Frequently Asked Questions - Women Veterans Council

Creation of the Council

1. Why was a Women Veterans Council created?

Women Veterans have told VAC they want a consistent and meaningful way to share their ideas and discuss how to improve benefits, programs, and services. This feedback was gathered through the Women’s Forums (2023 in Ottawa and 2024 in Montreal), roundtable discussions and conversations with community partners. In response, VAC hosted roundtable discussions beginning in October 2023 to seek direct input on the creation of an advisory body.

From those conversations, the Women Veterans Council was established. Its creation was also supported by a recommendation from the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs’ study: Invisible No More. The Experiences of Women Veterans, which called for a dedicated advisory body for women Veterans, reporting directly to the Minister.

2. What does the Council do?

The Women Veterans Council provides advice to the Minister on key issues related to women Veterans, including health, research, access, practice, and policy. Women Veterans’ lived experiences and collaborative working relationships with VAC will help address inequities and barriers experienced by women.

3. When was the Council formally launched?

The Minister announced the first members of the Women Veterans Council on 2 December 2024.

The Council held its first official meeting on 29 January 2025, marking its formal launch and the beginning of its work.

4. Who was eligible to apply and become a member of the first Council?

Women Veterans and currently serving women in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were invited to apply to become members of the new Women Veterans Council. We sought applications from women with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences.

5. Who reviewed applications and how were Council members selected?

Women Veterans helped shape the selection process and criteria through roundtable discussions beginning in October 2023. These discussions informed the Council’s terms of reference and identified priorities for inclusion, representation, and lived experience.

Based on this input, VAC established a volunteer Assessment Board composed of women Veterans and currently serving women members of the CAF and the RCMP. The Board played a key role in designing the selection process to ensure both the process and criteria reflected the lived experiences of service women and Veterans All members of the Assessment Board received trauma-informed training to ensure the process was sensitive and inclusive.

The assessment process had two phases:

• First, the Board conducted a blind review of all applications and scored them using established screening criteria.;
• Next, applicants who received top ratings were invited for virtual coffee chats. These informal conversations allowed the Board to ask follow-up questions and better understand each candidate’s interests and ability to contribute to the Council’s goals.

To ensure an inclusive and representative Council, the Assessment Board considered a variety of factors, including: years of service, service occupation, deployment experience, geographic location, first official language, and other diverse identities. These identities may include race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other lived experiences that shape how individuals experience military and post-service life.

The Board then submitted their final recommendations to the Minister. All 12 women recommended by the Board were appointed to the inaugural Council.

Applications not selected were retained for future engagement or consultation opportunities with Veterans Affairs Canada.

6. What is the Assessment Board and how were Board members selected?

The Assessment Board was formed following a series of roundtable discussions hosted by VAC in October 2023 with women Veterans. During these discussions, participants helped shape the Council’s terms of reference and provided input on the selection process. These participants – among some others engaging with VAC at the time – were invited to join the Assessment Board for continuity from early conversations.

The Board was made up of women Veterans and currently serving women, including individuals from equity-deserving communities and diverse lived experiences. Many of these individuals testified during the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs’ study on women Veterans, with their testimony shaping how the Government of Canada can improve the support and services it provides to women Veterans, and the post-service care they receive.

7. What if I don’t see my service experience reflected in the Council?

The Assessment Board took an intersectional approach when selecting Council members, considering a wide range of factors beyond rank or trade such as culture, language, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, geography, health, and family life. As a result, the Council includes individuals with diverse lived experiences, including those who served in “purple trades,” - roles that support and operate across all branches of the military (Army, Navy, and Air Force), rather than being tied to just one.

If you feel your service experience isn’t reflected, we encourage you to share your perspective through the Women Veterans Council inbox. Your input helps ensure that a broad range of voices continues to shape the Council’s work moving forward.

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Governance and structure

8. Who does the Women Veterans Council report to?

The Council reports to the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Engagement Team, part of the Community Engagement Division at VAC, acts as the Council secretariat. This team of departmental staff provides administrative support to the Council, including coordinating meetings, preparing the records of discussions, and supporting the Council co-chairs as required.

9. How many times a year does the Council meet and what do meetings entail?

The Council meets formally four times per year.

Members serve as knowledgeable individuals, drawing on their experiences as service women and Veterans. During the meetings they study key issues and make recommendations to the Minister on how the Department can improve supports for women.

10. How long is a Council member’s term of appointment?

Council members are appointed to a one-year term, with the option to extend up to a maximum of three years.

This structure is outlined in the Council's terms of reference.

11. Do Council members receive compensation?

No, Council members do not receive compensation. Members may be reimbursed for reasonable and pre-approved expenses for the work of the Council in accordance with the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Event and Conference Expenditures. For example, travel for in-person Council meetings.

12. Does the Council make decisions for Veterans Affairs Canada?

No. The Council provides advice and recommendations to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, but final decisions on how or whether to implement them are made by the Minister and the Department.

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Reporting

13. How can I follow the work of the Council?

The record of discussion from each meeting will be published on the Women Veterans Council page. We’ll also be sharing updates on our social media channels and in our Salute! newsletter.

You can sign up for the Women Veterans’ distribution list by emailing the Women Veterans Council inbox. Please include your name, email address and a brief description of your service. This will ensure you receive relevant updates and notifications about upcoming engagement opportunities.

The Council will produce an annual report highlighting its recommendations and key activities. This report will be shared publicly through the above channels once available.

14. Who will receive my email to the Council, and what will be done with the information I share?

Emails sent to the Women Veterans Council inbox are managed by the Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Team: a group of departmental staff within the Community Engagement Division at Veterans Affairs Canada. This team acts as the Council’s secretariat.

The team reviews incoming emails to ensure urgent matters are directed to the appropriate area within Veterans Affairs Canada. Your email is then shared with the Council so your perspectives and ideas can help guide the Council’s recommendations. Personal information is removed prior to sharing with Council members.

The team also monitors emails for common questions and updates this FAQ page to provide answers for the broader women Veteran community.