| Expand the number of community partner exhibitors at future events | ✔ |
Appendix A: Summit feedback
As is standard procedure after an event, VAC sent attendees an electronic evaluation to provide feedback about the event.
- 75% attended in person
- 25% attended online
Key results are reviewed in this section, and all 111 responses have been retained. Based on the feedback, participating met the expectations of many Veterans. Survey respondents on average gave high scores to the relevance and informativeness of the Summit’s content, the opportunity it provided to network, and particularly the engagement and knowledge of the panelists and speakers.
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 | 3.5 |
| Participating increased my understanding of the supports in place for Veterans | 3.8 |
| The content was well structured and organized | 3.8 |
| I had sufficient opportunity to network | 3.9 |
| The panelists and speakers were engaging and knowledgeable | 4.2 |
| I found the content relevant and informative | 3.9 |
| Participating met my expectations | 3.9 |
The following are key highlights from participant’s written responses to the survey:
- Many referred to the desire for more collaborative group work where stakeholders could work together and present their ideas on behalf of the group.
- Some voiced the need to make it clear to all stakeholders that the intent of the Summit is to discuss work in the Veteran community, and not to solicit funding and/or business.
- Respondents appreciated the virtually accessible and user-friendly platform.
- Some suggestions included having fewer sessions concurrently and having less panelists, so more can be presented and discussed thoroughly.
This detailed feedback provided by respondents will be incorporated in the planning of the next Summit in 2026, including the valuable recommendations for future events that were outlined.