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December 2023

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News

What to do if you have lost your Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage through Veterans Affairs Canada

If you are a Veteran or survivor who previously received the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and need to reinstate your coverage, you can reapply anytime by using application form VAC630.

Once you receive an approval letter from VAC for the PSHCP, you will be asked to complete positive enrolment and pre-authorized debit forms with Canada Life. You don’t need to send forms to Canada Life until you are approved by VAC. If you or someone in your family had a membership through VAC, you will have a certificate number that starts with V50 or V59.

For more information, visit our website or call 1-866-522-2122 | TDD/TTY 1-833-921-0071.

Programs and services

Building a solid foundation for children of Veterans

Sam, who grew up in a military family is now an advisor with the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families where she is helping to build MindKit, a resource about mental health for young people. She describes her experience as a child of a Veteran and working on the project in her recent blog post from the Atlas Institute.

The MindKit project has the potential to change lives, Sam says. It is something her and her sister wished they could have had years ago, “it would have let us know that we weren’t alone.”

In her blog, Sam talks about the video she contributed, called “Resilient Foundations,” and the community she found among other adult children of Veterans as they shared their stories for the project.

“While it was strange to create something that seemed quite personal for a public audience, I reminded myself that this video has the opportunity to help other children of Veterans,” she said.

MindKit is a mental health resource developed by the Atlas Institute. It is for young family members of Canadian Veterans living with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI), also known as PTSD. It provides information on four topic areas:

In the photo are Sam and her family, including her father, who is a Veteran.
Sam and her family, including her Veteran father.
  • All about mental health
  • PTSI and you
  • Build your own MindKit
  • Real stories from people like you

There are also many downloadable resources. Atlas, Sam and other advisors on the MindKit team have created a resource that could truly change the lives of young people who have loved ones with PTSD.

 

Self-care during the holidays: Suggestions from HOPE if you have lost a loved one

Image of the HOPE-ESPOIR logo, encircled by the words “Helping our Peers by providing Empathy” in both French and English.

Often when we’re grieving, social events or family gatherings can be overwhelming.

The holidays can be a time of sadness and anxiety for many, and we may not always feel like taking part in the festivities and celebrating.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s vital that you take steps to stay well. Some of these steps can include:

  • Plan for family gatherings and focus on what seems reasonable to you.
  • If you decide to go to an event, feel free to leave at any time—it’s important to think about yourself.
  • If you don’t want to commit to any activity with your loved ones, you can simply say “no” and join in later if you feel like it.

You can always decide to stop and change your holiday traditions or create new ones. Many families dealing with the loss of a loved one decide to organize things differently for the first holiday season or to celebrate the memory of their family member; this can help ease feelings of emptiness.

Think about changing location, perhaps to the home of another family member or friend.

HOPE’s peer helpers have also lost a loved one. If you want to know more about the program or receive support from a peer, please contact the HOPE Program Manager at 1-800-883-6094 or send an email.

HOPE is a peer support program. Their mission is to provide confidential peer support to military families coping with the loss of a Canadian Forces member or Veteran. They offer some guidance for the holiday season.

 

Live webinars to support parents and caregivers through Torchlight

In addition to the LifeSpeak digital library, the VAC Assistance Service now includes a tool to help with day-to-day caregiving concerns: Torchlight Parenting & Caregiving.

Torchlight is a caregiver support program with hundreds of guides, printable tools and checklists, divided into two parts:

  • Caregiving for Children
  • Caregiving for Seniors

You can also find live and on-demand online seminars with a Torchlight expert. Whether you are supporting a child, a dependent adult or an aging loved one, these sessions will help you in your caregiving role.

Upcoming webinars:

  • Monday, 11 December 2023 at 12 pm EST How to Rock Long-Distance Caregiving Torchlight–Elder (Audience: caregivers of older adults)
  • Wednesday, 24 January 2024 at 3 pm EST Caregiving Strategies That Work for Your Family’s Interpersonal Relationships Torchlight–Elder (Audience: caregivers of older adults)
  • Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 3 pm EST Supporting Your Young Child’s Mental Health Torchlight – Child (Audience: parents and caregivers of children)

To access Torchlight, go to veterans.torchlight.care and create an account on the Caregiving for Children or Caregiving for Seniors portal. To register for an online seminar, click on the Events tab at the top of the page and add to your calendar the activities you are interested in.

As always, you can also log in to LifeSpeak from any computer or mobile device (use Access ID: canada).

If you need psychological support, contact the VAC Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708 or use the chat service (select “I am an employee or current or former RCMP/CAF member” in the organization field choose “Veterans Affairs Canada–former RCMP and CAF members”, and enter password: canada). If you are hearing impaired, call: TTY 1-800-567-5803. The VAC Assistance Service is available by telephone 24 hours a day/365 days a year, anywhere in Canada.

 

Save the dates for the upcoming Veteran Family Virtual Summit

You’re invited to the Veteran Family Virtual Summit on 26-27 January 2024. This online event, organized by the Atlas Institute, recognizes the vital role of Veteran Families. Hear from experts and Veteran Family members who will share their insights and experiences. Register for this free event today: Veteran Family Virtual Summit 2024.

 

Money matters

Resources to help with your retirement planning

For many Canadians, money worries are the greatest source of stress—more than work, personal health and relationships. A recent survey showed that almost one in four Veterans were not financially preparing for retirement. Do you have a retirement plan? Would you like to learn more about retirement planning? There are resources to help.

Salute! continues its series about financial literacy below with a focus on retirement planning—a significant step in ensuring financial security and well-being.

Why plan for retirement?

Planning for retirement is important in ensuring you achieve your desired standard of living in retirement. Do you want to live in retirement the same way you are now? Would you like to travel in your later years? Do you want to move to your dream retirement destination? Retirement planning can help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

How to create a retirement plan

The first step in creating a retirement plan is to consider how you want to spend your time and money throughout your retirement. Here is a list of things to think about from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada website:

  • your travel plans
  • your hobbies
  • your age when you retire
  • whether you’ll work after you retire
  • whether you’ll have children or grandchildren to support
  • where you want to live
  • whether you’ll have debts to pay, such as a mortgage or a loan.

You should also consider your current monthly budget for essential items such as food, housing, transportation, and bills. It is important to consider whether your budget for essential items will be smaller, larger, or similar in retirement.

Next, identify your retirement income sources. Generally speaking, income during retirement will typically come from four main sources:

  • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
  • Old Age Security (OAS) Pension
  • Employer-sponsored pension plans (e.g., CAF Superannuation)
  • Personal retirement savings and investments such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) or Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs).

You should also consider any VAC benefits that you may be entitled to in retirement.

Retirement planning tools

There are tools to help you assess how close you are to your goals. The Government of Canada has recently launched a Retirement Hub, which provides Canadians with the opportunity to learn about public pensions, the age public pensions become available to Canadians, and tips to consider for making the most out of your retirement. The Retirement Hub comes with a Retirement ready quiz which takes only three minutes to complete. The only information you need to provide to complete the quiz is:

  • legal status (such as Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
  • residence history (number of years lived in Canada)
  • marital status
  • retirement plan (when you plan on retiring, where you plan on living in retirement, etc.)

Taking the quiz is a first step towards your retirement checklist, as your answers will help identify government pensions and benefits you could receive and guide you on what to consider to better prepare for retirement.

Did you know?

  • Delaying your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and/or your Old Age Security (OAS) Pension results in higher monthly payments. The Retirement Hub also has tools and information available to help you decide what is best for you and your family.
  • The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) also provides a wealth of information on topics such as saving for retirement, determining how much money you might need for retirement, travelling abroad when you retire, working while collecting a pension, and many more retirement-related topics.
  • If you received a lump-sum award from Veterans Affairs Canada, we can pay for professional advice to help you manage your money effectively.
  • You can receive up to $500 to get advice from a financial professional on how to invest and manage your lump-sum:
  • If you would like to speak with a certified financial counsellor about your particular financial situation, resources are available in your community to help. For example, Credit Counselling Canada has developed information specifically for Veterans and their families; reaching out is free and confidential. If you would like to learn more, please visit their Veterans page.

You can always call the Veterans National Call Centre with your questions toll-free at 1-866-522-2122. For persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, contact TTY at 1-833-921-0071. If you need psychological support, contact the VAC Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708 or use the chat service (password: Canada). For persons who are hearing impaired: TTY 1-800-567-5803.

VAC recognizes and supports the mental, physical, and financial well-being of Veterans; however, VAC does not provide financial advice. This content is being shared for information purposes only.

 

A special summer experience for children from military and Veteran families

Camp Maple Leaf has been a summer haven for the children of Canadian military and Veteran families since 1955. The camp offers them a space to call their own and a chance to relate with kids in similar situations.

Children from military and Veteran families face unique challenges. At Camp Maple Leaf, they can connect through shared experiences and learn coping skills while at the same time enjoying fun and friendship together. With support from the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, the camp expanded from its original location on Jacob Island, Ontario to locations in Sylvan Lake, Alberta and Greenhill Lake, New Brunswick. The extra locations make it easier for children from all over Canada to attend camp.

In addition to these camps for children ages 6 to 16, there is also a family camp program offered at Jacob Island. Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Support Foundation, this camp is designed to welcome Veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and their immediate family members (of all ages).

Registration for the 2024 camp programs opened on 1 December 2023.

Thanks in part to support from VAC, donations and sponsorship, no child is turned away from Camp Maple Leaf if their family can’t afford the cost.

 

Veteran’s story

The Morse family: Pioneers of progress in the RCMP

Ron, Sandra and Donna Morse in red serge RCMP uniforms.
Ron, Sandra and Donna Morse.

In 1974, 32 women boldly took an oath to enlist in the RCMP. This act would forever change the face of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Donna Morse (nee Burns) was one of them. Before this, women were missing from the ranks, and roles for women were limited to secretaries and matrons. Donna and her colleagues demanded equal treatment during their training, breaking barriers that had long prevented women from becoming police officers.

Donna’s trailblazing continued when she and Ron Morse became the first married service couple within the RCMP. Their union started changes within the force, but there was still more to do. In 1980, when Donna was expecting her first child, the RCMP still did not have maternity uniforms. It was a long journey to gain greater equality, but it was worth it — in 2017, Donna’s daughter, Sandra Morse, followed in her mother’s footsteps and joined the RCMP.

“My experiences underscore a crucial point: one’s strengths, interests, and skills, rather than gender, determine a member’s role within the RCMP,” said Sandra.

Donna is now the Communications Director for the RCMP Veterans’ Association. She says women Veterans should share their unique experiences to make progress for women beyond their service.

The Veterans Health and Well-being Assessment allows women to continue to share their lived experiences and provide feedback that will help shape the future of programs and services at Veterans Affairs Canada.

Women Veterans Health tip with Dr. Cyd Courchesne:

Caring for your well-being is essential. When facing challenges, taking action to discuss your health needs with a healthcare provider can be a major step toward improving your overall well-being.

Do you have a story to share about experience in the Canadian Armed Forces? Tell us about it by email.

 

Commemoration

Remembering the sacrifices of service members during the holidays

“Soldiers in Afghanistan during the holidays.”

Christmas is a special time of year for many of us as Canadians gather with family and friends to celebrate the joy and warmth of the holidays.

The truth is, many Canadians who have served in uniform over the years have found themselves far away from home during this period—separated from their families, sacrificing the comfort of home to protect and serve our nation. The heartache of being away from loved ones during such a cherished time is a reality for them.

As Canadians, let us pause during this holiday season to reflect on the unwavering commitment and sacrifices of Canada’s service members. Through small gestures of appreciation and remembrance, we can ensure that no member of the military or their family feels forgotten or alone during this special time of the year.

Explore our Christmas at the Front web feature to learn about Canadians’ wartime holiday experiences.

 

Canadian Peacekeeping in Mali

Members of a CH-147 Chinook force protection team in full military gear guard the landing zone with a large chopper in the background during a medical evacuation exercise near Gao, Mali in 2018.
Members of a CH-147 Chinook force protection team guard the landing zone. This medical evacuation exercise took place near Gao, Mali, 2018. Photo: Department of National Defence (MCpl Jennifer Kusche)

Canada has a long history of taking part in international peacekeeping operations. One of these peace missions was in Mali from 2018 to 2023. More than 1,250 Canadian Armed Forces members made important contributions to the United Nations (UN) efforts there. Their work helped stabilize the country after years of unrest.

As part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the Canadian Armed Forces provided a Task Force made up of skilled personnel to support the mission. Task Force Mali did a lot of important work, carrying out tasks such as medical evaluations, logistical support and intelligence gathering, all of which made a real difference in the mission.

Canadian police officers within the mission’s ranks were instrumental. The Canadian Police played an important role in strengthening law enforcement and community involvement in Mali. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in supporting the local police force, addressing security concerns, and making sure civilians were protected.

 

Kelly Willis’ contribution

RCMP officer Kelly Willis stands during a ceremony in her RCMP red serge uniform.
RCMP Officer Kelly Willis.

Among the distinguished individuals at the forefront of Canada’s major role in international peacekeeping efforts is Kelly Willis.

The 25-year Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer grew up Cree on the Chisasibi Reserve in Northern Quebec. She left her mark on the Canadian Police contingent during the UN mission in Mali in 2019.

Coming from the National Headquarters in Ottawa, Kelly was selected among the first two police officers to help start the Canadian contingent in Mali, Africa. Throughout her time there, Kelly used her expertise to uphold the core values of the RCMP and contribute to the mission’s goals.

She helped with project management, analyzed data and completed reports on the status of projects related to the stabilization of the Malian Security Forces and protection of civilians. Kelly also took part in a board of inquiry on a major UN incident and delivered introductory Conflict Management training to the Malian Security Forces.

This experience led her to receiving certificates of appreciation from the UN Police Commissioner and others that serve as a permanent reminder of her role in advancing the mission’s objectives and raising stability in Mali.

Discover Kelly’s inspiring story.

Did you know?

On 10 December 1988, the United Nations peacekeepers were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This historic recognition celebrated the unwavering commitment and sacrifices made by peacekeepers worldwide. As Canada continues to actively participate in peacekeeping efforts, the legacy of this award serves as a reminder of the collective dedication and bravery of those working to promote peace in conflict zones.

 

The Christmas Truce of 1914

We’ve all heard of the Christmas spirit, but in 1914, it found its way to the front lines of the First World War.

After more than four months of trench warfare, soldiers were dreading being away from their families during the holidays. Then, on December 24, amid brutal fighting, something incredible happened on the Western Front.

Soldiers from both sides put down their weapons and stepped out of their trenches. They met in no man’s land and exchanged gifts, took photographs and even played impromptu soccer games.

For a short time, there was peace.

More than 100 years later, the story of the Christmas Truce lives on in our hearts and memories.

Happy holidays from everyone at VAC.

 

Commemoration calendar

Early December:
First Canadian soldiers arrived in Afghanistan, 2001
December 6:
Halifax Explosion, 1917
December 8:
Defence of Hong Kong began, 1941
December 10:
30th anniversary of UN peacekeeping forces being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1988
December 17:
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan established, 1939
December 18:
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry soldiers arrived in Korea, 1950
December 21:
Canadians began fighting in Ortona, 1943
December 25:
Canadians forced to surrender in Hong Kong, 1941
 

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.

 

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