2024-2025 Annual Report

As part of the Board’s ongoing efforts improve to access to justice by enhancing communication to Veterans and their families, representatives from the Board attended various stakeholder and Veteran-centric events throughout the year.

• 49th RCL Dominion Convention – The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) holds its Dominion Convention on a bi-annual basis to discuss issues that are important to Veterans. Board representatives were honoured to attend this event in Saint John, NB, and foster strong connections with the Veteran community.
• 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum - Board Member, Nancy Miller and two staff members attended the 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum in Fredericton, NB. This forum provided an opportunity to learn more about the challenges and needs of 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans.

• ANAVETS Dominion Command Convention – Every two years, the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) organization holds its Dominion Command Convention. Board representatives attended this event in Sherbrooke, QC, which provided an opportunity to speak directly with Veterans and their families.

• CIMVHR - The Deputy Chair, and Board Member Patrice Carrière attended the 2024 Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum in Winnipeg, MB. This Forum brings together stakeholders from various sectors to explore ways to improve services for military personnel, Veterans, and their families.

• Métis National Veteran Council – This past year, the Chair met with the Métis National Veteran Council for the first time in Charlottetown, PEI. The meeting offered a meaningful opportunity to explore the distinct challenges faced by Métis Veterans.
• Women Veterans Forum – This past spring, Board representatives attended the 2025 Women Veterans Forum in Ottawa, ON, a two-day event to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women who have served in the CAF and RCMP. It provided the Board with the opportunity to speak directly with women Veterans and learn about their distinct needs and challenges they have in regards to obtaining the benefits they are entitled to for service-related disabilities.

The Board takes pride in attending commemorative ceremonies throughout the year to honour the sacrifices of our country’s brave service members. These ceremonies are a great way to preserve military history and act as a powerful reminder behind the important work that we do. The following outlines some of the commemorative events from the 2024-2025 year.

• 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: The Board participated in multiple events across the country to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. These events were a wonderful way to honour the courage and sacrifice of our Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944, shaping the course of history and securing our freedom.

• Tomb of an Unknown Newfoundland First World War Soldier: The Deputy Chair attended ceremonies in Newfoundland to commemorate the return of the remains of an unknown soldier who died in northern France during the First World War.

• Veterans’ Week 2024 - During Veterans’ Week 2024, the Board was honoured to attend and participate in various commemorative events across the country. These events included the annual Candlelight Tribute in Ottawa, Senate Ceremony, Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony, Turn to Busan, and Remembrance Day ceremonies. A highlight of the week was hosting a Veteran panel at our office in Charlottetown. During this session, we heard from active and retired service members regarding their careers in the Canadian Armed Forces. The information and stories shared were highly impactful for all those in attendance.

The Board values continuous learning and professional development as it provides staff and Members with the ability to stay up to date on issues that relate to Veterans. Educational sessions also foster a sense of pride in the work we do while promoting inclusivity. The following items highlight some of the key learning and professional development events that took place over the 2024-2025 year.

• Board Members - The Board was pleased to welcome 16 new Members who were appointed through the Governor in Council process. These new Members received specialized training on various topics including legislation, administrative law, the weighing of evidence, military issues, medical conditions, the conduct of hearings and decision writing. Later in the spring, all Board Members attended a week of training in Toronto. This marked the first time all of our existing and new Board Members came together to learn about emerging issues is key to ensuring the best outcomes for Veterans.

• Diversity and Inclusion – As part of the Board’s ongoing commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, we hosted various education sessions for staff and Members. Highlights included a presentation by the Autism Society of PEI to learn more about autism spectrum disorder and how to create a more inclusive and welcoming work environment for all, as well as a transformative Learning Circle about Two-Spirit, the LGBT Purge and the trauma-informed approach led by an Indigenous Veteran and Purge survivor.
• Mental Health in the Workplace – Board staff were given the opportunity to attend Mental Health in the Workplace sessions by the Joint Learning Program. The Joint Learning Program (JLP) is a collaborative initiative between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat that offers workshops to promote healthier, more inclusive, and respectful workplaces through dialogue and shared learning. These one-day Mental Health in the Workplace sessions, attended by staff and management, provided participants with the skills to proactively and effectively support their coworkers and promote a psychologically safe and healthy workplace.