Major (Retired) Karen J. Breeck, MD, has been a tireless advocate for Veterans—particularly women Veterans—through her leadership and involvement in numerous organizations, most notably the National Association of Federal Retirees (NAFR).
Since joining NAFR in 2009, Karen has brought unwavering dedication to supporting retired military and RCMP members. From the outset, she demonstrated a remarkable ability to recruit new members, driven by her deep belief in the organization’s potential to serve Veterans more effectively.
Her proactive engagement quickly earned the attention of NAFR’s Board and CEO, leading to her appointment as the Veterans’ Voice within the organization’s strategic planning working group. It was in this role that Karen began to reshape NAFR’s approach to Veteran advocacy—particularly by identifying a critical gap: the lack of a safe, inclusive space for women Veterans to share their experiences.
With the full support of NAFR leadership, Karen led efforts to address this oversight. She championed the inclusion of women Veterans in all aspects of the organization’s work, initiating roundtables, town halls, presentations and policy discussions that brought their voices to the forefront. Her advocacy helped correct a long-standing inequity in the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), which had denied single transitioning military members the same benefits afforded to their married peers.
Karen has also contributed extensively to public discourse—writing articles, offering expert commentary and amplifying the voices of other women Veterans to ensure their experiences are acknowledged and addressed.
In 2019, she proposed a groundbreaking partnership with academic researchers to establish the Women Veteran Research and Engagement Network (WREN). Under her co-leadership, WREN has become a powerful force in political advocacy, contributing to parliamentary testimonies, policy briefings and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Alternative Federal Budget, including the first-ever chapter on Veterans.
Karen’s commitment extends beyond policy. She led NAFR’s tribute to Brigadier-General Sheila Hellstrom, Canada’s first woman General and a proud NAFR member, by curating a display of her mementos—an enduring symbol of recognition and respect.
Her work has transformed how NAFR and other institutions support Veterans, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. Karen’s advocacy spans policy reform, education, research, mentorship and direct support—making her a trailblazer in addressing systemic inequities faced by women Veterans.
Through her past and present voluntary leadership roles—including co-chairing both WREN and the Federation of Medical Women of Canada’s Women, Peace and Security Committee—Karen continues to lead critical conversations on the health and well-being of women Veterans across Canada.