Defence Team Champion’s Message on Latin American Heritage Month

October 03, 2022 - Defence Stories

Caption

Major-General Lise Bourgon, OMM, MSC, CD
Acting Commander, Military Personnel Command

As the Defence Team Champion for Visible Minorities, I am pleased to mark the fourth annual Latin American Heritage Month. In 2018, Parliament passed a law designating October as Latin American Heritage Month, in recognition of the role that Latin American communities have played in the social, economic, political and cultural fabric of Canada.

For Latin American communities across Canada, October is a special time for celebrating and sharing their cultures and heritage. For the Defence Team, it presents us with the opportunity to learn about the contributions that members of the Latin American community have made to Canada’s military over time.

Members of the Latin American community have been contributing to the defence of our country for over a century. In the First and Second World Wars, and on peacekeeping operations, they have valiantly defended Canada and Canadian interests at home and abroad. Today, the Latin American community in this country is large and growing, and continues to be well represented within the Defence Team.  

I offer my support to all Defence Team members who may wish to attend events in their areas; your local planning committees have worked hard all year to make them happen.

Join me in celebrating and appreciating the Latin American community within the Defence Team for their service. I wish you all a happy and meaningful Latin American Heritage Month.  

Major-General Lise Bourgon, OMM, MSC, CD
Acting Commander, Military Personnel Command