End of Year Message from the Chief of the Defence Staff and Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer

December 17, 2021 -  Defence Stories

This message is available in video format.

To the Canadian Armed Forces, the wider Defence Team, and our families,

This message is sent to you from the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people, who have been stewards of these lands for millennia.

As we approach the end of 2021, we want to thank all of you for your remarkable work throughout another unprecedented year in the life of the Canadian Armed Forces and all Canadians.

When I look back and reflect on the past 12 months, a year in which we welcomed a new Commander-in-Chief and a new Minister of Defence, I am filled with pride and admiration for all you have accomplished, under extremely challenging conditions.

I am proud to wear this uniform, and to serve alongside such dedicated and motivated team that continues to make a real and tangible difference in the lives of Canadians and people around the world.

And while the pandemic is still with us, the CAF played a leading role in the whole-of-government effort to contain the virus.

And thanks to your exemplary work, our country finds itself in a much better place than it was in at this time last year.

One meaningful example of this is the fact that we were able to mark Remembrance Day and honour our Veterans together again, as public gatherings at cenotaphs across the country returned this year.

You’ve supported the rollout and delivery of vaccines across the country…

Carried out wellness checks to make sure vulnerable Canadians in remote communities are ok…

Reinforced overwhelmed civilian hospitals and long-term care facilities…

And so much more.

You’ve demonstrated time and time again why you and the work you do are essential to the safety and security of Canadians.

What’s truly remarkable is that you did all this while coping with the same pandemic-driven struggles as every other Canadian: on-again, off-again lockdowns, remote work in many cases, supporting family and friends in their own difficult times.

You’ve served, sacrificed, and succeeded in the face of the fears and uncertainties that we all share about the future.

We are also very proud of the example CAF members are setting for every Canadian by embracing lifesaving vaccinations. Few — if any — organizations in Canada can match the rate of vaccination that we have achieved among our membership.

And for that we thank you.

COVID-19 has left its mark on us, as it has everyone. Still, the work of the CAF has gone on.

Amid COVID, many of you battled catastrophic flooding, most recently in British Columbia and Newfoundland and devastating wildfires.

You brought clean water to Iqaluit.

You continued to recruit and train.

To carry out search-and-rescue operations.

And to help fulfill our commitments to our international allies and partners — in particular with regard to NORAD, NATO, and the United Nations — and our commitment to global stability and security.

In Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific. In Africa and the Caribbean. All over the world.

And, notably, we found ourselves back in Afghanistan with Operation AEGIS, on a mission that was very personal — and very difficult — for all of us.

Watching the Taliban return to power was — and still is — painful.

But we are proud of what the CAF was able to do. We projected to the other side of the world, into a contested environment where we had not had a military force for seven years. And into the most trying of circumstances, we were able to rescue approximately 3,700 Afghans, a remarkable achievement.

That we could not save everyone is heartbreaking — but we stayed as long as we were able.

Canadian troops were among the last to leave.

We served honourably and sacrificed to make a difference.

We did what was asked of us.

In Afghanistan, as always, when the call came — when we were needed — the CAF responded.

As you always do and always have done.

This year, and every year,

Across the country and around the world.

With skill, courage, and the utmost professionalism.

And some of you remain deployed and on duty over the holiday period. I thank all those who maintain the watch.

I know from personal experience your accomplishment are not possible without support at home. So I would like to recognize your loved ones, families, and families of choice, for their own service and sacrifice.

To everyone who loves and supports a CAF member ­— thank you. It means more than we can say.

2021 was a year that, in many ways, showed the CAF at its best.

But it has also been a year during which our organization has had to confront some hard truths about our culture and the harm it has caused, and continues to cause, members of the Defence Team.

We took a crucial step, apologizing to all members of the Defence Team, past and present, who have been harmed and affected by sexual misconduct and discrimination due to sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation while carrying out their duties in service to Canada.

In doing so, we acknowledged and are confronting the fact that for too many years, the CAF has not lived up to the values we profess, the values that we are supposed to defend and promote.

If we are to continue succeeding in our mission in an ever-more-complex and dangerous world, we have to draw on the remarkable diversity Canada has to offer.

That means every Canadian must feel welcome in our ranks, and know that they and their contributions will be valued.

That they will be safe to be their authentic selves in our workplace. That they will be able to confront the challenges and dangers that come with military service, secure and confident that they have the support and respect of their teammates.

Transformational culture change will be the greatest challenge of our time — and we must rise to meet it, together. Every one of us.

We will restore confidence and trust in the CAF. The confidence and trust of Canadians. Our confidence and trust in each other.

At the same time we will pursue our reconstitution initiative, a substantial program that will touch on every aspect of the CAF.

Its focus is threefold:

First, strengthening our people and our culture: addressing the imperative for culture change, as well as working to help individuals recover from the personal toll of the pandemic, rebuilding personal strength and resilience, and building our effective strength.

Second, ensuring our operational excellence: assessing our operations and plans, and ensure our operational readiness in an increasingly dangerous world.

And third, the continued modernization of the CAF: including taking a close look at our approach to our work and assessing how well it meets the demands of a changing global security environment.

There is comfort in knowing that in times such as these, times of great change, there are constants that we can rely on.

Indeed, these constants are the foundation on which we build our future:

Leadership matters. Not just the leadership indicated by rank, but the kind of individual leadership every one of us shows when we set high standards of conduct and performance for ourselves, and thus inspire them in those around us.

Character is everything. Competence without character is not enough. Accountability, humility, and openness are as important as any of the “hard skills” required in the profession of arms.

And respect for the dignity and worth of every individual can’t just be a value we profess: It must be an ethos that runs throughout every aspect of our institution and our operations.

I also want to talk about commitment. I know you are all committed to our country and to the CAF. You have shown this, through your selfless acts, time and time again.

In October, I made some public comments regarding selfless service and retirement that, did not sit well with some current and former members.  I want to clarify and refine that message:

I understand the pressures of relentless operational tempo, the demanding nature of military life and the toll it can take on you, your loved ones and families.

My comments reflected my own internal debate as we work to address our current crisis. The last year has been amongst the most challenging periods of my career and I mirrored my internal deliberations onto others.

Some may find new opportunities, others may reach a stage where the military lifestyle no longer fits – and while we need to retain talent and experience to help lead us during these challenging times – retirement is a deeply personal decision made for many different reasons.

Your time, experience and skills make a difference, and it is with much gratitude that I thank each of you for your service.

These are times of test and trial, and we are only just beginning.

But the reward for our hard work will be a stronger, more vibrant and relevant Armed Forces ready to meet the needs of Canadians and the demands of an evolving world.

I know the past year has been challenging for everyone with regard to your health and wellness — physical, mental, and emotional.

Please look after yourselves, your families, and each other.

I hope that in the coming weeks you are able to take some time to rest, relax, and reflect, and that you look back on the accomplishments of the past year with the same pride I do.

And while we take stock of all that lays before us as we face the challenges of the future head-on, I hope you also share my optimism for the year to come.

We wish you and yours a happy, safe, and restful holiday season, and a very Happy New Year.