Francis Champagne (left) and Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight (right).
Francis Champagne is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran and has been a member of Veterans UN-NATO Canada for 11 years and a member of the Laurentians chapter of Veterans R22eR, Vimy Section 1917 for seven years. He devotes much of his time to helping Veterans, especially those who are in precarious circumstances or experiencing homelessness and who have been left to fend for themselves in the greater Laurentian region.
He is ever concerned about the well-being of his peers and stays up to date on the guidance, information and services offered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and all other related organizations so that he can provide as much knowledge as possible to support and help any Veteran requiring assistance. When necessary, depending on the situation or the needs of the Veterans, he assists them or refers them to various Veterans’ groups and organizations. He also supports them when needed throughout the process, going so far as to sometimes even personally offer them transportation or financial assistance. He keeps in contact with the various Veterans’ organizations through social networks and asks for the necessary help or support in terms of housing, furniture, transportation, labour, etc.
For more than 11 years, he has been planning and organizing weekly and/or monthly social gatherings and activities that bring together a great many Veterans, both at his home and at local restaurants, in order to take them out of their routines and break their social isolation. These get-togethers offer veterans the chance to meet up and forge friendships, share a sense of solidarity and esprit de corps, make new acquaintances, and receive moral support, which is always greatly appreciated by everyone who attends.
As president of the Vimy Section 1917 chapter, Laurentian region and Western district Canada area, for R22eR, Francis has often welcomed Veterans to his home for several hours at a time, offering advice and guidance on administrative matters. Among other things, he has assisted with opening their files so that they can benefit from psychological help or any allowances they may need.
In addition, on several occasions, Francis has helped Veterans in financial difficulty. Here again, by taking the time to listen to Veterans and offering his administrative support, he has helped them take the necessary steps to obtain emergency loans from VAC for people in financial need so that they can support themselves and their families.
The steadfast involvement and dedication that he shows through his actions, his listening skills, his understanding and, above all, his immense empathy towards Veterans who are experiencing hardship helps a lot of people, enabling them to maintain their dignity and confidence.