FAQs

Yes. We drafted the plan in consultation with the Veterans Affairs Canada Commemoration Advisory Group and other key stakeholders. But that is only the first step. Going forward, consultation with Veterans, former and current CAF members, Veterans’ organizations, educators and other partners will become part of how we plan and deliver our programming. Their input will help ensure our remembrance programming evolves and remains relevant to Veterans and Canadians. 

Yes. The Government of Canada will continue to commemorate the key anniversaries of the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. The nature and size of the activities may change. There could also be delegations to other locations where Canadians served such as Cyprus and Bosnia.

Veterans Affairs Canada is responsible for 14 memorials overseas including Canada’s only national historic sites outside our borders. These memorials will continue to hold ceremonies to mark the First World War anniversaries that they were built to commemorate. 

Through 2021, Veterans Affairs Canada will consult with Canadians to help design future commemorative programming.  

From 18 June to 12 July we want to hear from:

• Veterans
• former and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
• RCMP and other police officers involved in international peace support operations 
• the families of those who served in uniform, and 
• the public

Later this year, we will be speaking to Veteran organizations and associations.

You can also send us your comments or material by:

• email to commemoration-commémoration@veterans.gc.ca, or
• mail documents to:

Commemoration Division

Veterans Affairs Canada
PO Box 7700
Charlottetown, PE C1A 8M9

Attn: S. Hartigan

The final outcomes and consultation report will be available on Let’s Talk Veterans and on the veterans.gc.ca website soon. This will include a summary of the input received, recommendations for future action and the draft 10-year Strategic plan for commemoration. 

Our expanded focus will help Canadians understand the contributions of those who served anywhere in the world, including here at home, since the 1950s. We will explain why our military history is relevant today. 

Our plan is to focus on a different region of the world where the Canadian Armed Forces has served, including here at home. Every five years, we would repeat these regional themes:  

• Middle East 
• Europe 
• Asia (including Afghanistan) 
• Africa 
• Americas

To tell the full story of Canada’s military history, we will: 

• Highlight the diversity of Canada’s military experience, roles and missions 
• Continue to commemorate the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.
• Help Canadians understand the contributions of those who served 
• Ensure that all who have served feel recognized
• Inspire Canadians to remember, honour and learn, with special attention to youth, Indigenous people and new Canadians

Through 2021, Veterans Affairs Canada will consult with Canadians to help design future commemorative programming.  We will use the feedback to shape our 10-year Strategic plan for commemoration. This will help us evolve remembrance programming, to make sure it is more inclusive and relevant to Veterans and Canadians.

Police officers have contributed to many of Canada’s international operations over the years. Veterans Affairs Canada wants to help Canadians remember all those who have taken part in our peace support, humanitarian and other overseas missions. We will recognize international policing efforts as an important part of commemorating these efforts.