Question Period Note: RECOGNITION

• As Canadians, we take immense pride in the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces. Their unwavering commitment to our country and to global peace and security is a powerful reflection of our national values — courage, integrity, and honour.
• Whether through commemorative events, learning materials in our schools, public acknowledgements, or personal stories, recognition strengthens the bond between Canadians and those who defend our freedoms.
• At Veterans Affairs Canada, we have a unique responsibility and privilege to lead this recognition. By honouring service, we help foster national unity and pride, and we ensure that future generations understand the sacrifice behind the peace we enjoy today.

VAC's mandate is to support the well-being of Veterans and their families and to promote recognition and remembrance of the achievements and sacrifices of those who served Canada in uniform. Feedback has shown that Veterans’ well-being improves when they feel recognized and that VAC plays an important role in fostering this recognition.
In the past, commemorative programming was developed to focus primarily on the World Wars and the Korean War and, as a result, modern-day and under-represented Veterans have not felt recognized. This was identified during public consultations in 2021 to support creation of VAC’s 10-year Strategic Plan for Commemoration, which revealed that Veterans, stakeholders and Canadians at large supported:
• recognizing efforts of the World Wars and Korean War, but noted the scope of commemoration should place greater emphasis on post-war conflicts, operations and service;
• recognizing and commemorating domestic operations such as the defence of North America, sovereignty protection, search and rescue, and emergency disaster relief; and
• encouraging more interaction between Veterans and youth with a focus on active youth participation in commemorative events and activities.
Many younger individuals who served in the CAF often do not see themselves as Veterans. This may be due to a social perception of what a Veteran is (i.e., a ‘traditional’ Veteran of the World Wars or the Korean War).
Although women have served with distinction across all branches of the CAF, their unique experiences and sacrifices have yet to be formally recognized through a dedicated national observance. In 2024, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs published the report “Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans,” which included a series of recommendations to improve on the recognition of Canadian women Veterans. The department is exploring approaches to better commemorate women Veterans and to provide a meaningful platform to honour their contributions, highlight their distinct perspectives, and educate Canadians about the evolving role of women in uniform.
The National War Memorial is a tribute to all who have worn or wear the uniform. To reinforce the message, the “In Service to Canada” inscription was added in 2014. While the “In Service to Canada” inscription was added to remind Canadians that the monument is dedicated to all those who served and continue to serve, the message is not understood clearly.

QUICK FACTS & FIGURES
• To date, VAC has hosted 87 Commemorative Events in FY 2025-26, both in Canada (75) and Overseas (12)
o 2025 saw another successful Veterans week with more than 220 events (11 of which were VAC led) tracked across the Canada (of which a VAC and/or GOC representatives attended 133), including 117 events on 11 November specifically and 15 Indigenous events.
o The team supported events from coast to coast to coast.
o There was VAC support and attendance at 62 No Stone Left Alone ceremonies across the country during Veterans’ Week including the active participation of hundreds of students.
o We also hosted 3 events in France during Veterans week
• To date this fiscal year, 3.3M commemorative learning products have been distributed this fiscal year.
• To date this fiscal year, 2025-26, the Commemorative Partnership Program has approved 192 projects, totalling $3.3M in funding.
• Veterans Affairs Canada maintains the grave markers of more than 250,000 Veterans in approximately 8,000 cemeteries across Canada—each marker a tribute to service and sacrifice.
• We oversee the day-to-day operations and interpretation of 15 Canadian First World War memorials in Europe, including the Canadian National Vimy and Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorials. The two sites welcome over 700,000 visitors annually.
• Commemorative recognition programming being developed will allow VAC to:
o Continue to honour Veterans at home and abroad, while expanding scope and reach to include a greater focus on modern-day and underrepresented Veterans.
o Provide the opportunity to drive commemorative programming within Canada, helping to foster national pride and unity.
• Actions to deliver on these commitments align with Canadians views, as per the “Attitudes Towards Remembrance and Veterans’ Week 2024: Survey of Canadians,” where:
o 94% agreed that Canada’s Veterans and those who died in service should be recognized for their services to Canada.
o 62% attributed importance to marking anniversaries related to military efforts in Canada.
o 86% attributed importance to honouring and recognizing the contributions of Veterans and military personnel who served Canada in more recent operations.
Women Veterans
• Although women have served with distinction across all branches of the CAF, their unique experiences and sacrifices have yet to be formally recognized through a dedicated national observance.
• In 2024, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs published the report “Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans,” which included a series of recommendations to improve on the recognition of Canadian women Veterans.
• The department is exploring approaches to better commemorate women Veterans and to provide a meaningful platform to honour their contributions, highlight their distinct perspectives, and educate Canadians about the evolving role of women in uniform.
National War Memorial
The National War Memorial is a tribute to all who have worn or wear the uniform. To reinforce the message, the “In Service to Canada” inscription was added in 2014. While the “In Service to Canada” inscription was added to remind Canadians that the memorial is dedicated to all those who served and continue to serve, the message is not understood clearly.
• The Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada (stakeholder group) has requested that the Gulf War dates be inscribed on the National War Memorial. There are differing opinions among Veterans on recognizing conflicts on the monument in addition to the five already inscribed. Further consultation with stakeholders is planned.