After a short pause, Salute! will return later this summer with a new publication schedule. Beginning in September, look for each edition at the start of every month.
We will return with the same commitment to Veterans and their families, providing the information they need for a successful transition to post-service life and celebrating their service to Canada.
See you in September!
In this edition:
- News
- The 2026 VAC National Client Survey is approaching
- Census 2026: Count yourself in
- Programs and services
- Hire a Veteran, strengthen our workforce
- Take part in a study on women Veterans’ reproductive and mental health
- New Summer Peer Support Activities
- Seeking women Veterans for a study on mental health and support needs
- Free help with VAC forms
- Indigenous History Month
- Culturally safe supports for Indigenous Veterans
- Indigenous Peoples: If you served, you deserve support
- Indigenous Veterans Engagement Team: Connecting through community
- Veterans’ stories
- John Shiwak: An exceptional sniper during the First World War
- Solomon Awa: a proud Ranger
- Engagement
- Her Story, Her Strength: 2026 Women Veterans Forum
- Engaging with 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans: 2025 Forum summary report
- Commemoration
- Inspecting and repairing Veteran grave markers
- Commemoration calendar
News
The 2026 VAC National Client Survey is approaching
The 2026 VAC National Client Survey is currently underway and we hope you will be a part of it. The survey results help us to better understand your health and well-being and will inform how we deliver benefits and services. You may receive a call from Phoenix Strategic Perspectives Inc. (Phoenix SPI) to participate.
Approximately 3,750 surveys will be completed by a random sample of Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members, and family members who have received VAC benefits or services within the last 12 months or may also have other VAC applications in progress.
Participants will be contacted by Phoenix SPI and invited to complete the bilingual survey online or by phone. A paper survey is also available upon request.
Calls may take place during the following local times:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 – 21:00
- Saturday: 12:00 – 18:00
- Sunday and statutory holidays: 12:00 – 18:00
- All responses and personal information are anonymous and confidential in accordance with the Privacy Act. They will not impact the benefits or services you receive now or in the future.
The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete by telephone and up to 20 minutes when completed online. Participation is voluntary.
All responses and personal information are anonymous and confidential in accordance with the Privacy Act. They will not impact the benefits or services you receive now or in the future.
VAC will never ask for a Social Insurance Number or credit card information. We urge Veterans and all participants not to provide this type of information over the phone. If you have already completed a survey, we thank you. We will publish the results online once they are available. You can see the results of past National Client Surveys by visiting our website.
Census 2026: Count yourself in
The 2026 Census is now underway and serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and military Veterans are again asked to identify their service status. Every completed questionnaire helps create a clearer picture of the Veteran and CAF community in Canada.
The data from this question will be used to improve policies and programs from VAC, the Department of National Defence and other organizations that support Veterans.
The Veteran-identifier on the 2021 Census, the first in 50 years, opened the door to new education and research. It gave us more accurate data and better information about Canadian Veterans, including age, sex, gender, language, ethnicity, geography and family. It also gave some of the first gender-specific findings that represent the entire Canadian Veteran population. At VAC, much of the data was captured in this technical report.
Census 2021 also laid the groundwork for more thorough research, taking into account all Canadian Veterans, such as the Canadian Veteran Health Survey. It also led to studies to help address longstanding gaps in research on women and other equity-deserving Veterans, like the 2023 Veterans’ Well-being Community Health Needs Assessment.
If you’re a CAF member or Veteran, please complete your census as soon as you can. Completing the questionnaire online is secure and easy.
For more information, visit www.census.gc.ca.
Programs and services
Hire a Veteran, strengthen our workforce
July 25 is Hire a Veteran Day, dedicated to recognizing the meaningful ways Veterans contribute to and strengthen our workforce through the skills they developed in service.
This day is about more than just recognition; it’s a call to support Veterans in their transition to employment after service and to celebrate the skills and leadership they bring to our communities.
If you are a Veteran looking for employment, we can help. You can:
- Visit VAC’s Find a new job web page
- Join our Hire A Veteran LinkedIn group to network with over 7,000 members including employers and Veteran job seekers
- Attend our Veterans Careers and Employment webinars
- Visit the Employment and Social Development Job Bank for Veterans
- Visit the Veterans Affairs Canada JobConnex application portal
Employers looking to hire Veterans can find more information on our website or email us to express if you are interested in participating in our Fall 2026 webinar.
Take part in a study on women Veterans’ reproductive and mental health
The Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the Centre for Military Women’s Research at Anglia Ruskin University are working on a new study to better understand the reproductive and mental health of women Veterans in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK).
The study includes former members of the Canadian and UK militaries, as well as the RCMP and UK police services. The goal is to build stronger evidence that supports improved health care for women Veterans.
By taking part, you will complete a one‑time online survey that takes about 30 minutes. You can pause and return to it at any time. The survey includes questions about fertility, contraception, menopause, sexual health and mental health.
You can take part if you are:
- A woman (female sex at birth) Veteran of the Canadian or UK military, or a former uniformed member of the RCMP or UK police
- Age 18 or older
- Able to read and write in English or French
- Living in Canada or the United Kingdom
Help improve understanding of this important issue by taking part in the study and sharing it with women Veterans.
New summer peer support activities
This summer, the Defence Community Support and Resource Centre is offering activities through its Peer Support Program in partnership with VAC.
These activities are available to individuals affected by sexual misconduct. They provide an open and confidential space to connect with others, share experiences and learn coping strategies—all at your own pace.
Summer activities include:
- Trauma-informed yoga: A gentle virtual class for all levels and conditions. Chair-yoga options and posture adjustments are available for people with reduced mobility or injuries.
- Yoga flow for beginners: An easy and supportive introduction to yoga flow, practiced on a mat. Simple movements, steady pacing and easy-to-follow instructions with basic yoga movements.
- Virtual coffee chats: Relaxed, informal peer-led conversations. These chats offer a chance to talk, reflect and come together with peers without pressure.
Sessions are held virtually on Microsoft Teams, in English and French. There are separate sessions for women, for men, and for all genders. These activities are in a drop-in format, so you can sign up once and attend as many sessions as you want.
Find more information on these activities.
To sign up, please send an email.
Seeking women Veterans for a study on mental health and support needs
Scientists at the McGill University Health Centre are looking for people to take part in a study to better understand the mental health and support needs of Canadian Women Veterans.
The 30-40-minute online survey includes questions on experiences during and after military service, mental health and social supports. Researchers also want to learn more about Veterans’ experiences and preferences with mental health services.
To take part in this survey, you must be:
- a Woman Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces or Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- a resident of Canada
- able to read and write in French or English
Visit the study webpage for more information.
Free help with VAC forms
We are here to help you. Call us toll-free at 1-866-522-2122 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm local time). Send us a My VAC Account secure message.
Need a My VAC Account? Register today. Request an in-person appointment using our online booking form or by calling 1-866-522-2122.
Please note that our service locations offer in-person services by appointment only. Our staff at any Transition Centre can also assist you.
Service Canada officers at locations across the country can guide you and answer questions about VAC benefits and services.
If you’re applying for any Disability benefits or need to appeal a previous decision, security cleared Dominion and Provincial Command Service Officers with the Royal Canadian Legion can also assist you with your application, including helping you get all of the information you need to support your application. The assistance is free of charge.
Indigenous History Month
Culturally safe supports for Indigenous Veterans
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples have a long and proud history of military service to Canada. However, many Indigenous Veterans experienced discrimination and did not always receive the same recognition, benefits or support as other Veterans. We are committed to connecting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Veterans with relevant benefits and services—including trauma-informed mental health support.
Through a partnership with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), a Veteran who contacts VAC and tells us that they are an Indigenous Veteran can be connected with ISC for mental-wellness support, in addition to VAC benefits and services. This helps ensure Veterans have access to assistance that reflects their culture, identity and experiences.
Indigenous Veterans are encouraged to share feedback about their experience of Indigenous Services Canada supports through VAC. Hearing directly from Veterans helps improve services and strengthens this important partnership.
Indigenous Peoples: If you served, you deserve support
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people have a long legacy of service. We work to ensure they receive the recognition and support they’ve earned.
In March, the Government of Canada tabled its response to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs report, The Experience of Indigenous Veterans. We are acting on the report’s recommendations as part of our ongoing efforts to improve support for Indigenous Veterans.
One key recommendation focuses on helping Indigenous Veterans more easily identify themselves as Veterans. We know that not everyone who served sees themselves this way, but if you served—including with the Canadian Rangers—you are a Veteran and you deserve support.
If you or someone you know has served and could benefit from Veteran services or supports, please reach out. VAC can connect you with health services, financial benefits, mental-wellness supports and other programs.
Read the report and Government Response, or learn about services available to Indigenous Veterans.
Indigenous Veterans Engagement Team: Connecting through community
Engaging directly with Indigenous Veterans and communities helps us understand how best to reach those who served. The Indigenous Veterans Engagement Team (IVET) was created to do just that.
IVET focuses on meeting people in their own communities, listening to their experiences and learning what support they need. Team members also work closely with First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations, community leaders and service providers to better understand barriers to accessing services.
Their work helps us connect Indigenous Veterans, their families and their communities with available benefits and services. It also helps us improve how we serve Indigenous Veterans, ensuring that programs and services are easier to access.
To reach out to IVET, please email us. Learn more about the IVET team on our web page.
Veterans’ stories
John Shiwak: An exceptional sniper during the First World War
John Shiwak was born in 1889 in Cul-de-Sac, a tiny settlement near Rigolet, Labrador. He was the eldest son of John and Sarah Oliver Shiwak. The family’s surname was originally Sikoak, which means “relating to thin ice” in the Inuktitut language. Its spelling was later changed when it was recorded by a local doctor.
John got his first taste of military life as a young man. He took part in exercises organized by the Legion of Frontiersmen. This organization was founded after the South African War to help defend the British Empire. Curious and adventurous, John wanted to explore the world. The First World War provided him with the opportunity to travel overseas.
Solomon Awa: a proud Ranger
After joining the Canadian Rangers in the late 1980s, Corporal Solomon Awa, an Inuk Ranger, went on to serve his country and community for decades, continuing his service today in Iqaluit as both a Ranger and the city’s Mayor.
He was born in 1959, near the hamlet of Igloolik, Nunavut. As an Inuk, he spent much of his childhood living on the land with his parents and grandparents. He learned traditional survival skills including hunting, weather reading, and how to endure the extreme cold.
He left school as a teenager to work as a labourer for an oil company, learning most of his English on the job. However, the constant travel took its toll on him.
“It was really good money, but flying was killing me.”
The constant traveling became too much for Awa, so he decided to settle in Pond Inlet, where he worked in several roles such as a housing association secretary and a municipal recreation coordinator. However, he was looking for something that better matched his way of life.
That was when he learned of the Canadian Rangers.
Engagement
Her Story, Her Strength: 2026 Women Veterans Forum
On June 9-10, over 135 in-person and 215 online women and gender-diverse Veterans and serving CAF and RCMP members attended the 2026 Women Veterans Forum. For the first time, the Forum was hosted by VAC, in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Women Veterans Council (WVC).
Women and gender-diverse people from varied backgrounds and experiences shared their views and discussed a variety of topics, including:
- The journey of transition, including defining steps and building resilience
- Identity after service, including personal purpose and translating skills into post-service and community life
- Thriving in service, including programs, services and supports
- Financial security, including tools, resources and guidance
Highlights from Forum included opening remarks from The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Captain (Retired) Cathy Priestman’s leadership as emcee.
Another Forum highlight was the keynote address from Honourary Colonel Sandra Perron who shared stories from her life as captured in the 2025 biographical film Out Standing based on her 2017 memoir, Out Standing in the Field.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Forum and those who shared and continue to share their perspectives with us. A full summary report will be available in the coming months.
For updates relating to women Veterans, you can sign up for the Women Veterans’ distribution list by emailing the Women Veterans Engagement inbox.
Engaging with 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans: 2025 Forum summary report
Pride Season gives VAC the chance to extend to the Veteran community our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We acknowledge the discrimination many endured during and after service and we are committed to engaging with 2SLGBTQI+ service members and Veterans to understand how we can do better.
Last November, VAC hosted the 2025 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum—co-designed with Rainbow Veterans of Canada and the LGBT Purge Fund—bringing together still-serving CAF and RCMP members and Veterans. Engagement events like the Forum help ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans are seen, heard, valued and supported.
Read the 2025 2SLGBTQI+ Forum summary report, which includes a look at attendee and resource-partner surveys.
Commemoration
Inspecting and repairing Veteran grave markers
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) honours Canada’s Veterans by preserving their final resting places with dignity and respect. We maintain the grave markers of more than 250,000 Veterans located in approximately 7,800 cemeteries across the country. These markers were installed by the Government of Canada for Veterans who qualified for funeral and burial assistance at the time of their passing.
Each year, from spring to fall, VAC staff conduct about 27,000 grave-marker inspections, ensuring that any maintenance needed for the Veteran grave markers in our care is addressed in a timely manner.
During these inspections, staff assess a range of conditions, including:
- Cracked or damaged grave markers
- Misaligned or unstable grave markers
- Markers requiring cleaning
- Faded or illegible inscriptions
- Markers that have sunk into the ground
Following natural disasters like fire, floods or strong storms, staff also visit cemeteries in the affected areas to assess and document any damage to Veteran grave markers.
During the winter months, information gathered from inspections is used to prepare an annual repair plan. Most repairs are carried out the following year, but grave markers requiring urgent attention are prioritized and repaired as soon as possible.
While repairs are underway, staff inspect other cemeteries, ensuring the cycle of inspection and maintenance continues.
If you are aware of a Veteran grave marker needing repairs, please email us.
Commemoration calendar
Summer 2026
For a more complete listing of activities please visit our calendar of events.
Do you know other Veterans, family members or others who would benefit from the information in this newsletter? Feel free to share it with them.