9 December 2025
13:00 – 16:00 (ET)
Virtual via Microsoft Teams
Advisory Group Members (Families and Recognition)
- Amanda Anderson
- Caitlin Bailey, Vimy Foundation
- Simon Coakeley (co-chair)
- Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Charles Gendron, Royal Canadian Legion
- Andree Gracie
- Dr. Sean Graham, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence
- Derrill Henderson, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada and Hong Kong Veterans Association of Canada
- Heather Hook
- Robert Jardine
- Namita Joshi, True Patriot Love Foundation
- Laryssa Lamrock
- Superintendent (Retired) Dave LeBlanc, RCMP Veterans Association
- Colonel (Retired) Telah Morrison
- Nora Spinks (co-chair)
- Lia Taha Cheng, Royal Canadian Legion
- Dr. Lee Windsor, University of New Brunswick, Gregg Centre
Veterans Affairs Canada Officials
- Sylvie Thibodeau-Sealy, Director, Policy, Learning and Recognition, Commemoration Division
- Kristy McGuigan, Senior Analyst, Community Engagement
- Jeff Gallant, Manager, Community Engagement
- Cary Ryan, Senior Operations Advisor, Community Engagement
- Elizabeth Hughes, Project Officer, Community Engagement
- Megan MacKinnon, Program Operations Assistant, Community Engagement
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
- The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
- Michael Hamm, Director of Policy
Observer
- Jamie Morse, Office of the Veterans Ombud
Regrets
- Kara-Lee Casselman, Canadian Armed Forces
- Anne Hurtubise
- Tamara Kleinschmidt, Trenton Military Family Resource Centre
- John Moses
- Rodney Parcher, Canadian Armed Forces
- Brian Prairie, Metis National Veterans Council
- Yvonne Watson
Land acknowledgement, welcome and opening remarks
The VAC co-chair opened the meeting by welcoming members and providing a land acknowledgment. The VAC co-chair reviewed the agenda with the group.
Minister of Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined the meeting and expressed her gratitude to the group for their dedication and hard work. She acknowledged the progress achieved to date and emphasized the value of the members’ insights. The Minister noted that continued collaboration will be essential as they shape ongoing work of the Department and shared her appreciation for the honesty and expertise that each member brings. She concluded by expressing her anticipation for the group’s accomplishments in 2026 and wished members a wonderful holiday season.
Review of Previous Record of Discussion (23 September 2025)
The VAC co-chair provided a brief review of the 23 September 2025 Record of Discussion. She invited any comments or concerns regarding the document; none were raised, and it was accepted as presented.
Declaration of Gratitude
The VAC co-chair reviewed the Department’s proposal for a new Declaration of Gratitude—a short recitation designed for ceremonies where living Veterans or serving members are present, to convey appreciation for their service. The Department recently sought feedback from Advisory Group members via email and received substantial input. The VAC co-chair addressed concerns about its purpose, stressing that this declaration is not intended for Remembrance Ceremonies. Instead, it is meant for use in other programming or events where the focus is on recognizing living Veterans and active service members.
Joint Recommendations
The VAC co-chair noted that certain topics are relevant to all Advisory Groups and may be submitted as joint recommendations. One such topic is Mental Health Support for Families. Many members attended a recent presentation for the Advisory Groups by the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) on Mental Health Treatment Benefits for Family Members, in their Own Right.
The member co-chair encouraged the group to share any relevant information they come across or discuss in other forums. One member highlighted her ongoing work focused on improving mental health support for families.
Review of Draft Recommendation Report
The VAC co-chair reviewed the draft recommendation report, which includes the mandate, focus areas, key discussion themes, and detailed recommendations—each accompanied by its rationale, evidence, a summary of discussions, and anticipated outcomes. The final version is due to the Minister by 31 May 2026, with March meetings dedicated to reaching agreement and finalizing the content.
The group had a brief discussion about how to formalize their recommendations and decided to work collaboratively as a single group rather than splitting the tasks among individual members.
Review of Priority Recommendations (Theme 1): Family Recognition Day / Events
The member co-chair led a discussion on establishing a dedicated day or event, separate from Veterans’ Week, to recognize Veteran families. Members noted existing forms of recognition happening in communities, such as local radio ads, Military Family Appreciation Day, and school-based initiatives.
The group discussed opportunities to build on current efforts, increase awareness across communities, and encourage local and regional recognition. They also emphasized that any new initiatives would require time, coordination, and oversight to ensure they are meaningful and achievable. If a broader, national initiative is pursued, it would require government or organizational support, with leadership from VAC, CAF, or DND. Recognition could evolve from the private, Military community, or National level.
Review of Priority Recommendations (Theme 2): Public Awareness and National Campaigns
The member co-chair led a discussion on public awareness and national initiatives, highlighting that awareness can be advanced through a range of approaches, including coordinated campaigns and recognizable symbols. Members noted that while many organizations are working to raise awareness, these efforts are often fragmented and would benefit from greater alignment.
Suggestions focused on using existing awareness opportunities more effectively and strengthening recognition initiatives at the national level. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that any recommendations are sustainable, achievable, and offer practical value for the Minister. Education was identified as a priority area, with discussion around improving the visibility and accessibility of existing resources, including for diverse and newcomer audiences. Members also discussed the importance of encouraging broader participation across organizations.
Review of Priority Recommendations (Theme 3): Tangible Symbols of Family Recognition
The member co-chair opened a discussion on the use of tangible forms of recognition for families. Members discussed various approaches to acknowledging family contributions and highlighted the importance of personalizing recognition where appropriate.
The group emphasized that recognition should be meaningful and extend beyond a single moment. Consideration was given to the suitability and significance of different forms of recognition, with discussion around ensuring they are appropriate to the level of contribution being acknowledged. The member co-chair underscored the importance of clearly defining who is being recognized, by whom, and for what purpose, and emphasized that recommendations should be clearly articulated, effectively implemented, valued by the community, and aligned with the group’s objectives.
Closing Remarks and Next Steps
OMVA offered closing remarks and gratitude. The VAC co-chair thanked members for their time, dedication, and passion to the Advisory Group. The co-chairs wished everyone a happy holiday season.
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 5 March 2026.