2021 National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program: Message from the A/CDS

September 22, 2021 - Defence Stories

As we approach Veterans’ Week, celebrated November 5 to 11, preparations are underway to honour the valour, duty, and tremendous sacrifices of those who came before us.

As members of the Canadian Armed Forces, we have a particular responsibility to remind Canadians of the importance of paying tribute to Canadian veterans, past and present.

As we continue to carry on their proud legacy, we must share their stories with Canadians, and help them to understand the breadth and impact of how Canadian veterans have served our country.

The National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program provides us the opportunity to highlight the diverse work we do, as well as the role we have in our local communities and around the world.

Many of you have volunteered your time over the years to speak during Veterans’ Week. Thanks to your contributions, the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program (NVWSP) has seen an increasing number of requests for CAF speakers every year. Last year, due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 environment, the program adopted a new approach, yet still reached more than 931,000 Canadians.

Veterans Week activities, like many others, will likely be impacted by the pandemic once again. Nevertheless, it is important that we continue to be present in our communities, to tell our story, and to honour our past. It is important that our message of Remembrance be shared and that we continue to build relationships with learning institutions and community organizations across Canada.

This year, the NVWSP will once again adopt a virtual approach. Instead of engaging with Canadians in person, CAF members will have the opportunity to participate in live virtual presentations using online platforms. Some of you may have already taken part in the program as part of the CAF speaker video series that were produced this past summer.

For CAF members who have shared their story through the program in previous years, I thank you for your participation and encourage you to work with your chain of command and local representatives and get involved again this year. For those who have not yet had the opportunity, you are encouraged to take part in this important annual endeavour.

A CDS Tasking Order (accessible only on the National Defence network) and CANFORGEN (accessible only on the National Defence network) and Public Affairs Guidance are now available online.

Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre

Acting Chief of the Defence Staff